WQ0010878_Final Permit_19970625

State of North Carolina
Department of Environment,
Health and Natural Resources
Division of Environmental Management
James B. Hunt, Jr., Governor
Jonathan B. Howes, Secretary
A. Preston Howard, Jr., P.E., Director
June 25, 1997
Mr. David Kaplan, President
Heavenly Mountain Resort, Inc.
Post Office Box 708
Blowing Rock, North Carolina 28605
Dear Kaplan:
Subject: Permit No. WQ0010878
Heavenly Mountain Resort, Inc-
Westridge Campus Area
Wastewater Spray Irrigation
Watauga County
On January '14, 1997 the Division of Water Quality received a letter requesting several
clarifications on issues with Heavenly Mountain Resort's Westridge Campus Permit No.
WQ0010878. We are forwarding herewith modified Permit No. WQ0010878 dated June 25,
1997, to Heavenly Mountain Resort, Inc. ,for the continued operation of the subject wastewater
treatment and drip irrigation facilities and offer the following responses to the issues raised in the
January 14th letter.
1. 50 foot buffer between wastewater treatment units and property lines (Part I.7G of the
permit). Response - Review of the regulations and discussions with the regional office
and groundwater section show that in this specific case the 50 foot buffer is in excess
and the 15 foot buffer which is in place is adequate.
2. Part III, 5 requires an evaluation of water usage over the first year of operation. The
request is to reduce this to six months.
Response - 15A NCAC 2H .0219 requires one years worth of flow data to be collected
before the Division can review to determine a flow reduction. Since Heavenly
Mountain Resort has already received a flow reduction from the regulations by
providing low flow fixtures this one year time frame must be kept. Once one years
worth of data is collected, the Division will be happy to review and allow a flow
reduction should the data show it is warranted.
Part I.9 of the permit requires and influent flow meter. Heavenly Mountain would like
to install a flow meter on the pump line from the spin filters and subtract it from the
effluent meter to determine the actual flow through the plant. This to prevent
inappropriate flow data due to backwash of the spin filters.
Response - The Division has no problem with this as long as an accurate flow is
measured.
4. The description on page 1 of the permit says a 7,400 gallon pump tank is included.
This is not part of the wastewater treatment system.
Response - The 7,400 gallon pump tank was a part of the old design and was
inadvertently included in the redesign. It has been removed from the permit.
P.O. Box 29535, Raleigh, North Carolina 27626-0535 Telephone [phone] FAX [phone]
An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer 50% recycled/ 10% post -consumer paper

5 . PIease define the meaning of on -site emergency generator.
Response - This is defined as a generator located on the facility site able to power the
wastewater treatment system during power outages. This generator does not need to be
permanently mounted and connected to the electrical system of the plant but a quick
connect for the generator to the plant. The priority of a generator owned by Heavenly
Mountain shall be to power the wastewater treatment plants during a power outage.
This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until June 30, 2000, shall void Permit No.
WQ0010878 issued December 19, 1996, and shall be subject to the conditions and limitations as specified
therein. Please pay particular attention to the monitoring requirements in this permit. Failure to establish
an adequate system for collecting and maintaining the required operational information will result in future
compliance problems.
If any parts, requirements, or limitations contained in this permit are unacceptable, you have the
right to request an adjudicatory hearing upon written request within thirty (30) days following receipt of
this permit. This request must be in the form of a written petition, conforming to Chapter 150B of the
North Carolina General Statutes, and filed with the Office of Administrative Hearings, P.O. Drawer
27447, Raleigh, NC 27611-7447. Unless such demands are made this permit shall be final and binding.
If you need additional information concerning this matter, please contact Mr. Randy Kepler at
[phone] ext. 544.
Sincerely,
Preston Howar , J ., P.E.
cc: Watauga County Health Department <t,—A.
NCDC Corporation
Winston-Salem Regional Office, Water Quality Section
Winston-Salem Regional Office, Groundwater Section.
Bob Cheek, Groundwater Section, Central Office
Training and Certification Unit, No change in rating
Facilities Assessment Unit

NORTH CAROLINA
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH AND NATURAL RESOURCES
RALEIGH
DRIP IRRIGATION SYSTEM PERMIT
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In accordance with the provisions of Article 21 of Chapter 143, General Statutes of North Carolina as
amended, and other applicable Laws, Rules, and Regulations
PERMISSION IS HEREBY GRANTED TO
Heavenly Mountain Resort, Inc.
Watauga County
FOR THE
construction and operation of a 15,000 GPD wastewater treatment facility and drip irrigation disposal
facility consisting of a single train 15,000 gpd package plant with a bar screen, a 4,800 gallon equalization
basin with dual 30 gpm pumps and a 15 CFM aeration blower, a 15,000 gallon aeration basin, dual 150
CFM blowers, a 2,500 gallon clarifier, 1,800 gallon aerated sludge holding tank, a tablet chlorinator, a
1,000 gallon chlorine contact tank, a Stevens Model 6 1 R flow meter, and an on site emergency generator
(capable of effective operation of the treatment plant); a 500,000 gallon enclosed steel storage tank, a
"Pere -Rite" controllfiltration system; a "Pere -Rite" drip irrigation system consisting of four separate drip
irrigation zones with 440 foot long laterals, totaling 10,000 linear feet of drip line for each zone, equaling
60,000 square feet of drip irrigation area; and all associated piping, valves, controls, alarms, meters, and
appurtenances to serve the Heavenly Mountain Resort, Incorporated's Westridge Campus Area with no
discharge of wastes to the surface waters, pursuant to the application received October 17, 1996, and in
conformity with the project plan, specifications, and other supporting data subsequently filed and
approved by the Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources and considered a part of this
permit.
This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until June 30, 2000, shall void Permit No.
WQ0010878 issued December 19, 1996, and shall be subject to the following specified conditions and
limitations:
I. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
Upon completion of construction and prior to operation of this permitted facility, a
certification must be received from a professional engineer certifying that the permitted
facility has been installed in accordance with this permit, the approved plans and
specifications, and other supporting materials. Mail the Certification to the Water Quality
Permits and Engineering Unit, P.O. Box 29535, Raleigh, NC 27626-0535.
2. The Winston-Salem Regional Office, telephone number 910/ 771-4600 shall be notified at
least forty-eight (48) hours in advance of operation of the installed facilities so that an in -
place inspection can be made. Such notification to the regional supervisor shall be made
during the normal office hours from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Monday through Friday,
excluding State Holidays.

3. The drip irrigation facilities shall be effectively maintained and operated at all times so that
there is no discharge to the surface waters, nor any contamination of ground waters which
will render them unsatisfactory for normal use. In the event that the facilities fail to perform
satisfactorily, including the creation of nuisance conditions or failure of the irrigation area
to adequately assimilate the wastewater, the Permittee shall take immediate corrective
actions including those actions that may be required by the Division of Environmental
Management, such as the construction of additional or replacement wastewater treatment
and disposal facilities.
4. The issuance of this permit shall not relieve the Permittee of the responsibility for damages
to surface or groundwaters resulting from the operation of this facility.
5. The residuals generated from these treatment facilities must be disposed in accordance with
General Statute 143-215.1 and in a manner approved by the North Carolina Division of
Environmental Management.
6. Diversion or bypassing of the untreated wastewater from the treatment facilities is prohibited.
7. The following buffers shall be maintained:
a) 400 feet between wetted area and any residence or places of public assembly under
separate ownership,
b) 50 feet between wetted area and property lines,
c) 100 feet between wetted area and wells,
d) 200 feet between wetted area and drainageways or surface water bodies,
e) 50 feet between wetted area and public right of ways,
f) 100 feet between wastewater treatment units and wells, and
g) 50 feet between wastewater treatment units and property lines *.
The buffer reduction to 15 feet has been approved for this specific case between the
wastewater treatment facility and the property line. Any additional construction at this
site will need to meet the 50 foot buffer or receive approval from the Division for the
buffer waver.
8. The issuance of this permit is for construction and operation of the wastewater treatment
facilities and the drip irrigation system only. No flow shall be made tributary to this system
until written approval is received from the Division of Water Quality either through a.letter
of approval or an approved sewer extension permit.
9. Heavenly Mountain Resort shall install a metering system on the wastewater treatment
facility for determination of the actual flows being received from the residents.
II. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS
The facilities shall be properly maintained and operated at all times.
2. Upon classification of the facility by the Certification Commission, the Permittee shall
employ a certified wastewater treatment plant operator to be in responsible charge (ORC) of
the wastewater treatment facilities. The operator must hold a certificate of the type and
grade at Ieast equivalent to or greater than the classification assigned'to the wastewater
treatment facilities by the Certification Commission. The Permittee must also employ a
certified back-up operator of the appropriate type and grade to comply with the conditions
of Title 15A, Chapter 8A, .0202. The ORC of the facility must visit each Class I facility at
least weekly and each Class II, III, and IV facility at least daily, excluding weekends and
holidays, and must properly manage and document daily operation and maintenance of the
facility and must comply with all other conditions of Title 15A, Chapter 8A, .0202. Once
the facility is classified, the Permittee must submit a letter to the Certification Commission
which designates the operator in responsible charge within thirty days after the wastewater
treatment facilities are 50% complete.

3 . A suitable vegetative cover of the drip irrigation area shall be maintained.
4. Irrigation shall not be performed during inclement weather or when the ground is in a
condition that will cause runoff.
5. Adequate measures shall be taken to prevent wastewater runoff from the spray field.
6. The facilities shall be effectively maintained and operated as a non -discharge system to
prevent the discharge of any wastewater resulting from the operation of this facility.
7. The application rate shall not exceed a cumulative loading of 39.0 inches over any twelve
(12) month period at an instantaneous application rate not to exceed 0.75 inches per week.
No type of wastewater other than that from Heavenly Mountain Resort, Incorporated's
Westridge Campus Area sha11 be drip irrigated onto the irrigation area.
9. No traffic or equipment shall be allowed on the disposal area except while installation
occurs or while normal maintenance is being performed.
10. Public access to the drip irrigation sites shall be controlled during active site use. Such
controls may include the posting of signs showing the activities being conducted at each
site.
III. MONITORING AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
1. Any monitoring (including groundwater, surface water, soil or plant tissue analyses)
deemed necessary by the Division of Environmental Management to insure surface and
ground water protection will be established and an acceptable sampling reporting schedule
shall be followed.
2. Adequate records shall be maintained by the Permittee tracking the amount of wastewater
disposed. These records shall include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following
information: '
a. date of irrigation,
b. volume of wastewater irrigated,
c. field irrigated,
d . length of time field is irrigated,
e. continuous weekly, monthly, and year-to-date hydraulic (inches/acre) loadings for each
field,
f. weather conditions, and -
g. maintenance of cover crops.
3. The effluent from the subject facilities shall be monitored by the Permittee at the point prior
to drip irrigation every March, July, and November for the following parameters:
BODS TSS
Fecal Coliform pH
NH3 as N

4. Three (3) copies of all operation and disposal records (as specified in condition III 2) on
Form NDAR-1 shall be submitted on or before the last day of the following month. Three
(3) copies of all effluent monitoring data (as specified in condition III 3) on Form NDMR-1
shall be submitted on or before the last day of April, August, and December. All
information shall be submitted to the following address:
NC Division of Water Quality
Water Quality Section
Facility Assessment Unit
PO Box 29535
Raleigh, NC 27626-0535
5. Heavenly Mountain Resort shall conduct an evaluation of the water usage at the Westridge
Campus over the first year of operation. The evaluation shall include a daily reading of the
influent flow meter and documentation of the number of occupied units in relation to the
influent flow. A quarterly report shall be submitted to the Winston-Salem Regional
Office's Water Quality Supervisor and the State Engineering Review Group Supervisor
including an organized review of the influent flow (GPD), documentation of the occupancy
rate of the units and, if necessary, a plan of action to reduce flow tributary to the system or
to increase the size of the treatment system. After one year of data has been collected, a
final evaluation shall be submitted to the State Engineering Review Group Supervisor and
shall be completed in accordance with the North Carolina Regulations 15A NCAC 2H
.0219 (1)(3) to ensure the 50 GPD/person rate is appropriate given the actual operation of
the system.
6. Noncompliance Notification:
The Permittee shall report by telephone to the Winston-Salem Regional Office, telephone
number 910-771-4600, as soon as possible, but in no case more than 24 hours or on the
next working day following the occurrence or first knowledge of the occurrence of any of
the following:
a. Any occurrence at the wastewater treatment facility which results in the treatment of
significant amounts of wastes which are abnormal in quantity or characteristic, such as
the dumping of the contents of a sludge digester, the known passage of a slug of
hazardous substance through the facility, or any other unusual circumstances;
b. Any process unit failure, due to known or unknown reasons, that renders the facility
incapable of adequate wastewater treatment, such as mechanical or electrical failures of
pumps, aerators, compressors, etc.;
c. Any failure of a pumping station, sewer line, or treatment facility resulting in a by-pass
directly to receiving waters without treatment of all or any portion of the influent to
such station or facility; or
d. Any time that self -monitoring information indicates that the facility has gone out of
compliance with its permit limitations.
Persons reporting such occurrences by telephone shall also file a written report in letter
form within five (5) days following first knowledge of the occurrence. This report must
outline the actions taken or proposed to be taken to ensure that the problem does not recur.
IV. GROUNDWATER REQUIREMENTS
Any additional groundwater quality monitoring, as deemed necessary by the Division, shall
be provided.
4

2. The COMPLIANCE BOUNDARY for the disposal system is specified by regulations in
15A NCAC 2L, Groundwater Classifications and Standards. The Compliance Boundary is
for the disposal system constructed after December 31, 1983 is established at either (1) 250
feet from the waste disposal area, or (2) 50 feet within the property boundary, whichever is
closest to the waste disposal area. An exceedance of Groundwater Quality Standards at or
beyond the Compliance Boundary is subject to immediate remediation action in addition to
the penalty provisions applicable under General Statute 143-215.6A(a)(1).
In accordance with 15A NCAC 2L, a REVIEW BOUNDARY is established around the
disposal systems midway between the Compliance Boundary and the perimeter of the
waste disposal area. Any exceedance of standards at the Review Boundary shall require
remediation action on the part of the permittee.
V . INSPECTIONS
1. Adequate inspection, maintenance, and cleaning shall be provided by the Permittee to
insure proper operation of the subject facilities.
2. The Permittee or his designee shall inspect the wastewater treatment and disposal facilities
to prevent malfunctions and deterioration, operator errors and discharges which may cause
or lead to the release of wastes to the environment, a threat to human health, or a nuisance.
The Permittee shall keep an inspection log or summary including at least the date and time
of inspection, observations made, and any maintenance, repairs, or corrective actions taken
by the Permittee. This log of inspections shall be maintained by the Permittee for a period
of three years from the date of the inspection and shall be made available upon request to
the Division of Environmental Management or other permitting authority.
3. Any duly authorized officer, employee, or representative of the Division of Environmental
Management may, upon presentation of credentials, enter and inspect any property,
premises or place on or related to the disposal site or facility at any reasonable time for the
purpose of deternuning compliance with this permit, may inspect or copy any records that
must be maintained under the terms and conditions of this permit, and may obtain samples
of groundwater, surface water, or leachate.
VI. GENERAL CONDITIONS
1. This permit shall become voidable unless the facilities are constructed in accordance with
the conditions of this permit, the approved plans and specifications, and other supporting
data.
2. This permit is effective only with respect to the nature and volume of wastes described in
the application and other supporting data.
3. This permit is not transferable. In the event there is a desire for the facilities to change
ownership, or there is a name change of the Permittee, a formal permit request must be
submitted to the Division of Environmental Management accompanied by an application
fee, documentation from the parties involved, and other supporting materials as may be
appropriate. The approval of this request will be considered on its merits and may or may
not be approved.
4. Failure to abide by the conditions and limitations contained in this permit may subject the
Permittee to an enforcement action by the Division of Environmental Management in
accordance with North Carolina General Statute 143-215.6(a) to 143-215.6(c).
5. The issuance of this permit does not preclude the Permittee from complying with any and
all statutes, rules, regulations, or ordinances which may be imposed by other government
agencies (local, state, and federal) which have jurisdiction.

6. A set of approved plans and specifications for the subject project must be retained by the
Permittee for the life of the project.
7. The annual administering and compliance fee must be paid by the Permittee within thirty
(30) days after being billed by the Division. Failure to pay the fee accordingly may cause
the Division to initiate action to revoke this permit as specified by 15A NCAC 2H .0205
(c)(4).
8. The Permittee, at least six (6) months prior to the expiration of this permit, shall request its
extension. Upon receipt of the request, the Commission will review the adequacy of the
facilities described therein, and if warranted, will extend the permit for such period of time
and under such conditions and limitations as it may deem appropriate.
Permit issued this the Twenty Fifth day of June, 1997
RTH CAROLINA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
__,_--A, Preston Howard, Jr P.E., ect r
Division of Water Qualit
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Permit Number WQ0010878
C.1