NC0000400_Technical Correction_20201102

DocuSign Envelope ID: D526316E-6224-4FF9-953F-4lC31CFB707C
ROY COOPER
Governor
MICHAEL S. REGAN
Secretary
S. DANIEL SMITH
Director
Mr. Michael Yarborough
The Quartz Corp, USA
P.O. Box 99
Spruce Pine, NC 28777-0099
Dear Mr. Yarborough:
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
November 2, 2020
Subject: Technical correction /Units of Measure
NPDES Permit NC0000400
The Quartz Corp / Pine Mountain
NPDES Permit N00000353
The Feldspar Corporation
Mitchell County
The NPDES program received questions from staff in the NC DEQ Asheville Regional
Office regarding the Units of Measure (UoMs) in the existing versions of the subject permits. The
UoMs do not reflect the data being collected for instream parameters, and this disparity is causing
problems with the electronic entry and upload of instream data.
A review of both permits noted that the Unit of Measure for Fluoride is shown as pounds
per day in the effluent limit, but no UoM is given for the instream Fluoride samples. The
Division is issuing this technical correction to clarify the correct UoM for effluent and instream
monitoring in NC0000353 & NC0000400. No permit limits or effluent monitoring requirements
are being changed; this action simply documents the UoMs in use since the last permit issuance in
2012.
This permit modification is issued pursuant to the requirements of North Carolina General
Statute 143-215.1 and the Memorandum of Agreement between North Carolina and the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency dated October 15, 2007 (or as subsequently amended). Insert
the attached pages into your permits and discard the old pa es.
The modified permits include the following changes to the existing permits:
➢ The correct UoM has been added for all parameters without permit limits.
➢ Parameter codes for each parameter have been added to simplify data entry.
If any parts, measurement frequencies or sampling requirements contained in this
modification are unacceptable to you, you have the right to an adjudicatory hearing upon written
request within thirty (30) days following receipt of this letter. 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 (6714 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina
27699-6714). Unless such demand is made, this decision shall be final and binding.
D E Q�� North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
512 North Salisbury Street 1 1617 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
N(1HTH f:A�i(1!_INA �
0­Om or eowM—W Q"I 919,707,9000

DocuSign Envelope ID: D526316E-6224-4FF9-953F-41C31CFB707C
This permit is not transferable except after notice to the Division. The Division may
require modification or revocation and reissuance of the permit. This permit does not affect the
legal requirements to obtain other permits which may be required by any other Federal, State, or
Local governmental regulation.
If you have any questions concerning these changes, please contact David A. Hill
[[e-mail]]. Mr. Hill is currently finalizing the permit renewals for NC0000353 and
NC0000400.
Sincerely,
DOCUSigned by:
2E35935DF84D4AE...
for S. Daniel Smith, Director
Division of Water Resources
cc: NPDES Unit (Laserfiche)

DocuSign Envelope ID: D526316E-6224-4FF9-953F-41C31CFB707C
Permit Number: NC0000400
A. (1) EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS -FINAL
During the period beginning on the effective date of the permit and lasting until expiration, the Permittee is
authorized to discharge process wastewater from mineral extraction of ore from Outfall 103. Such
discharges shall be limited and monitored by the Permittee as specified below:
PARAMETER
EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS
MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Monthly Average
Daily Maximum
Measurement
Sample
Sample
[Parameter Code]
Type
Frequency
Location`
Flow [500501
1.73 MGD
Continuous
Recording
Influent or
Effluent
Total Fluoride [QD951]
132
264
Weekly
Composite
Effluent
pounds/day
pounds/day
Total Fluoride [C0951]
Monitor & report (mg/L)
Weekly
Grab
U & D
Total Suspended Solids
1240
2480
Weekly
Composite
Effluent
[QD5301
pounds/day
pounds/day
Total Suspended Solids
Monitor & report (mg/L)
Weekly
Grab
U & D
C0530
Settleable Solids
Monitor & report (mg/L)
Weekly
Grab
Effluent
00545
Turbiditya [00070]
Monitor & report (NTU)
Weekly
Grab
Effluent,
U & D
pH [00400]
> 6.0 and < 9.0 standard units
Weekly
Grab
Effluent
pH [004001
Monitor & Report (standard units)
Weekly
Grab
U & D
Chloride3 [00940]
Monitor & report (mg/L)
Quarterly
Composite
Effluent
Chronic Toxicity4
Monitor & report
Quarterly
Composite
Effluent
TGP3B
Notes:
1. U: upstream at least 100 yards from the outfall. D: downstream at least100 yards from the
outfall.
2. This discharge shall not cause the turbidity of the receiving waters to exceed 10 NTU. If the
turbidity exceeds 10 NTU due to natural background conditions, the discharge shall not cause
any increase in turbidity of the receiving water (see A. (6)).
3. Chloride shall be monitored quarterly during the same months as toxicity testing.
4. Chronic Toxicity (Ceriodaphnia) Pass/Fail at 6.0% with testing in February, May, August, and
November [see A (2)].
There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam in other than trace amounts.
3

DocuSign Envelope ID: D526316E-6224-4FF9-953F-4lC31CFB707C
Permit Number NC0000353
A. (1) EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS - FINAL
During the period beginning on the effective date of the permit and lasting until expiration, the
Permittee is authorized to discharge process wastewater from outfall 001. Such discharges
shall be limited and monitored by the Permittee as specified below:
PARAMETER
[Parameter Code]
EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS
MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Monthly
Average
Daily Maximum
Measurement
Frequency
Sample
Type
Sample Location'
Flow [50050]
3.5 MGD
Continuous
Recording
Influent or Effluent
Total Fluoride [QD951]
174
pounds/day
348
pounds/day
Weekly
Composite
Effluent
Total Fluoride [00951]
Monitor & report (mg/L)
Weekly
Grab
U & D
Total Suspended Solids
[QD530]
1568
pounds/day
3137
pounds/day
Weekly
Composite
Effluent
Total Suspended Solids
[C0530]
Monitor & report (mg/L)
Weekly
Grab
U & D
Settleable Solids [005451
Monitor & report (mg/L)
Weekly
Grab
Effluent
Turbidity2 [000701
Monitor & report (NTU)
Weekly
Grab
Effluent, U & D
pH [00400]
> 6.0 and < 9.0 standard units
Weekly
Grab
Effluent
pH [00400]
Monitor & report
standard units
Weekly
Grab
U & D
Chloride3 [00940]
Monitor & report (mg/L)
Quarterly
Composite
Effluent
Chronic Toxicity4 [TGP3B]
Monitor & report
Quarterly
Composite
Effluent
Notes:
1. U: Upstream at Feldspar's low water bridge. D: Downstream at the footbridge in Spruce Pine
Park, upstream of Beaver Creek.
2. This discharge shall not cause the turbidity of the receiving waters to exceed 10 NTU. If the
turbidity exceeds 10 NTU due to natural conditions, the discharge shall not cause any increase in
turbidity of the receiving stream (see A. (5)).
3. Chloride shall be monitored quarterly during the same months as toxicity testing.
4. Chronic Toxicity (Ceriodaphnia) Pass/Fail at 11.0% with testing in January, April, July, and
October (see A (2)).
There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam in other than trace amounts.

Weaver, Charles
From:
Sent:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
Attachments:
Importance:
Tracking:
Weaver, Charles
Monday, November 2, 2020 8:21 AM
'[e-mail]'
Wiggs, Linda; '[e-mail]'; John Silver; '[e-mail]';
'[e-mail]'; Moore, Tom
Technical correction to NPDES permits NC0000400 and NC0000353 / UoM instream
NC0000400_tech_correction_20201102.pdf
High
Recipient
'[e-mail]
Wiggs, Linda
[e-mail]'
John Silver
'[e-mail]'
'[e-mail]'
Moore, Tom
Davidson, Landon
Delivery
Delivered: 11/2/2020 8:21 AM
Delivered: 11/2/2020 8:21 AM
Delivered: 11/2/2020 8:21 AM
Please see the attached technical correction for the subject permits. This should resolve the problems with data entry
for instream data.
PLEASE NOTE — I've requested that the new QD951 & C0951 parameter codes for Fluoride [mass limit] be added to
BIMS/eDMR. You can manually add them until the codes appear automatically in eDMR.
If you have any questions concerning this matter, simply reply to this message.
PLEASE NOTE: as part of the Division's conversion to paperless communication, this email is the
only notification you will be sent regarding the permit modification. No hard copy will be mailed,
unless you specifically request one.
Charles H. Weaver
Environmental Specialist
N.C. DEQ / Division of Water Resources
919-707-3616
charles.weaver(a)ncdenr.gov
(mailing address) 1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1617
Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed
to third parties.
1

Weaver, Charles
From: Microsoft Outlook
To: [e-mail]'; '[e-mail]'; John Silver
Sent: Monday, November 2, 2020 8:21 AM
Subject: Relayed: Technical correction to NPDES permits NC0000400 and NC0000353 / UoM instream
Delivery to these recipients or groups is complete, but no delivery notification was sent by the
destination server:
'michael.yarborough thequartzcorp.com' (michael.yarborough thequartzcorp.comj
[e-mail]' ([e-mail])
John Silver ([e-mail])
Subject: Technical correction to NPDES permits NC0000400 and NC0000353 / UoM instream