20210315_ADI_68-04

ROY COOPER
Governor
DIONNE DELLI-GATTI
Secretory
BRIAN WRENN
Director
Certified Mail
Return Receipt Requested
7016 2140 0000 4368 3582
Mr. Tony Merritt
Merritt's Gravel Pit Inc.
3200 Damascus Church Road
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
March 15, 2021
RE: Tony Merritt's Gravel Pit Application
Mining Permit Number: 68-04
Orange County
Cape Fear River Basin
Dear Mr. Merritt:
We have reviewed the application your company submitted for the referenced mine site.
In order for this office to complete its review of the referenced project in accordance with
GS 74-50 and 51 of the Mining Act of 1971, please provide the additional or revised
information in accordance with the following comments:
The following items must be shown on your mine map:
a. All water supply wells within 500 feet of the mine excavation.
b. All occupied dwellings within 300 feet of the mine excavation,
c. Visual screening along Damascus Church Road.
d. Names of all adjoining landowners in the appropriate locations on the plans.
This includes the adjoining landowners for both the existing mine and
proposed addition.
e. The proposed final slopes of beneficial fill and other areas are 2H:1 V.
Generally, from a permanent stabilization perspective we consider this too
steep for fill slopes to remain stable over the long term. The proposed
slopes as drawn on Drawing C-2 are rejected unless you provide
appropriate slope stability calculations with factor of safety indicating the
proposed slopes can be expected to remain stable in the long-term.
f. Please revise maps provided to accurately reflect current conditions.
g. Proposed highwalls and required barriers must be clearly identified on plan
sheets.
h. Indicate the location of the two 500-gallon aboveground storage tanks with
containment on plans. The tanks' containment structures should be shown
in the Details drawing.
D E Q�� North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Energy, Mineral and Land Resources
512 North Saltsbury Street 1 1612 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1612
�onv/'� 919.707.9200

Certified Mail
Mr. Merritt
Page 12
i. On a separate map, show the contributing watersheds and delineate how
they are affecting sediment basin and channel. Delineations must
correspond with topography.
j. Explain the purpose of the "shallow excavation area" near Damascus
Church Road, as shown on Sheet C-1.
k. On Sheet 2, Basin No. 1 discharges onto an area of fill material. A stable
outlet channel or other conveyance is needed to ensure adequate
protection against erosion. Details of the design must be provided.
I. On Sheet C-2, Reclamation Consideration Item 3: Which location is being
referenced as "access drive" in note 3? This is not consistent with any
location on plans. Designer is reminded to use consistent nomenclature for
map features to reduce potential for confusion.
m. On Sheet C-2: Cross-section of beneficial fill shows side slopes of 2:1. See
previous note 1(e), regarding this steepness unless slope stability
calculations are provided showing long-term stability.
n. On Sheet C-2: Basin No. 2 discharges onto a slope. Stable conveyance
needs to be shown. How will a stable conveyance be provided without
disturbing the buffer and staying in the permitted area?
o. Sheet C-2: Clarify purpose of proposed berm along southern half of western
permit boundary and adjacent to Basin No. 2.
p. Concerning Sheet D-1: As stated 1(i), we cannot confirm the adequacy of
much of the design for channels and basins until watershed delineation
maps are provided.
q. Sheet D-1, Slope Stabilization (West Buffer): Detail shows 2:1 slope. This
will be difficult to stabilize and is too steep to accept discharge from Basin
No. 2. Please redesign.
r. Construction details for both entrances from Damascus Church Road need
to be shown. Details must comply with NC DOT requirements.
s. On Sheet C-1: What is the purpose of the label "Limits of Disturbance" in
the lower left quadrant of the sheet?
t. On Sheet C-2: What is label "Pump Basin" supposed to indicate? This note
appears extraneous.
2. Provide proof/documentation such as copies of the signed return receipts from certified
mail that adjoining landowners have been properly notified, as per the requirements of
§74-50(b1)(3). Note, this includes, but is not limited to, the three property owners north
of the permitted area that are adjacent to the permitted area.
3. Please supply proof that you have a legal easement, and that it is recorded with the
Orange County Register of Deeds for the 30-foot right-of-way you are requesting to add
to the Mine Permit.
Please note, this office may request additional information, not included in this letter, as
the mining application review progresses.

Certified Mail
Mr. Merritt
Page 13
Please 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 and the bond to my attention at the following address:
Division of Land Resources
Department of Environmental Quality
1612 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1612
As required by 15A NCAC 5B.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 can not 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 [phone] if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
David Miller
State Mining Engineer
Enclosures:
cc: Mr. Bill Denton, PE. RRO