20230920_ADI_61-16

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ROY COOPER
Governor ? i' - r
ELIZABETH S.BISER
Secretary
Q AM VIOL
WILLIAM E.TOBY VINSON,JR NORTH CAROLINA
Interim Director Environmental Quality
September 20, 2023
Certified Mail
Return Receipt Requested
7022 0410 0003 1130 7168
Jeffrey Curtis
The Quartz Corp,USA
PO Box 309
Spruce Pine,NC 28777
RE: Altapass Mine
Mining Permit No. 61-16
Mitchell County
French Broad River Basin
Dear Mr. Curtis:
We have reviewed the modification request your company submitted for the referenced mine site. In order for this
office to complete its review of the referenced project in accordance with N.C.G.S. §74-50 and§74-51 of the Mining
Act of 1971,please provide the additional or revised information in accordance with the following comments:
1. Please provide proof, such as copy of the signed return receipts from certified mail, that all adjoining
landowners and chief administrative officer of each county and municipality have been properly
notified.
2. Your NPDES Waste Water Permit NC0000353 expired February 28,2016. Please clarify if you intend
to renew this permit or provide justification as to why this permit is no longer required. If you intend
to renew this permit,please provide proof of submission of the application.
3. A 401 Water Quality Certification is required for this project. Please clarify your intent to submit an
application. Please be advised that any changes to design, including final grading,that may occur as a
result of pending topographic survey information may need to be updated in a mining permit
modification if not covered in this application.
4. Please clearly identify and label on the mine map the location of the pits/excavations, stockpile area,
temporary and permanent overburden storage area, and processing plants.
5. Your application stated that the 25' buffers would be undisturbed. Please label on the mine map that
the buffers are undisturbed buffers.
6. A minimum 50 foot wide undisturbed buffer is required between any land disturbing activities and any
natural water courses and wetlands unless smaller buffers can be justified. You've proposed 25'
buffers,please provide a justification for the 25' buffers. Please keep in mind that Grassy Creek is on
the 303(d) list of impaired waters for an impaired biological community.
D E Q North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Energy,Mineral and Land Resources
512 North Salisbury Street 1 1612 Mail Service Center I Raleigh,North Carolina 27699-1612
NORhI CAROLINA -
oaaa�emaienmronmenmiuuality /`� 919.707.9200

Certified Mail
7022 0410 0003 1130 7168
Mr. Curtis
Page 2
7. The buffers on the mine map sheet 1 state there is a "note 1", however there is no note for further
explanation. The buffers on mine map sheet 2 state there is a "note 2", however there is no note for
further explanation. The wetland and streams on sheet 2 state there is a"note 1",however there is no
note for further explanation. Please clarify.
8. Please clearly identify and label on the mine map all affected areas.
9. Please clarify the name of the mine. The name provided in the application does not match the name on
the current permit. Please include the name of the mine on the mine maps.
10. The permit boundary on the map provided as part of this modification application includes a parcel
labeled as US Gypsum on the last approved mine map. Please clarify if you intend to include this area
as part of the permitted boundary.
11. The affected area includes the rail between your plant,north of the rail, and your pits, south of the rail.
All affected areas must be included within the mine permit boundary.
12. Your previous application referenced chemical tanks stored on site, however this application states
there will be no storage of fuel tanks, solvents, or other chemical reagents to be stored on site. Please
clarify.
13. Your previous application stated no explosives will be utilized for mining purposes but may be used
for construction on an extremely limited basis, however this application states there will be no
explosives used. Please clarify.
14. Please provide construction and maintenance details of the gate and fence used for a permanent
barricade as part of the reclamation plan. Please label the location of these barricades on the mine map.
15. Please refer to Section D of the mine permit application and provide a reclamation map that clearly
illustrates the reclamation plan for the entire site. The map should clearly illustrate the post mining use
of the entire site. It should also include all italicized items listed in the application.
16. Please clarify the intent of the improved access from Highway 226. Please clearly identify and label
on the mine map any haul roads that connect this improved access to other areas of the mine.
Please note, this office may request additional information not included in this letter, as the mining application
review progresses. Be advised that our review cannot be completed until all of the items listed above have been
fully addressed.
In order to complete the processing of your application,please forward two(2)copies of the requested information
to my attention at the following address:
Division of Energy,Mineral and Land Resources
Department of Environmental Quality
1612 Mail Service Center
Raleigh,NC 27699-1612

Certified Mail
7022 0410 0003 1130 7168
Mr. Curtis
Page 3
If hand delivering or delivering by shipping company(e.g.,FedEx,UPS),please deliver to our physical address:
Division of Energy,Mineral, and Land Resources
Department of Environmental Quality
512 N. Salisbury Street, 5th Floor
Raleigh,NC 27604
As required by 15A NCAC 513.0113,you are hereby advised that you have 180 days from the date of your receipt
of this letter to submit all of the requested information. If you are unable to meet this deadline and wish to request
additional time,you must submit information,in writing,to the Director clearly indicating why the deadline cannot
be met and request that an extension of time be granted. If an extension of time is not granted, a decision will be
made to grant or deny the mining permit based upon the information currently in the Department's files at the end
of the 180-day period.
Though the preceding statement cites the maximum time limit for your response,we encourage you to provide the
additional information requested by this letter as soon as possible. Your prompt response will help us to complete
processing your application sooner.
Please contact me at(919) 707-9220 if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Adam Parr,PE
Acting State Mining Engineer
cc: Ms. Shawna Riddle