WQ0012694_Staff Report_20230905

September 5, 2023
To: DWR Central Office — WQ, Non -Discharge
Attn: Leah Parente
From: Caitlin Caudle
Winston-Salem Regional Office
State of North Carolina
Division of Water Resources
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Staff Report
Application No.: W00012694
Facility name: High Country Holdings WWTP
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: 8/24/2023
b. Site visit conducted by: C. Caudle and K. Potwora
c. Inspection report attached? ® Yes or ❑ No
d. Person contacted: Bobby Rowe and their contact information: browegp2bsystems.com
II. EXISTING FACILITIES: MODIFICATION AND RENEWAL APPLICATIONS
1. Are there appropriately certified Operators in Charge (ORCs) for the facility? ❑ Yes ® No ❑ N/A
ORC and BUORC are designated for the SI classification, but the WW-2 classification has no designations.
2. Are the design, maintenance and operation of the treatment facilities adequate for the type of waste and disposal
system? ® Yes or ❑ No
3. Are the site conditions (e.g., soils, topography, depth to water table, etc) maintained appropriately and adequately
assimilating the waste? ® Yes or ❑ No
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
5. Is the residuals management plan adequate? ® Yes or ❑ No
6. Are the existing application rates (e.g., hydraulic, nutrient) still acceptable? ® Yes or ❑ No
7. Are there any setback conflicts for existing treatment, storage and disposal sites? ❑ Yes or ® No
8. Is the description of the facilities as written in the existing permit correct? ❑ Yes or ® No
If no, please explain: The storage tank is actually
9. Has a review of all self -monitoring data been conducted (e.g., AR, NDMR, NDAR, GW)? ® Yes or ❑ No
Provide input to help the permit writer evaluate any requests for reduced monitoring, if applicable. The system is
currently not in use and there is no influent flow, only I&I from the package plant being open atmosphere. Staff
recommended that the Permittee request a reduced visitation rate while the system is still offline. The system is
currently being visited 1/week. Irrigation does take place while the drip zones are being_ repaired. No effluent
samples have been collected since Staff were last on site.
10. Has a review of source facilities compliance history been completed (e.g., CEIs and DMRs)? ® Yes or ❑ No
11. Are there any permit changes needed in order to address ongoing BIMS violations? ❑ Yes or ® No
FORM: WQROSSR 04-14 Pagel of 3

12. 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.) See
attached inspection report and technical assistance letter.
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? The system has been offline for several years.
Staff have been workingwith ith operators to ensure compliance with the permit before the property is sold again or
returned to use.
Have all compliance dates/conditions in the existing permit been satisfied? ❑ Yes ® No ❑ N/A
If no, please explain: The system has not been returned to use yet and a final Operation and Maintenance Plan
has not been submitted.
13. Are there any issues related to compliance/enforcement that should be resolved before issuing this permit?
❑ Yes ®No❑N/A
III. 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
Designation of ORC and
BUORC for WW-2
There have been no designations to date.
classification.
Pete Ostergard, a consultant employed by the Permittee, stated the map
Updated site map.
included in the permit is incorrect. The drip zones are in a single line. Staff
could not locate another site map in Office files.
3. List specific permit conditions recommended to be removed from the permit when issued:
Condition Reason
Permit Condition I.2 A generator has been installed.
4. List specific special conditions or compliance schedules recommended to be included in the permit when issued:
Condition
Reason
Schedule condition
requiring a Change of
Mr. Ostergard stated the property is for sale again and there have been several
Ownership form be
showings. It may be beneficial to have a permit condition stating a Change of
submitted.
Ownership form is needed when the property is sold.
FORM: WQROSSR 04-14 Page 2 of 3

5. Recommendation: ❑ Hold, pending receipt and review of additional information by regional office
® Hold, pending review of draft permit by regional office
❑ Issue upon receipt of needed additional information
❑ Issue
❑ Deny (Please state reasons: )
6. Signature of report preparer:
Signature of regional supervisor:
Date: 9/5/2023
IV. ADDITIONAL REGIONAL STAFF REVIEW ITEMS
See attached inspection report and technical assistance letter.
145B49E225C94EA...
FORM: WQROSSR 04-14 Page 3 of 3

Compliance Inspection Report
Permit: WQ0012694 Effective: 06/29/22 Expiration: 01/31/24 Owner : High Country Resort Holdings LLC
SOC: Effective: Expiration: Facility: High Country Resort Holdings WWTP
County: Watauga 3600 Heavenly Mtn Dr
Region: Winston-Salem
Boone NC 28607
Contact Person: Susan Morris
Title:
Phone: [phone]
Directions to Facility:
US 421 N from Winston-Salem, approaching Boone, take left turn at Bamboo Rd, follow for 3.2 miles to end of pavement proceed
straight on dirt pavement (Bamboo Rd), left onto George Hays Rd, left onto Gordon Day Rd which becomes Virgil Day Rd
System Classifications: SI, WW2,
Primary ORC: Robert Gross Rowe Certification: 1012111 Phone: [phone]
Secondary ORC(s):
On -Site Representative(s):
Related Permits:
Inspection Date: 08/24/2023 Entry Time 10:OOAM
DocuSigned by:
Primary Inspector: Caitlin C udfle� �llll� f�.� I'�
Secondary Inspector(s): uwuv, l�D&
8B834968199D49D_
Kristen Potwora
Reason for Inspection: Routine
Permit Inspection Type: Wastewater Irrigation
Facility Status: 0 Compliant ❑ Not Compliant
Question Areas:
Treatment Flow Measurement -Effluent
Treatment Flow Measurement -Water
Use Records
Treatment Flow Measurement
(See attachment summary)
Exit Time: 12:OOPM
Phone: [phone]
Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Treatment Flow Measurement -Influent Miscellaneous Questions
Record Keeping End Use -Irrigation
Storage
Standby Power
Page 1 of 5

Permit: WQ0012694 Owner - Facility: High Country Resort Holdings LLC
Inspection Date: 08/24/2023 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Reason for Visit: Routine
Inspection Summary:
On August 24, 2023, Division of Water Resources staff Caitlin Caudle and Kristen Potwora conducted a routine compliance
inspection on the High Country Holdings WWTP. Bobby Rowe, ORC, and Pete Ostergard, Consultant, were present during
the entire inspection. A review of available records, treatment and storage facilities, and items identified during the technical
assistance visit was completed. This review mostly reflected compliance with the subject permit.
The following items of concern were noted:
A. As noted in the technical assistance letter dated September 8, 2022, any drip irrigation that occurs during the process
of repairing the drip zones must be reported on the Non -Discharge Application Report (NDAR). Permit Condition IV.5 lists all
information that must be included on the NDAR. Per Permit Condition V.6, all monitoring data must be submitted on or
before the last day of the following month. Moving forward, any time the drip zones are used the activity must be recorded on
the NDARs. Updated copies of all monitoring reports are enclosed.
B. The drip system has not been calibrated to date. Per Permit Condition 111.7 the irrigation system shall be tested and
calibrated once per permit cycle. The drip system must be calibrated by January 31, 2024. Ms. Caudle provided additional
information about how to calibrate the system.
C. Currently, an ORC and BUORC are only designated for the SI classification of the system. The system is also classified
as WW-2. Per Permit Condition 111.3 the Permittee shall designate and employ an ORC and BUORC based on the
classification of the system. An ORC and one or more BUORC must be designated for the WW-2 classification.
D. Freeboard was not recorded in the logbook for several months. Per Permit Condition V.2, the Permittee shall inspect the
wastewater treatment and irrigation facilities to prevent malfunctions, facility deterioration, and operator errors... Staff
recommend that the ORC and BUORC record freeboard at least weekly to ensure the irrigation facilities are operated
correctly.
Other observations:
• The following items were noted in the technical assistance letter were addressed by this inspection:
o A copy of the most recent permit was available.
o The Operation and Maintenance Plan, Spill Plan, and Residuals Management Plan were available for review.
o New signs were posted around the drip zones.
o The irrigation is now communicating with the PercRite drip control system.
o The new blowers were connected to the package plant.
o The new flow meter was calibrated on 12/19/2022.
o The generator has been connected to the package plant.
o The roof and doorjamb on the blower building have been repaired.
o The vegetation and grout around the bottom of the storage tank have been removed and repaired, respectively.
• The following items were noted in the technical assistance letter were not addressed by this inspection:
o The drip system is still being repaired.
o The package plant has not been pumped down as there are no immediate plans to reactivate the plant.
• The ORC is currently visiting the system once a week. There is no flow into the WWTP at this time. Flow through the
WWTP caused by rainfall is recoded in the log book.
• There is a check valve on the inflow piping of the irrigation pumps. It was dripping at the time of inspection. Mr.
Ostergard stated that the valve will always drip as it is designed to reduce the water hammer.
• The storage tank is actually 1 MG.
• Irrigation activities have not been reported, making it unclear whether application rates have been followed.
• Soil samples have not been collected to date. Samples must be collected by 12/31/2023.
• The EQ basin pumps were operational. There is a high water alarm in the EQ basin. The audible and visual alarms were
operational.
• At the time of inspection, the effluent level in the tank was 16ft. The tank has a capacity of 38ft.
• There are only high water and low water floats in the storage tank.
• Back up power is only for the WWTP.
Page 2 of 5

Permit: WQ0012694 Owner - Facility: High Country Resort Holdings LLC
Inspection Date: 08/24/2023 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Reason for Visit: Routine
Type
Yes No NA NE
Reuse (Quality)
❑
Infiltration System
❑
Lagoon Spray, LR
❑
Single Family Spray, LR
❑
Activated Sludge Spray, HR
❑
Activated Sludge Drip, LR
❑
Recycle/Reuse
❑
Single Family Drip
❑
Activated Sludge Spray, LR
Treatment Flow Measurement -Influent
Yes No NA NE
Is flowmeter calibrated annually?
❑
❑ 0 ❑
Is flowmeter operating properly?
❑
❑ 0 ❑
Does flowmeter monitor continuously?
❑
❑ 0 ❑
Does flowmeter record flow?
❑
❑ 0 ❑
Does flowmeter appear to monitor accurately?
❑
❑ 0 ❑
Comment:
Treatment Flow Measurement -Water Use Records Yes No NA NE
Is water use metered? ❑ ❑ ❑
Are the daily average values properly calculated? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑
Comment:
Treatment Flow Measurement -Effluent
Yes No NA NE
Is flowmeter calibrated annually?
0
❑ ❑ ❑
Is flowmeter operating properly?
0
❑ ❑ ❑
Does flowmeter monitor continuously?
0
❑ ❑ ❑
Does flowmeter record flow?
0
❑ ❑ ❑
Does flowmeter appear to monitor accurately?
0
❑ ❑ ❑
Comment:
Standby Power Yes No NA NE
Is automatically activated standby power available? ❑ ❑ ❑
Is generator tested weekly by interrupting primary power source? ❑ ❑ ❑
Is generator operable? ❑ ❑ ❑
Does generator have adequate fuel? ❑ ❑ ❑
Comment:
Page 3 of 5

Permit: WQ0012694 Owner - Facility: High Country Resort Holdings LLC
Inspection Date: 08/24/2023 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Reason for Visit: Routine
Record Keeping
Yes No NA NE
Is a copy of current permit available?
0❑
❑ ❑
Are monitoring reports present: NDMR?
❑
❑ ❑
NDAR?
❑
❑ ❑
Are flow rates less than of permitted flow?
❑ ❑ ❑
Are flow rates less than of permitted flow?
❑ ❑ ❑
Are application rates adhered to?
❑
❑ ❑
Is GW monitoring being conducted, if required (GW-59s submitted)?
❑
❑ ❑
Are all samples analyzed for all required parameters?
❑
❑ ❑
Are there any 2L GW quality violations?
❑
❑ ❑
Is GW-59A certification form completed for facility?
❑
❑ ❑
Is effluent sampled for same parameters as GW?
❑
❑ ❑
Do effluent concentrations exceed GW standards?
❑
❑ ❑
Are annual soil reports available?
❑
❑ ❑
# Are PAN records required?
❑
❑ ❑
# Did last soil report indicate a need for lime?
❑
❑ ❑
If so, has it been applied?
❑
❑ ❑
Are operational logs present?
❑ ❑ ❑
Are lab sheets available for review?
❑ ❑ ❑
Do lab sheets support data reported on NDMR?
❑
❑ ❑
Do lab sheets support data reported on GW-59s?
❑
❑ ❑
Are Operational and Maintenance records present?
❑ ❑ ❑
Were Operational and Maintenance records complete?
❑ ❑ ❑
Has permittee been free of public complaints in last 12 months?
❑ ❑ ❑
Is a copy of the SOC readily available?
❑
❑ ❑
No treatment units bypassed since last inspection?
❑ ❑ ❑
Comment: See summary.
End Use -Irrigation
Yes No NA NE
Are buffers adequate?
0
❑ ❑ ❑
Is the cover crop type specified in permit?
❑ ❑ ❑
Is the crop cover acceptable?
❑ ❑ ❑
Is the site condition adequate?
❑ ❑ ❑
Is the site free of runoff / ponding?
❑
❑ ❑
Is the acreage specified in the permit being utilized?
❑ ❑ ❑
Is the application equipment present?
❑ ❑ ❑
Is the application equipment operational?
❑
❑ ❑
Page 4 of 5

Permit: WQ0012694 Owner - Facility: High Country Resort Holdings LLC
Inspection Date: 08/24/2023 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Reason for Visit: Routine
Is the disposal field free of limiting slopes?
Is access restricted and/or signs posted during active site use?
Are any supply wells within the CB?
Are any supply wells within 250' of the CB?
How close is the closest water supply well?
Is municipal water available in the area?
# Info only: Does the permit call for monitoring wells?
Are GW monitoring wells located properly w/ respect to RB and CB?
Are GW monitoring wells properly constructed, including screened interval?
Are monitoring wells damaged?
Comment:
• ❑ ❑ ❑
• ❑ ❑ ❑
❑❑❑■
❑❑❑■
❑❑❑■
❑❑❑■
❑❑■❑
❑❑■❑
❑❑■❑
❑❑■❑
Page 5 of 5

ROY COOPER
Governor
ELIZABETH S. BISER
Secretary
RICHARD E. ROGERS, JR.
Director
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
September 8, 2022
Susan Morris — President
High Country Resort Holdings, LLC
201 Woodland Lake Drive
Maitland, Florida 32751
SUBJECT: Technical Assistance Site Visit
High Country Resort Holdings WWI
Permit No. WQ0012694
Watauga County
Dear Ms. Morris:
On August 30, 2022, Division of Water Resources staff Caitlin Caudle completed a
technical assistance visit. Peter Ostergard and Bobby Rowe, RPB Systems, were present
during the entire inspection. A review of available records, treatment units, storage tank,
and irrigation system was completed. This review showed that repairs are still needed to
return the system to compliance and working order. The following items require further
action and attention:
1. The most recent permit was not posted and easily available at the facility. A copy
of the most recent permit must be available on site.
2. Per Permit Condition 111.2 an Operation and Maintenance Plan, including a Spill
Plan, must be maintained. An Operation and Maintenance Plan and Spill Plan
need to be maintained on site.
3. In the process of repairing the drip zones, the irrigation system was turned on. No
records have been maintained of these irrigation events. As the package plant and
storage tank were not completely emptied, the effluent being irrigated still has
characteristics of wasteater. Records of all irrigation events associated with
repairing the drip zones need to be maintained. Permit Condition IV.5 lists
all information required for irrigation events. Be mindful that effluent
sampling is also required per Permit Condition IVA and Attachment A.
Additional sampling may be required in addition to the August 10, 2022,
sampling event per the discretion of the Winston Salem Regional Office.
4. Repairs on the drip system are ongoing. The drip system must be returned to
working order before the treatment system is reactivated.
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
Winston-Salem Regional Office 1 450 W. Hanes Mill Rd, Suite 300 I Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27105
NoanicaaouNn
oep.m.m or em�nmen� Qualm
336.776.9800

5. Per Permit Condition 111.10 public access to the wastewater treatment, storage,
and irrigation facilities shall be prohibited. At the time of inspection, a sign at an
irrigation zone was broken off a post. Missing signs should be replaced, and
efforts made to prevent public access to the treatment systems.
6. A PercRite irrigation control system was recently installed. One of the irrigation
pumps is not communicating with the PercRite system. The irrigation pump must
communicate with the PercRite system to properly operate, such as turning
off the pump when high flows are measured.
7. The drip system has not been calibrated since the treatment system was
deactivated. The irrigation system must be calibrated before the system is
reactivated to ensure all irrigation doses are accurate.
8. The wastewater level in the package plant is above normal operational levels. The
package plant must be pumped down and cleaned out before the treatment
system is reactivated. Records of wastewater and solids removed from the
package plant must be maintained per Permit Condition IV.7.
9. New blowers have been installed for the package plant but have not been
connected to the air system. Mr. Ostergard stated that the blowers are scheduled
to be connected the Friday following this inspection. The blowers must be
connected to the air system for the package plant.
10.A new effluent flowmeter has been installed at the end of the chlorine contact
chamber in the package plant. The sensor has not been programmed or calibrated
to date. The flowmeter will must be calibrated before the treatment system is
reactivated.
11.A generator has been installed to supply power to the package plant. The
generator has not been connected to the package plant. The generator must be
connected to the power supply for the package plant.
12.The roof on the building housing the blowers and other electrical equipment has a
hole above the door and the doorjamb is askew. For the safety of the operators
and the equipment housed within, the roof and doorjamb must be repaired.
13.The base of the storage tank has overgrown vegetation surrounding it and the
grout around the bottom of the tank has degraded. The vegetation around the
tank must be cut to safely inspect the storage tank, and the base of the tank
regrouted to prevent any damage to the tank.
14. Currently, Mr. Rowe of RPB Systems is visiting the system once a week. Mr. Rowe
is newly certified and has not been designated as the ORC for the system. Mr.
Rowe must be designated as the ORC. A variance for the frequency of visits
may be requested if the activation of the treatment system is not planned for
the near future.
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality 1 Division of Water Resources
D E Q�� Winston-Salem Regional Office 1 450 W. Hanes Mill Rd, Suite 300 1 Raleigh, North Carolina 27105
NORTH CARCLINA
q.p. .mmEnNm.m.nfnlq..i\ 336.776.9800

A compliance evaluation will be scheduled once all above items are completed. Please
refer to the enclosed inspection report for additional comments and observations. If you
have any questions regarding this letter please contact me or Caitlin Caudle at the
letterhead address or phone number, or by email at lon.snider(c ncdenrgov or
caitlin.caudle(a�ncdenr.gov.
Sincerely,
DocuSiTgned bly�:
%A. l . c ,,. tr
145B49E225CMEA...
Lon T. Snider, Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ-WSRO
Enc: Inspection Report
Cc: Pete Ostergard (electronic copy)
Bobby Rowe (electronic copy)
Laserfiche File WQ0012694
WSRO Electronic Files
NORTH CAROLINAD � ��
oeo+ro�.m m F,mro.��w n�si�
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
Winston-Salem Regional Office 1 450 W. Hanes Mill Rd, Suite 300 1 Raleigh, North Carolina 27105
336.776.9800