Water Quality Compliance Workshop
2023 Water Quality Workshop Presentation Materials
Documents used during the Water Quality Workshop February 23, 2023 are posted here.
DISCLAIMER: All materials posted on this page are intended for use by those who attended the NCMA co-sponsored Online North Carolina Water Quality Compliance Workshops in 2023. Any errors in the information found on this page cannot be used as a defense for noncompliance with water quality rules. Regulated entities are responsible for compliance regardless the information found on this page or interpretation of the meaning of these materials. All information is subject to change and correction prior or subsequent to user access.
8:15 AM - Director's Remarks
Richard Rogers
Director, Division of Water Resources
[cl-popup title="RICHARD ROGERS
Director, Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ" show_on="text" btn_label="Read Richard Rogers's Bio"]BIO
Richard joined the Department of Environmental Quality in March 2022 as the Director of Water Resources. Prior to his current role Richard was the executive director for the North Carolina Retired Governmental Employees’ Association; a nonprofit association with 65,000 member supporting local and state government retirees through advocacy and outreach. He last worked with the state as the executive director for the Clean Water Management Trust Fund now known as the North Carolina Land and Water Fund. Richard also served the Department of Environment and Natural Resources from 1997 to 2007 in various roles as the Assistant Secretary of Natural Resources, Director of Conservation and Community Affairs, and Director of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs.
richard.rogers@ncdenr.gov
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8:45 AM Water Quality Legal Update
Drew Hargrove
Office of General Counsel, DEQ
WOTUS
Download Presentation Revised!
[cl-popup title="Drew Hargrove
Assistant General Counsel, NCDEQ" show_on="text" btn_label="Read Drew Hargrove's Bio"]BIO
Drew Hargrove is an Assistant General Counsel with N.C. Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ). Since joining NCDEQ in 2014, he has worked on a wide range of legal matters, but works primarily with NCDEQ’s Division of Water Resources. Drew currently serves on the Council for the N.C. Bar Association’s Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources Section. While in law school at UNC- Chapel Hill, Drew was a staff member of the North Carolina Journal of Law and Technology and a member of the law school’s Environmental Law Project. Prior to earning his law degree, Drew worked for several years in the investment management business.
drew.hargrove@ncdenr.gov
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9:05 AM Surface Water Standards
Chris Ventaloro
Water Quality Standards Coordinator
Water Planning Section
Surface Water and Groundwater Standards Update
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[cl-popup title="Chris Ventaloro
Water Quality Standards Coordinator" show_on="text" btn_label="Read Chris Ventaloro's Bio"]BIO
Christopher “Chris” Ventaloro is a Water Quality Standards Co-coordinator in the Planning Section of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources. His main function in this role is to research and review EPA publications and scientific literature for the purpose of developing surface water quality criteria and to bring proposed criteria through the rulemaking process for establishment as state water quality standards. Chris brings a variety of knowledge to this role including 20 years of laboratory experience in aquatic toxicology, wet chemistry, and microbiology as well as an education in biology (B.S., Long Island University-Southampton) and GIS. When not working Chris will likely be found spilling water while doing maintenance on his aquarium, filling his garage with sawdust, torturing his wife and cats while he “plays” guitar, and being taken out for long walks by his dog, Molly.
christopher.ventaloro@ncdenr.gov
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9:50 AM PFAS Investigations
Julie Grzyb
Deputy Director
Division of Water Resources
[cl-popup title="Julie Grzyb
Deputy Director" show_on="text" btn_label="Read Julie Grzyb's Bio"]BIO
Julie Grzyb (pronounced Gribb) is the Deputy Director for North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality - Division of Water Resources. She has worked for DWR since 2009, first as a NPDES permit writer and later as Supervisor over the Municipal & Industrial Permitting Branch. Her focus has been on addressing emerging compounds in the Cape Fear, remediation at the Chemours facility in Fayetteville, and implementation of the state's dissolved metal standards. Prior to working at DWR, Julie was a Water Resource Manager for Virginia, DEQ and the Industrial Permitting Supervisor for Ohio EPA's southwest regional office. Julie earned her B.S. degree from the College of Engineering at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY.
julie.grzyb@ncdenr.gov
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10:30 AM Pretreatment, new SIU categories, and PFAS Updates
Keyes McGee
Pretreatment Coordinator
Water Quality Permitting Section
Pretreatment, new SIU categories and PFAS
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[cl-popup title="Keyes McGee
Pretreatment Coordinator" show_on="text" btn_label="Read Keyes McGee's Bio"]BIO
Keyes McGee is in his 24th year with the state’s environmental agency, currently serving as Pretreatment Coordinator with DWR. Formerly employed by Exide – Powerware (10-years) for system testing / repairs / certification of “high-load” uninterruptible power supply systems, and Carolina Power & Light Company (6-years) in fossil and nuclear steam electric facilities for electronics / instrumentation. He has earned an Environmental Engineering B.S. Degree from NC State University (1999), an Industrial Management B.S. Degree from NC Wesleyan College (1988) and an Electronics Technology A.A.S. Degree (1982) from Cape Fear Technical Institute. Keyes has earned NCSU’s Energy Management Diploma and is certified as an Advanced Environmental Management System Auditor. His Wastewater Operator Certifications are Grade 1 Biological, Spray Irrigation, and Sub-Surface.
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11:00 AM NPDES Tiered Enforcement
Emily Richards
Environmental Specialist
Compliance & Expedited Permitting
[cl-popup title="Emily Richards
Environmental Specialist" show_on="text" btn_label="Read Emily Richards's Bio"]BIO
Emily Richards is an Environmental Specialist II in the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Compliance and Expedited permitting group, where her main focuses are wastewater permitting and compliance-related activities. Emily graduated from Geneva College in 2013 with a B.S. in Environmental Science, after which she worked in the Philadelphia Zoo’s Education and Outreach program and for the Pennsylvania Game Commission. She received her M.S. in Renewable Natural Resources from Louisiana State University in 2017 before joining DWR.
emily.richards@ncdenr.gov
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11:30 AM Non-Discharge types of permits, direct discharge vs non-discharge alternatives, residual permits
Lauren Raup-Plummer
Non-Discharge Branch
[cl-popup title="Lauren Raup-Plummer
Non-Discarge Branch" show_on="text" btn_label="Read Lauren Raup-Plummer's Bio"]BIO
Lauren Raup-Plummer, PE is an Engineer III for the Division of Water Resource’s Non-Discharge Branch. She is responsible for reviewing permit applications for Non-Discharge facilities across the state. She has over 10 years of engineering experience and has held positions in both the public and private sectors. Prior to joining NCDEQ in 2015, Lauren worked with GEI Consultants, Inc. and S&ME, Inc., in their Raleigh offices, working on both environmental and geotechnical projects. Lauren is a licensed Professional Engineer and holds her Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering from Virginia Tech and Master’s in Environmental Engineering from the University of Tennessee.
lauren.plummer@ncdenr.gov
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12:45 PM What to Expect During an NPDES Inspection
Mock Inspection – The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
Tom Tharrington
Asst. Regional Supervisor
DWR, Wilmington Regional Office
[cl-popup title="Tom Tharrington
Asst. Regional Supervisor" show_on="text" btn_label="Read Tom Tharrington's Bio"]BIO
Tom Tharrington is the Assistant Regional Supervisor for the Water Quality Regional Operations Section in the Wilmington Regional Office, he has nearly 35 years of experience in the public and private sector. Prior to joining NCDEQ in 2004, Tom worked with BASF Corp, Takeda Chemical Products, Cogentrix and E.I. Dupont & DeNemours and has a diverse background that comprises technical and managerial experiences, wastewater treatment process control, groundwater monitoring and remediation, regulatory oversight and staff/operator training. Along with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and Geology, Tom maintains operator certifications for Biological Wastewater 4, Land Application of Residual Solids, Spray Irrigation, Subsurface and Physical/Chemical 1.
tom.tharrington@ncdenr.gov
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1:20 PM NPDES Compliance Reporting; Compliance Tips and Topics; Chemical/Spill Reporting
Regional Supervisors
Water Quality Regional Operations
[cl-popup title="Trent Allen
Fayetteville Regional Office" show_on="text" btn_label="Read Trent Allen's Bio"]BIO
Trent Allen is the Regional Supervisor for the Water Quality Regional Operations Section in the Fayetteville Regional Office. He began his career with the Division of Soil and Water Conservation in 1995 working on animal facility certifications and operation reviews of farms. In 2006, he joined the Division of Water Quality/ Division of Water Resources as an engineer, moving into the Regional Supervisors role in 2015.
trent.allen@ncdenr.gov
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[cl-popup title="Mark Brantley
Fayetteville Regional Office" show_on="text" btn_label="Read Mark Brantley's Bio"]BIO
Mark Brantley is the Assistant Regional Supervisor of the Water Quality Regional Operations Section in the Fayetteville Regional. Mark received a B.S. in Chemistry from Campbell University in 1999. He started his environmental career with Harnett County Public Utilities and after graduation from Campbell he worked with the City of Dunn. Mark has been with the División of Water Resources since 2004 and has experience with a variety of the division’s program.
mark.brantley@ncdenr.gov
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[cl-popup title="Lon Snider
Winston-Salem Regional Office" show_on="text" btn_label="Read Lon Snider's Bio"]BIO
Lon Snider is the Regional Supervisor for the Water Quality Regional Operations Section in the Winston-Salem Regional Office. Lon was born and raised in Western North Carolina and received a B.S. in Environmental Health & Science from Western Carolina University in 1999. Upon graduation, he worked all over the state in Environmental Consulting as well as Project Management for Disaster Recovery and Construction. In 2007, he began his career with NCDEQ in the Mooresville Regional Office. During his tenure with the Department, he has worked for both DEMLR and DWR. He has been the Supervisor for the Winston-Salem Regional Office since 2019.
lon.snider@ncdenr.gov
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[cl-popup title="Jenny Graznak
Winston-Salem Regional Office" show_on="text" btn_label="Read Jenny Graznak's Bio"]BIO
Jenny Graznak is currently the Assistant Regional Supervisor for the Water Quality Regional Operations Section of the Division of Water Resources in the Winston-Salem Regional Office. In her time with the Division, she has held positions as a compliance inspector for industrial stormwater, NPDES wastewater, collection systems, residuals, the Animal Feeding Operations Program and as a permit writer for the Fast Track Sewer Permitting Program. She spends much of her time focused on emerging compounds in the Winston-Salem Region. Prior to joining the Division in 2003, she worked for the NCSU Department of Soil Science. Jenny graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a B.S. in Biology and Chemistry and an M.S. in Environmental Sciences and Engineering.
jenny.graznak@ncdenr.gov
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2:10 PM Stormwater program Overview, eDMR, CROMERR
Brianna Young
Industrial Individual Permits Coordinator
Stormwater Program
NC DEMLR
[cl-popup title="Brianna Young
Industrial Individual Permits Coordinator" show_on="text" btn_label="Read Brianna Young's Bio"]BIO
Brianna Young is the Industrial Individual Permitting Coordinator for the Stormwater Permitting Group. Since joining DEQ in 2016, her professional focus was first with the Division of Water Resources working on NPDES wastewater permitting and compliance, and in August 2021 she transitioned to the Stormwater Program in the Department of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources as the Individual Industrial Permits Coordinator. Prior to joining DEQ, Brianna worked with the U.S. EPA assisting in the development of Integrated Science Assessments (ISAs) for criteria air pollutants. Brianna graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a B.S. in Environmental Science and an M.S. in Environmental Sciences and Engineering.
brianna.young@ncdenr.gov
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3:00 PM Tier Response Guidance
Isaiah Reed
Coordinator, Stormwater Program
NC DEMLR
[cl-popup title="Isaiah Reed
Stormwater Program Coordinator" show_on="text" btn_label="Read Isaiah Reed's Bio"]BIO
Isaiah Reed is a MS4 Program Coordinator for the Stormwater Permitting Group. He is from Ashe County, NC and graduated from Appalachian State University in 2014. He is an Environmental Engineer and a Geologist. He has worked in NPDES compliance for more than 8 years in NC, SC, and GA.
isaiah.reed@ncdenr.gov
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3:40 PM Groundwater Rules/CCPCUA Update
Implementation of .02L Groundwater Rules and Readoption Update • Central Coastal Plain Capacity Use Area Update
Gabrielle Chianese
Branch Head
Eric Smith
Environmental Program Consultant
Groundwater Management Branch
DWR, Raleigh Regional Office
[cl-popup title="Gabrielle Chianese
Head, Groundwater Management Branch" show_on="text" btn_label="Read Gabrielle Chianese's Bio"]BIO
Gabrielle Chianese, Groundwater Management Branch Head, Division of Water Resources. Gabrielle has worked with DWR’s Groundwater Management Branch (GWMB) since 1999. She has been the program lead of Central Coastal Plain Capacity Water Withdrawal Water Withdrawal Permit Program the entire time with DWR. Prior to DWR, she worked in the private sector (Law Engineering) and NCDOT performing environmental and geotechnical work. She has a bachelors degree in Geology from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington-Go SEAHAWKS!
gabrielle.chianese@ncdenr.gov
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[cl-popup title="Eric Smith
Environmental Program Consultant, Groundwater Management Branch" show_on="text" btn_label="Read Eric Smith's Bio"]BIO
Eric Smith, Environmental Program Consultant.
B.S. Applied Geology, Lock Haven University; M.S. Environmental and Engineering Geosciences, Radford University. Mr. Smith has worked with North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality for over 13 years. He started out working in the Division of Water Resources – Well Construction Program. Around 2012, he started working full time with the Division’s groundwater assessment and corrective action for the 14 coal ash facilities in North Carolina. Prior to working for the State, Mr. Smith worked for several environmental firms as field technician.
eric.g.smith@ncdenr.gov
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