20120632 Ver 1_More Info Letter_20120809

490
KDENR
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
Beverly Eaves Perdue Charles Wakild, P.E.
Governor Director
August 9, 2012
Unimin Corporation -Rolf Pippert
PO Box 588
7638 HWY 226 South
Spruce Pine, NC 28777
Subject: Request for More Information
401 Water Quality Certification
West Schoolhouse Mine Expansion
DWQ Project # 12 -0632
Avery County
Response deadline: September 28, 2012;,
Dear Mr. Pippert:
Dee Freeman
Secretary
The Division of Water Quality (DWQ) has performed a preliminary review of a 401 Water Quality Certification
application submitted for the above referenced property. Additional information will be required in order to
complete the review process.
Please provide the following information so that we may continue to review your project.
Additional Information Requested:
1. Water Quality Standard Impacts: Mining operations expose large areas of land and alter
topography. Please explain how water quality standards will not be violated downstream,
specifically:
a. Flow and Temperature: How will downstream flows and temperature be monitored to
maintain compliance with water quality standards 15A NCAC 02B.0211 (1) and (3) 0).
b. Turbidity: How will water quality standards 15A NCAC 02B.0211 (3) (k) in the receiving
stream will be achieved.
2. Avoid and Minimize: Stringent Best Management Practices (BMPs) will be needed to avoid
and minimize impacts to the receiving str ar - . Please describe what BMPs will be used to
protect water quality.
Location: 2090 U.S. Highway 70, Swannanoa, North Carolina 28778
Phone: 828 - 29645001 FAX: [phone]
Internet: www.ncwaterquality.org
An Equal Opportunity 1 Affirmative Action Employer
NorthCarolina
Iatura!!r�

Rolf Pippert- Unimin
August 9, 2012
Page 2 of 2
a. Section 8.2.2 states that during construction the suspended solids /turbidity may be increase
but only minimally and temporarily. How much and for how long do; you expect an
increase? What is the expected life of this mine?
b. Section 8.2.3 and 9.15 states accumuWed water in mining pit will be treated by existing
stormwater facilities at the site. This project will increase flows to these stormwater
facilities; there will be the natural stream flows and stormwater runoff flows that have to be
managed. Please explain how these flows will be diverted to the existing stormwater
facilities? Please explain how the existing stormwater facilities are of a sufficient size to
handle these added flows while maintaining compliance with the Stormwater Permit
NCG020795 benchmarks and avoiding water quality standards violations?
Please provide your response in writing to the addresses below prior to September 28, 2012. Four copies of the
required information should be provided to the Wetlands, Buffers, Stormwater Compliance and Permitting Unit
at:
Ian McMillan
WeBSCaPe Unit
1650 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699 -1650
and a single copy to the Asheville Regional Office at:
Linda Wiggs
Surface Water Protection Section
2090, US HWY 70
Swannanoa, NC 28778
If we do not hear from you by the deadline, we will assume that you no longer want to pursue this project and
we will consider the project withdrawn.
This letter only addresses the preliminary application review and does not authorize any impacts to wetlands,
waters or protected buffers. Please be aware that any impacts requested within your application are not
authorized (at this time) by the DWQ. Please call Linda Wiggs 828 - 296 -4500, if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Chuck Cranford, Regional Supervisor
Surface Water Protection
Asheville Regional Office
cc: Tasha McCormick - US Army Corps of Engineers Asheville Field Office
David McHenry - North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Karen Higgins - WeBSCaPe Unit
DLR -ARO
ARO File copy
Clearwater Consultants (e -copy)
S:\SWP\Avery\40ls\Non- DOnUnimin Schoolhouse West Mine\Addlnfo .Unimin.Schoolhouse.2012.doc