P U B L I C N O T I C E
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
1617 MAIL SERVICE CENTER
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27699-1617
NOTIFICATION OF INTENT TO ISSUE A CONSENT ORDER
Public notice of intent to issue a State Consent Order to the following:
The City of Albemarle (P.O. Box 190, Albemarle, NC 28002) has requested an amendment to Special Order by Consent No. S19-0007 ad II for the Long Creek WWTP. The Long Creek WWTP is a 12.0 MGD WWTP that discharges treated wastewater to Long Creek in the Yadkin-Pee Dee River Basin under the authority of NPDES Permit NC0024244, but is unable to consistently comply with effluent limits for Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Ammonia Nitrogen, Total Suspended Solids (TSS), and Fecal Coliform. The City also holds a North Carolina Collection System Permit WQCS00016 for operation of an existing wastewater collection system, but is unable to consistently comply with the permit condition regarding sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) as set forth in permit WQCS00016. The purpose of the amendment request was to revise the timeline for WWTP construction deadlines and increase copper compliance limits.
The Environmental Management Commission proposes to issue the Order per Article 21 of Chapter 143, N.C. General Statutes, and other regulations effective June 20, 2026.
Compliance with this amended order will require the City to begin and complete construction for a WWTP upgrade to attain compliance with final effluent limits in Permit NC0024244. This Order will expire on August 31, 2029.
A copy of the Order is available upon request by contacting Kate Shadwell of the Division of Water Resources at 919-707-3613, or by email at: kate.shadwell@deq.nc.gov. Comments on the proposed Order received no later than 30 days after the publish date of this notice will be considered in the final determination. A public meeting may be held if there is a significant degree of public interest.
ate:
This notice is scheduled for publication in the Stanly News & Press on May 13, 2026.