WQ0039947_Staff Report_20230403

State of North Carolina
Division of Water Resources

Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Staff Report

FORM: WQROSSR 04-14 Page 1 of 7

To: NPDES Unit Non-Discharge Unit Application No.: WQ0039947
Attn: Erick Saunders Facility name: Golden Valley Campground WWTF

From: Melanie Kemp
Asheville Regional Office

Note: This form has been adapted from the non-discharge facility staff report to document the review of both non-
discharge and NPDES permit applications and/or renewals. Please complete all sections as they are applicable.

I. GENERAL AND SITE VISIT INFORMATION
1. Was a site visit conducted? Yes or No
a. Date of site visit: January 30, 2023
b. Site visit conducted by: Melanie Kemp
c. Inspection report attached? Yes or No In LF
d. Person contacted: Bob Barr and their contact information: [e-mail] ext.
e. Driving directions: From Marion: Hwy 226 South to Golden Valley Church Rd. Golden Valley Church
Rd. changes to Luckadoo Mtn. Rd. Continue to Fire Tower Rd. on the right. The site is located approx.
0.5 miles on the right.
2. Discharge Point(s):
Latitude: Longitude:
Latitude: Longitude:
3. Receiving stream or affected surface waters:
Classification:
River Basin and Subbasin No.
Describe receiving stream features and pertinent downstream uses:
II. PROPOSED FACILITIES: NEW APPLICATIONS
1. Facility Classification: (Please attach completed rating sheet to be attached to issued permit)
Proposed flow:
Current permitted flow:
2. Are the new treatment facilities adequate for the type of waste and disposal system? Yes or No
If no, explain:
3. Are site conditions (soils, depth to water table, etc) consistent with the submitted reports? Yes No N/A
If no, please explain:
4. Do the plans and site map represent the actual site (property lines, wells, etc.)? Yes No N/A
If no, please explain:
DocuSign Envelope ID: 737D7FB0-A801-45D8-A0D5-F50C455A8FAB
FORM: WQROSSR 04-14 Page 2 of 7
5. Is the proposed residuals management plan adequate? Yes No N/A
If no, please explain:
6. Are the proposed application rates (e.g., hydraulic, nutrient) acceptable? Yes No N/A
If no, please explain:
7. Are there any setback conflicts for proposed treatment, storage and disposal sites? Yes or No
If yes, attach a map showing conflict areas.
8. Is the proposed or existing groundwater monitoring program adequate? Yes No N/A
If no, explain and recommend any changes to the groundwater monitoring program:
9. For residuals, will seasonal or other restrictions be required? Yes No N/A
If yes, attach list of sites with restrictions (Certification B)
Describe the residuals handling and utilization scheme:
10. Possible toxic impacts to surface waters:
11. Pretreatment Program (POTWs only):

III. EXISTING FACILITIES: MODIFICATION AND RENEWAL APPLICATIONS
1. Are there appropriately certified Operators in Charge (ORCs) for the facility? Yes No N/A
ORC: Bob Barr Certificate #: SI / 24262 Backup ORC: Kenneth Rummel Certificate #:SI / 1010634
2. Are the design, maintenance and operation of the treatment facilities adequate for the type of waste and disposal
system? Yes or No
If no, please explain:
Description of existing facilities: Wastewater from the site is treated utilizing EZ-treat technology before
being applied to drip fields (forest) nearby. An unlined 606,496-gallon unlined wet-weather storage pond is
available. A flow reduction was granted in September 2021 and generally the site processes much less
wastewater than they are permitted to. The facility is mostly seasonal, with minimal flows December –
April. The site anticipates higher flows and additional buildouts in the coming years.
Proposed flow: 40,000 GPD
Current permitted flow: 40,000 GPD
Explain anything observed during the site visit that needs to be addressed by the permit, or that may be important
for the permit writer to know (i.e., equipment condition, function, maintenance, a change in facility ownership, etc
The ARO and permitting team have been in communication with Mark Brooks (engineer for the WWTS),
representatives from CSC Construction Management, RPB Systems (ORC) and the site owners (Northgate
Holdings) regarding temporary and long-term changes to the drip irrigation area. Drip subzones 9-12 are
temporarily offline to provide access to an old logging road that transects the fields. The area was surveyed
in February 2023 and engineering calculations show that the resulting reduced flow should be adequate for
the expected wastewater demands during construction (March – May 2023). The plan is to proceed with a
permit renewal, keeping the permit as-is for now. Mark Brooks will submit a permit modification
application in late 2023 to reflect the long-term removal of the damaged parts of sub-zones 9-12 and
potentially the addition of a new field to meet wastewater flow demands as the site continues to grow and
utilize its full capacity.
3. Are the site conditions (e.g., soils, topography, depth to water table, etc) maintained appropriately and adequately
assimilating the waste? Yes or No
If no, please explain:
4. Has the site changed in any way that may affect the permit (e.g., drainage added, new wells inside the compliance
boundary, new development, etc.)? Yes or No
If yes, please explain: See summary above.
5. Is the residuals management plan adequate? Yes or No
If no, please explain:
DocuSign Envelope ID: 737D7FB0-A801-45D8-A0D5-F50C455A8FAB
FORM: WQROSSR 04-14 Page 3 of 7
6. Are the existing application rates (e.g., hydraulic, nutrient) still acceptable? Yes or No
If no, please explain:
7. Is the existing groundwater monitoring program adequate? Yes No N/A
If no, explain and recommend any changes to the groundwater monitoring program:
8. Are there any setback conflicts for existing treatment, storage and disposal sites? Yes or No
If yes, attach a map showing conflict areas.
9. Is the description of the facilities as written in the existing permit correct? Yes or No
If no, please explain:
10. Were monitoring wells properly constructed and located? Yes No N/A
If no, please explain:

DocuSign Envelope ID: 737D7FB0-A801-45D8-A0D5-F50C455A8FAB
FORM: WQROSSR 04-14 Page 4 of 7
11. Are the monitoring well coordinates correct in BIMS? Yes No N/A
If no, please complete the following (expand table if necessary):
Monitoring Well Latitude Longitude ○ ′ ″ - ○ ′ ″ ○ ′ ″ - ○ ′ ″ ○ ′ ″ - ○ ′ ″ ○ ′ ″ - ○ ′ ″ ○ ′ ″ - ○ ′ ″
12. Has a review of all self-monitoring data been conducted (e.g., DMR, NDMR, NDAR, GW)? Yes or No
Please summarize any findings resulting from this review:
Groundwater: Results (last collected July 2022) were all below compliance standards.
NDMR/NDARs: Average flow is about 141 GPD, with peak flows in July and August (~5,000 GPD). There
were no exceedances of effluent compliance standards in 2022.
Provide input to help the permit writer evaluate any requests for reduced monitoring, if applicable.
13. Are there any permit changes needed in order to address ongoing BIMS violations? Yes or No
If yes, please explain:
14. Check all that apply:
No compliance issues Current enforcement action(s) Currently under JOC
Notice(s) of violation Currently under SOC Currently under moratorium
Please explain and attach any documents that may help clarify answer/comments (i.e., NOV, NOD, etc.)
If the facility has had compliance problems during the permit cycle, please explain the status. Has the RO been
working with the Permittee? Is a solution underway or in place?
Have all compliance dates/conditions in the existing permit been satisfied? Yes No N/A
If no, please explain:
15. Are there any issues related to compliance/enforcement that should be resolved before issuing this permit?
Yes No N/A
If yes, please explain:
16. Possible toxic impacts to surface waters:
17. Pretreatment Program (POTWs only):

DocuSign Envelope ID: 737D7FB0-A801-45D8-A0D5-F50C455A8FAB
FORM: WQROSSR 04-14 Page 5 of 7
IV. REGIONAL OFFICE RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Do you foresee any problems with issuance/renewal of this permit? Yes or No
If yes, please explain:
2. List any items that you would like the NPDES Unit or Non-Discharge Unit Central Office to obtain through an
additional information request:
Item Reason

3. List specific permit conditions recommended to be removed from the permit when issued:
Condition Reason
I. Schedules Remove all old schedule items.

4. List specific special conditions or compliance schedules recommended to be included in the permit when issued:
Condition Reason
I. Schedules
Within 90 days of permit issuance the Permittee shall submit two original
copies of a site map with a scale no greater than 1- inch equals 100 feet;
however, special provisions may be granted upon prior approval for large
properties. At a minimum, the map shall include the following
information:
a. The location and identity of each monitoring well.
b. The location of major components of the waste disposal system.
c. The location of property boundaries within 500 feet of the disposal areas.
d. The latitude and longitude of the established horizontal control monument.
e. The elevation of the top of the well casing ( i.e., measuring point) relative to
a common datum.
f. The depth of water below the measuring point at the time the measuring point
is established.
g. The location of compliance and review boundaries.
h. The date the map is prepared and/or revised.
The map and any supporting documentation shall be sent to the Division of
Water Resources, Water Quality Permitting Section, 1617 Mail Service Center,
Raleigh, NC 27699- 1617. [ 15A NCAC 02T . 0108( b)( 2)]

5. Recommendation: Hold, pending receipt and review of additional information by regional office
Hold, pending review of draft permit by regional office
DocuSign Envelope ID: 737D7FB0-A801-45D8-A0D5-F50C455A8FAB
FORM: WQROSSR 04-14 Page 6 of 7
Issue upon receipt of needed additional information
Issue
Deny (Please state reasons: )
6. Signature of report preparer:
Signature of regional supervisor:
Date:

DocuSign Envelope ID: 737D7FB0-A801-45D8-A0D5-F50C455A8FAB
4/3/2023
FORM: WQROSSR 04-14 Page 7 of 7

V. ADDITIONAL REGIONAL STAFF REVIEW ITEMS
As mentioned above, in section III.2, the ARO anticipates either a major or minor modification submittal in late
2023, reflecting the removal of subzones 9-12 and potentially the addition of a new drip field on site. Additional
options are being explored as well.
A site map needs to be submitted and added to the permit, as it was never provided to the ARO after the
installation of new groundwater monitoring wells.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 737D7FB0-A801-45D8-A0D5-F50C455A8FAB