PUBLIC NOTICE
N.C. DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INTENT TO ISSUE NPDES WASTEWATER DISCHARGE PERMIT #NC0024392
Public comment or objection to the draft permit is invited. All comments received by July 3, 2023, will be considered in the final determination regarding permit issuance and permit provisions.
PERMIT APPLICATION
Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC, 526 South Church St., Charlotte, N.C., has applied for renewal of its NPDES wastewater permit (NC0024392) for McGuire Nuclear Power Plant, 12700 Hagers Ferry Rd., Huntersville, Mecklenburg County. The facility discharges treated industrial wastewater and stormwater to Catawba River and Lake Norman in the Catawba River basin. Some of the parameters are water quality limited. This discharge may affect future allocations in this portion of the Catawba River basin. The location of Outfall 001 is: Latitude: 35026’03”; Longitude: 80056’50”. The location of Outfall 002 is: Latitude: 35025’57”; Longitude: 80057’20”. The location of Outfall 005 is: Latitude: 35025’57”; Longitude: 80057’20”.
The thermal component of the discharge is subject to effluent limitations under the CWA sections 301/306 and North Carolina Administrative Code Section; 15A NCAC 2B.0211 (3) (j), which prohibits an exceedance of 2.8 degrees C (5.04 degrees F) above the natural water temperature, and in no case to exceed 32 degrees C (89.6 degrees F). The permit holder has requested a Clean Water Act 316(a) variance, which would impose an alternative less stringent limitations on the thermal component of the discharge under Section 316(a). The proposed variance imposes a monthly average limit of 35.0 degrees C (95.0 degrees F) during winter and a monthly average limit of 37.2 degrees C (99.0 degrees F) during summer. On the basis of the North Carolina Administrative Code Section: 15A NCAC 2B.0208 (2) (b) (and other lawful standards and regulations), the North Carolina Division of Water Resources proposes to grant the 316(a) variance in conjunction with the renewal of the permit.
The draft wastewater permit and related documents are available online at: https://deq.nc.gov/public-notices-hearings. Printed copies of the draft permit and related documents may be reviewed at the department’s Mooresville Regional Office. To make an appointment to review the documents, please call 704-663-1699.
Public comment on the draft permit modification should be mailed to: Wastewater Permitting, 1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, N.C., 27699-1617.
Public comments may also be submitted by email to: publiccomments@ncdenr.gov. Please be sure to include “McGuire” in the email’s subject line.
Public Notice will run in The Charlotte Observer on 5/25/23.
Comment Period Opens: 5/25/23
Comment Period Ends: 7/3/23