G. Landon Davidson, P.G. NCDENR - Division of Water Resources ...
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Davidson, Landon Campbell, Ted FW: Dan River Plant Primary Ash Pond Dam (ROCKI-237) Incident on 2-3-14 Friday, February 14, 2014 8:37:23 AM ROCKI-237_20140203_Incident.pdf ROCKI-237-H Dan River Primary Ash Basin Failure Pictures.ppt High
G. Landon Davidson, P.G. NCDENR - Division of Water Resources Water Quality Regional Operations Section Regional Supervisor - Asheville Regional Office 2090 U.S. Hwy. 70 Swannanoa, N.C. 28778 ph.: 828-296-4500 fax: 828-299-7043 email: [email protected] website: www.ncwaterquality.org Notice: Per Executive Order No. 150, all emails sent to and from this account are subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
From: Frost, Larry Sent: Thursday, February 06, 2014 11:11 AM To: Cranford, Chuck; Davidson, Landon Subject: FW: Dan River Plant Primary Ash Pond Dam (ROCKI-237) Incident on 2-3-14 Importance: High
Don’t think you’ve seen this. Larry Frost, Environmental Engineer North Carolina Division of Waste Management Solid Waste Section - Permitting Branch 2090 U.S. Highway 70 Swannanoa, North Carolina 28778 Phone: (828) 296-4704 [email protected] http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/wm/sw Notice: E-mail correspondence to and from this address may be subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law and therefore may be disclosed to third parties. From: Scott, Michael Sent: Wednesday, February 05, 2014 11:07 AM To: Lorscheider, Ellen; Mussler, Ed; Werner, Elizabeth; Frost, Larry; Shackelford, Dennis; Watkins, Jason Subject: FW: Dan River Plant Primary Ash Pond Dam (ROCKI-237) Incident on 2-3-14 Importance: High
FYI
From: Matthews, Dexter Sent: Wednesday, February 05, 2014 9:56 AM To: Bateson, James; Scott, Michael Subject: FW: Dan River Plant Primary Ash Pond Dam (ROCKI-237) Incident on 2-3-14 Importance: High
FYI
From: Davis, Tracy Sent: Wednesday, February 05, 2014 9:52 AM To: Gillespie, Mitch; Reeder, Tom; Matthews, Dexter; Bennett, Bradley; Vinson, Toby; McEvoy, Steve; Poling, Matt; Gantt, Matt Cc: Elliot, Drew; Kritzer, Jamie; Munger, Bridget; Presnell, Lacy Subject: FW: Dan River Plant Primary Ash Pond Dam (ROCKI-237) Incident on 2-3-14 Importance: High
All, DEMLR updates from our State Dam Safety Engineer (McEvoy) and our Winston-Salem Regional Office Land Quality Sedimentation/Stormwater Supervisor (Gantt) are provided below to document DEMLR activities over the past couple of days at the Dan River site. Also, attached are some pictures that our WSRO took on 2/3/2014 for your information. More updates from DEMLR’s perspective will follow as available. Also, Duke is operating under emergency provisions under the Dam Safety of 1967 to stabilize and repair the embankment that has been compromised on the western side of the ash pond. NOTE: Duke is requesting to create a borrow pit onsite to create roads in the ash pond to facilitate dam and pipe repairs. They are planning to provide a plan for my approval shortly. I have statutory authority to approve emergency measures to protect the environment under the Sedimentation Pollution Control Act by approving immediate measures and allowing Duke to submit their erosion and sedimentation control plan after the fact for the borrow pit onsite. Our WSRO DEMLR staff have provided guidance to Duke on this matter and I plan to approve their onsite borrow pit when it is received. Regarding the potential need to remove coal ash from the ash pond to facilitate repairs noted in earlier conversations between Duke and our WSRO DEMLR staff, staff has advised me that Duke is NOT planning to conduct such an activity at this time. However, I have asked our WSRO DEMLR staff to advise Duke that they would need to submit a plan with a detailed description of where, how and how large an area would be used for coal ash placement BEFORE they initiate such an activity, including the need to place a liner under the coal ash and provide both erosion and sedimentation and stormwater control measures. I would send this package around to DWR and DWM for their review and comment/stipulations before I would approve this emergency measure. I will keep you posted. Thanks, Tracy From: Russell, Tim [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, February 05, 2014 5:46 AM To: Gantt, Matt Cc: Harris, Randall Scott; DeNeale, Sean Subject: Dan River
Matt, During the dam safety inspection, you mentioned that an emergency erosion and sediment control permit can be obtained. We are using on site soil to build roads within the ash basin. We expect that in order to obtain necessary quantities of fill on site and to perform the emergency dam work, we could exceed an acre of disturbance. Will you advise us on how that emergency E&SC permit works and what we need to do to obtain such a permit? Obviously, time is of the essence. So, thanks in advance for your help. I am working night shift. Should you need more information or have questions, feel free to contact Scott Harris (cell 704-560-6012), as he is working day shifts. If you are an early bird or night owl, feel free to contact me. Thanks again Matt. Tim Russell, P.E. Geotechnical Leader Central Engineering & Services Duke Energy (704) 382-4945 - Office (704) 962-0072 - Mobile From: Gantt, Matt Sent: Tuesday, February 04, 2014 3:44 PM To: Davis, Tracy; Vinson, Toby Cc: Leonard, Shannon; McEvoy, Steve Subject: Dan River Plant Primary Ash Pond Dam (ROCKI-237) Incident on 2-3-14
Tracy and Toby, Shannon Leonard and I responded to the concern regarding the damage to the Primary Ash Pond (ROCKI-237) at the Duke Energy Dan River Plant on 2/3/2014. Shannon and I arrived at the facility at approximately 11:00 a.m. Upon arrival, we met with Tim Russell, P.E., with Duke Energy. Also present were Aana Taylor-Smith with DEMLR (WSRO), Lon Snider with DWR (WSRO), Sherri Knight with WQS (WSRO), and Shuying Wang WQS (WSRO). After a brief safety meeting, we were escorted to the Primary Ash Pond by Duke Energy staff. The failure within the interior of the embankment of the dam was a vertical slope. We were not able to take any measurements of the failure within this area due to the unstable conditions around the perimeter of the slope. After leaving the area of the slope failure, we inspected the remaining portions of the Primary Ash Pond. A visual inspection of the remaining embankment of the pond found that it appeared to be stable. Contractors were working on plugging up the 48” RCP pipe with an inflatable bladder. The first bladder that was installed did not adequately seal the pipe. While on site, we discussed further remedies to plug the pipe to prevent further ash loss into the Dan River. It was suggested that a cap with bands may be placed over the 48” RCP outlet pipe outlet if further attempts at sealing the pipe with a bladder were not successful. After our inspection of the Primary Ash Pond, we moved on to inspect the Secondary Ash Pond (ROCKI-238) located at the base of the Primary Ash Pond. The Secondary Ash Pond appeared to be performing satisfactorily. Recent repairs to the downstream embankment of the Secondary Ash
Pond were observed to be stable. Mr. Russell stated that Duke Energy was planning to have the storm water pipe under the Secondary Ash Pond inspected with a remote control camera to detect any potential problems with that pipe. The Service Water Pond behind the decommissioned power plant was also inspected. No items of concern were noted regarding this structure. This is a clean water pond used for plant operations. No ash is stored within this pond. We discussed the removal of the remaining ash material from the Primary Ash Pond with Mr. Russell. He stated that the ash may have to be removed to another location on the Dan River facility. I advised Mr. Russell he may wish to enact the emergency clause within the sediment act to allow ash removal efforts to commence without an approved sediment and erosion control plan. I told him he would have to receive permission for this through our Director, Mr. Tracy Davis. Shannon and I left the site at approximately 3:45 p.m. Please let me know if you need any further information. Thanks, Matt Matthew E. Gantt, P.E. NC DENR Winston-Salem Regional Office Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources 585 Waughtown Street Winston-Salem, NC 27107 Voice: (336) 771-5000 FAX: (336) 771-4631 From: McEvoy, Steve Sent: Tuesday, February 04, 2014 1:59 PM To: Davis, Tracy; Vinson, Toby Cc: Gantt, Matt; Denton, Bill; Idol, Tami Subject: Dan River Plant Primary Ash Pond Dam (ROCKI-237) Incident on 2-3-14 Importance: High
Summary of Event relative to Dam safety: On Monday February 3, 2014 at approximately 8:30 AM I received a call from Duke Energy personnel informing me that an ash spill incident had occurred at the Dan River Plant site involving the primary ash pond. It was reported to me that a 48-inch concrete pipe which carried stormwater from the plant area beneath the primary ash pond reservoir to outfall in the Dan River had broken and allowed release of impounded ash material into the Dan River. Apparently a security officer at the plant site noticed a significant fall in the water level within the ash pond some time Sunday afternoon February 2, 2014. Duke Energy personnel reported the incident to the EOC around 7:00
PM that evening where it was classified as a wastewater spill (not a dam safety incident). Apparently a sinkhole formed just inside the reservoir adjacent to S. Edgewood Road (see attachment) which appeared to be the result of a break in the 48-inch stormwater pipe. Ash material with the reservoir then escaped through the break in the pipe, flowing out through the remainder of the pipe into the Dan River. The sinkhole was also in close proximity to the embankment adjacent to S. Edgewood Road and precipitated a slope failure in the upstream face of the embankment. The eastern portions of the containment dike directly adjacent to the Dan River remained intact, apparently unaffected by the pipe break on the opposite side of the ash pond reservoir. During the February 3 telephone call, Duke personnel asked us for permission to perform emergency repairs in accordance with NCGS 143-215-27 (b) which were to include at the time completely grouting the 48-inch stormwater pipe with non-shrink grout and stabilizing the damaged containment dike embankment with soil nailing techniques. Stormwater discharge from the plant area would be rerouted. We granted approval for emergency repairs with the following stipulations: 1. Repairs undertaken are to be designed and performed under the supervision of a NC professional engineer (assumed to be a Duke Energy employee). 2. The Engineer is to submit as-build plans of the emergency repair work once completed to DEMLR. 3. The engineer is to document the volume of wet grout take so it can be compared to the computed volume of pipe grouted. In summary, the spill appears to be the result of a break in the stormwater bypass pipe traversing beneath the ash pond reservoir area and not the result of a dam failure. At this time, the containment dike on the east side of the ash pond reservoir directly adjacent to the Dan River appears to be stable and functioning as intended.
Steven M. McEvoy, PE State Dam Safety Engineer NC Land Quality Section 1612 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1612 Office: (919) 707-9220 [email protected] E-mail correspondence to and from this address may be subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
Davidson, Landon Campbell, Ted FW: Dan River Plant Primary Ash Pond Dam (ROCKI-237) Incident on 2-3-14 Friday, February 14, 2014 8:37:23 AM ROCKI-237_20140203_Incident.pdf ROCKI-237-H Dan River Primary Ash Basin Failure Pictures.ppt High
G. Landon Davidson, P.G. NCDENR - Division of Water Resources Water Quality Regional Operations Section Regional Supervisor - Asheville Regional Office 2090 U.S. Hwy. 70 Swannanoa, N.C. 28778 ph.: 828-296-4500 fax: 828-299-7043 email: [email protected] website: www.ncwaterquality.org Notice: Per Executive Order No. 150, all emails sent to and from this account are subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
From: Frost, Larry Sent: Thursday, February 06, 2014 11:11 AM To: Cranford, Chuck; Davidson, Landon Subject: FW: Dan River Plant Primary Ash Pond Dam (ROCKI-237) Incident on 2-3-14 Importance: High
Don’t think you’ve seen this. Larry Frost, Environmental Engineer North Carolina Division of Waste Management Solid Waste Section - Permitting Branch 2090 U.S. Highway 70 Swannanoa, North Carolina 28778 Phone: (828) 296-4704 [email protected] http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/wm/sw Notice: E-mail correspondence to and from this address may be subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law and therefore may be disclosed to third parties. From: Scott, Michael Sent: Wednesday, February 05, 2014 11:07 AM To: Lorscheider, Ellen; Mussler, Ed; Werner, Elizabeth; Frost, Larry; Shackelford, Dennis; Watkins, Jason Subject: FW: Dan River Plant Primary Ash Pond Dam (ROCKI-237) Incident on 2-3-14 Importance: High
FYI
From: Matthews, Dexter Sent: Wednesday, February 05, 2014 9:56 AM To: Bateson, James; Scott, Michael Subject: FW: Dan River Plant Primary Ash Pond Dam (ROCKI-237) Incident on 2-3-14 Importance: High
FYI
From: Davis, Tracy Sent: Wednesday, February 05, 2014 9:52 AM To: Gillespie, Mitch; Reeder, Tom; Matthews, Dexter; Bennett, Bradley; Vinson, Toby; McEvoy, Steve; Poling, Matt; Gantt, Matt Cc: Elliot, Drew; Kritzer, Jamie; Munger, Bridget; Presnell, Lacy Subject: FW: Dan River Plant Primary Ash Pond Dam (ROCKI-237) Incident on 2-3-14 Importance: High
All, DEMLR updates from our State Dam Safety Engineer (McEvoy) and our Winston-Salem Regional Office Land Quality Sedimentation/Stormwater Supervisor (Gantt) are provided below to document DEMLR activities over the past couple of days at the Dan River site. Also, attached are some pictures that our WSRO took on 2/3/2014 for your information. More updates from DEMLR’s perspective will follow as available. Also, Duke is operating under emergency provisions under the Dam Safety of 1967 to stabilize and repair the embankment that has been compromised on the western side of the ash pond. NOTE: Duke is requesting to create a borrow pit onsite to create roads in the ash pond to facilitate dam and pipe repairs. They are planning to provide a plan for my approval shortly. I have statutory authority to approve emergency measures to protect the environment under the Sedimentation Pollution Control Act by approving immediate measures and allowing Duke to submit their erosion and sedimentation control plan after the fact for the borrow pit onsite. Our WSRO DEMLR staff have provided guidance to Duke on this matter and I plan to approve their onsite borrow pit when it is received. Regarding the potential need to remove coal ash from the ash pond to facilitate repairs noted in earlier conversations between Duke and our WSRO DEMLR staff, staff has advised me that Duke is NOT planning to conduct such an activity at this time. However, I have asked our WSRO DEMLR staff to advise Duke that they would need to submit a plan with a detailed description of where, how and how large an area would be used for coal ash placement BEFORE they initiate such an activity, including the need to place a liner under the coal ash and provide both erosion and sedimentation and stormwater control measures. I would send this package around to DWR and DWM for their review and comment/stipulations before I would approve this emergency measure. I will keep you posted. Thanks, Tracy From: Russell, Tim [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, February 05, 2014 5:46 AM To: Gantt, Matt Cc: Harris, Randall Scott; DeNeale, Sean Subject: Dan River
Matt, During the dam safety inspection, you mentioned that an emergency erosion and sediment control permit can be obtained. We are using on site soil to build roads within the ash basin. We expect that in order to obtain necessary quantities of fill on site and to perform the emergency dam work, we could exceed an acre of disturbance. Will you advise us on how that emergency E&SC permit works and what we need to do to obtain such a permit? Obviously, time is of the essence. So, thanks in advance for your help. I am working night shift. Should you need more information or have questions, feel free to contact Scott Harris (cell 704-560-6012), as he is working day shifts. If you are an early bird or night owl, feel free to contact me. Thanks again Matt. Tim Russell, P.E. Geotechnical Leader Central Engineering & Services Duke Energy (704) 382-4945 - Office (704) 962-0072 - Mobile From: Gantt, Matt Sent: Tuesday, February 04, 2014 3:44 PM To: Davis, Tracy; Vinson, Toby Cc: Leonard, Shannon; McEvoy, Steve Subject: Dan River Plant Primary Ash Pond Dam (ROCKI-237) Incident on 2-3-14
Tracy and Toby, Shannon Leonard and I responded to the concern regarding the damage to the Primary Ash Pond (ROCKI-237) at the Duke Energy Dan River Plant on 2/3/2014. Shannon and I arrived at the facility at approximately 11:00 a.m. Upon arrival, we met with Tim Russell, P.E., with Duke Energy. Also present were Aana Taylor-Smith with DEMLR (WSRO), Lon Snider with DWR (WSRO), Sherri Knight with WQS (WSRO), and Shuying Wang WQS (WSRO). After a brief safety meeting, we were escorted to the Primary Ash Pond by Duke Energy staff. The failure within the interior of the embankment of the dam was a vertical slope. We were not able to take any measurements of the failure within this area due to the unstable conditions around the perimeter of the slope. After leaving the area of the slope failure, we inspected the remaining portions of the Primary Ash Pond. A visual inspection of the remaining embankment of the pond found that it appeared to be stable. Contractors were working on plugging up the 48” RCP pipe with an inflatable bladder. The first bladder that was installed did not adequately seal the pipe. While on site, we discussed further remedies to plug the pipe to prevent further ash loss into the Dan River. It was suggested that a cap with bands may be placed over the 48” RCP outlet pipe outlet if further attempts at sealing the pipe with a bladder were not successful. After our inspection of the Primary Ash Pond, we moved on to inspect the Secondary Ash Pond (ROCKI-238) located at the base of the Primary Ash Pond. The Secondary Ash Pond appeared to be performing satisfactorily. Recent repairs to the downstream embankment of the Secondary Ash
Pond were observed to be stable. Mr. Russell stated that Duke Energy was planning to have the storm water pipe under the Secondary Ash Pond inspected with a remote control camera to detect any potential problems with that pipe. The Service Water Pond behind the decommissioned power plant was also inspected. No items of concern were noted regarding this structure. This is a clean water pond used for plant operations. No ash is stored within this pond. We discussed the removal of the remaining ash material from the Primary Ash Pond with Mr. Russell. He stated that the ash may have to be removed to another location on the Dan River facility. I advised Mr. Russell he may wish to enact the emergency clause within the sediment act to allow ash removal efforts to commence without an approved sediment and erosion control plan. I told him he would have to receive permission for this through our Director, Mr. Tracy Davis. Shannon and I left the site at approximately 3:45 p.m. Please let me know if you need any further information. Thanks, Matt Matthew E. Gantt, P.E. NC DENR Winston-Salem Regional Office Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources 585 Waughtown Street Winston-Salem, NC 27107 Voice: (336) 771-5000 FAX: (336) 771-4631 From: McEvoy, Steve Sent: Tuesday, February 04, 2014 1:59 PM To: Davis, Tracy; Vinson, Toby Cc: Gantt, Matt; Denton, Bill; Idol, Tami Subject: Dan River Plant Primary Ash Pond Dam (ROCKI-237) Incident on 2-3-14 Importance: High
Summary of Event relative to Dam safety: On Monday February 3, 2014 at approximately 8:30 AM I received a call from Duke Energy personnel informing me that an ash spill incident had occurred at the Dan River Plant site involving the primary ash pond. It was reported to me that a 48-inch concrete pipe which carried stormwater from the plant area beneath the primary ash pond reservoir to outfall in the Dan River had broken and allowed release of impounded ash material into the Dan River. Apparently a security officer at the plant site noticed a significant fall in the water level within the ash pond some time Sunday afternoon February 2, 2014. Duke Energy personnel reported the incident to the EOC around 7:00
PM that evening where it was classified as a wastewater spill (not a dam safety incident). Apparently a sinkhole formed just inside the reservoir adjacent to S. Edgewood Road (see attachment) which appeared to be the result of a break in the 48-inch stormwater pipe. Ash material with the reservoir then escaped through the break in the pipe, flowing out through the remainder of the pipe into the Dan River. The sinkhole was also in close proximity to the embankment adjacent to S. Edgewood Road and precipitated a slope failure in the upstream face of the embankment. The eastern portions of the containment dike directly adjacent to the Dan River remained intact, apparently unaffected by the pipe break on the opposite side of the ash pond reservoir. During the February 3 telephone call, Duke personnel asked us for permission to perform emergency repairs in accordance with NCGS 143-215-27 (b) which were to include at the time completely grouting the 48-inch stormwater pipe with non-shrink grout and stabilizing the damaged containment dike embankment with soil nailing techniques. Stormwater discharge from the plant area would be rerouted. We granted approval for emergency repairs with the following stipulations: 1. Repairs undertaken are to be designed and performed under the supervision of a NC professional engineer (assumed to be a Duke Energy employee). 2. The Engineer is to submit as-build plans of the emergency repair work once completed to DEMLR. 3. The engineer is to document the volume of wet grout take so it can be compared to the computed volume of pipe grouted. In summary, the spill appears to be the result of a break in the stormwater bypass pipe traversing beneath the ash pond reservoir area and not the result of a dam failure. At this time, the containment dike on the east side of the ash pond reservoir directly adjacent to the Dan River appears to be stable and functioning as intended.
Steven M. McEvoy, PE State Dam Safety Engineer NC Land Quality Section 1612 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1612 Office: (919) 707-9220 [email protected] E-mail correspondence to and from this address may be subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
