HomeMy WebLinkAbout20220265 Ver 1_Approval Letter_20220404
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality | Division of Water Resources
Winston-Salem Regional Office | 450 W. Hanes Mill Rd, Suite 300 | Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27105
336.776.9800
April 4, 2022
DWR # 20220265
Wilkes County
Wilkes Mountain Properties LLC
Attn: Mr. Ken Fearn
704 Dover Rd
Greensboro NC 27408
Delivered via email to: kfearn52@gmail.com
Subject: Approval of Individual 401 Water Quality Certification
Cielo Falls Fire Suppression Pond
Dear Mr. Fearn:
Attached hereto is a copy of Certification No. WQCS004750 issued to Mr. Ken Fearn and Wilkes Mountain
Properties LLC, dated April 4, 2022. This approval is for the purpose and design described in your
application. The plans and specifications for this project are incorporated by reference as part of this
Water Quality Certification. If you change your project, you must notify the Division and you may be
required to submit a new application package with the appropriate fee. If the property is sold, the new
owner must be given a copy of this Certification and is responsible for complying with all conditions. [15A
NCAC 02H .0507(d)(2)].
This Water Quality Certification does not relieve the permittee of the responsibility to obtain all other
required Federal, State, or Local approvals before proceeding with the project, including those required
by, but not limited to, Sediment and Erosion Control, Non-Discharge, Water Supply Watershed, and
Trout Buffer regulations.
This Water Quality Certification neither grants nor affirms any property right, license, or privilege in any
lands or waters, or any right of use in any waters. This Water Quality Certification does not authorize
any person to interfere with the riparian rights, littoral rights, or water use rights of any other person
and does not create any prescriptive right or any right of priority regarding any usage of water. This
Water Quality Certification shall not be interposed as a defense in any action respecting the
determination of riparian or littoral rights or other rights to water use. No consumptive user is deemed
by virtue of this Water Quality Certification to possess any prescriptive or other right of priority with
DocuSign Envelope ID: 81B7BA9B-A0E5-434E-BAAE-E98A121C6CA6
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality | Division of Water Resources
Winston-Salem Regional Office | 450 W. Hanes Mill Rd, Suite 300 | Raleigh, North Carolina 27105
336.776.9800
Wilkes Mountain Properties LLC
DWR# 20220265
Individual Certification #WQC004750
Page 2 of 7
respect to any other consumptive user regardless of the quantity of the withdrawal or the date on which
the withdrawal was initiated or expanded.
Upon the presentation of proper credentials, the Division may inspect the property.
This Water Quality Certification shall expire on the same day as the expiration date of the corresponding
Section 404 Permit. The conditions shall remain in effect for the life of the project, regardless of the
expiration date of this Water Quality Certification.
Non-compliance with or violation of the conditions herein set forth may result in revocation of this
Water Quality Certification for the project and may also result in criminal and/or civil penalties.
If you are unable to comply with any of the conditions of this Water Quality Certification you must notify
the Winston-Salem Regional Office within 24 hours (or the next business day if a weekend or holiday)
from the time the permittee becomes aware of the circumstances.
The permittee shall report to the Winston-Salem Regional Office any noncompliance with, and/or any
violation of, stream or wetland standards [15A NCAC 02B .0200] including but not limited to sediment
impacts to streams or wetlands. Information shall be provided orally within 24 hours (or the next
business day if a weekend or holiday) from the time the permittee became aware of the non-compliance
circumstances.
This approval and its conditions are final and binding unless contested [G.S. 143-215.5].
This Certification can be contested as provided in Chapter 150B of the North Carolina General Statutes by
filing a Petition for a Contested Case Hearing (Petition) with the North Carolina Office of Administrative
Hearings (OAH) within sixty (60) calendar days. Requirements for filing a Petition are set forth in Chapter
150B of the North Carolina General Statutes and Title 26 of the North Carolina Administrative Code.
Additional information regarding requirements for filing a Petition and Petition forms may be accessed at
http://www.ncoah.com/ or by calling the OAH Clerk’s Office at (919) 431-3000.
A party filing a Petition must serve a copy of the Petition on:
William F. Lane, General Counsel
Department of Environmental Quality
1601 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1601
If the party filing the Petition is not the permittee, then the party must also serve the recipient of the
Certification in accordance with N.C.G.S 150B-23(a).
DocuSign Envelope ID: 81B7BA9B-A0E5-434E-BAAE-E98A121C6CA6
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality | Division of Water Resources
Winston-Salem Regional Office | 450 W. Hanes Mill Rd, Suite 300 | Raleigh, North Carolina 27105
336.776.9800
Wilkes Mountain Properties LLC
DWR# 20220265
Individual Certification #WQC004750
Page 3 of 7
This letter completes the Division’s review under section 401 of the Clean Water Act and 15A NCAC
02H .0500. Please contact Sue Homewood at 336-776-9693 or Sue.Homewood@ncdenr.gov if you have
any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Lon T. Snider
Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ – WSRO
Electronic cc: Derek Goddard, BREC
Brandee Boggs, USACE Asheville Regulatory Field Office
Andrea Leslie, NCWRC
Todd Bowers, EPA
DWR 401 & Buffer Permitting Branch Electronic file
DocuSign Envelope ID: 81B7BA9B-A0E5-434E-BAAE-E98A121C6CA6
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality | Division of Water Resources
Winston-Salem Regional Office | 450 W. Hanes Mill Rd, Suite 300 | Raleigh, North Carolina 27105
336.776.9800
Wilkes Mountain Properties LLC
DWR# 20220265
Individual Certification #WQC004750
Page 4 of 7
NORTH CAROLINA 401 WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION
CERTIFICATION #WQC004750 is issued in conformity with the requirements of Section 401, Public Laws
92-500 and 95-217 of the United States and subject to North Carolina’s Regulations in 15 NCAC 02H .0500
and 15A NCAC 02B .0200, to Mr. Ken Fearn and Wilkes Mountain Properties LLC, who have authorization
for the impacts listed below, as described within your application received by the N.C. Division of Water
Resources (Division) on February 14, 2012 and subsequent information on March 24, 2022 and Ap;ril 4,
2022, and by Public Notice issued by the Division on February 17, 2022.
The State of North Carolina certifies that this activity will comply with water quality requirements and
the applicable portions of Sections 301, 302, 303, 306, 307 of the Public Laws 92-500 and PL 95-217 if
conducted in accordance with the application, the supporting documentation, and conditions
hereinafter set forth.
The following impacts are hereby approved. No other impacts are approved, including incidental
impacts. [15A NCAC 02H .0506(b)]
Type of Impact
Amount Approved (units)
Permanent
Amount Approved (units)
Temporary
Stream
Pond construction 150 (linear feet) 0 (linear feet)
This approval requires you to follow the conditions listed in the certification below.
CONDITIONS OF CERTIFICATION [15A NCAC 02H .0507(c)]:
1. The turbidity standard of 10 NTUs (Nephelometric Turbidity Units) shall not be exceeded as
described in 15 A NCAC 02B .0200. Appropriate sediment and erosion control practices must be
used to meet this standard.
Citation: 15A NCAC 02H .0200
2. The stream is a Class C Trout Waters. In order to protect downstream uses for Class C Trout Waters
a requirement of this Certification is that any work conducted within the stream may not occur
between the dates of October 15 through April 15.
Citation: 15A NCAC 02H .0506(b)(2); 15A NCAC 04B .0125
3. The turbidity standard of 10 NTUs (Nephelometric Turbidity Units) shall not be exceeded as
described in 15 A NCAC 02B .0200. Appropriate sediment and erosion control practices must be
used to meet this standard. Disturbed areas shall be stabilized at the end of each workday.
Citation: 15A NCAC 02B .0200
4. Streamflow must be maintained within the stream channel downstream of the lake during
construction activities and pond filling. A minimum of 50 percent of incoming flow shall be
maintained downstream of the pond.
Citation: 15A NCAC 02H .0506(b)(3); 15A NCAC 02B .0200; 15A NCAC 02B .0300
DocuSign Envelope ID: 81B7BA9B-A0E5-434E-BAAE-E98A121C6CA6
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality | Division of Water Resources
Winston-Salem Regional Office | 450 W. Hanes Mill Rd, Suite 300 | Raleigh, North Carolina 27105
336.776.9800
Wilkes Mountain Properties LLC
DWR# 20220265
Individual Certification #WQC004750
Page 5 of 7
5. The water release structure for this dam must be designed as a coldwater release. Also to help
minimize temperature elevation in waters downstream, trees shall be maintained along the
pond perimeters but not on the dams. Native trees shall be planted along the pond if trees are
removed during construction activities.
Citation: 15A NCAC 02H .0506(b)(3); 15A NCAC 02B .0200; 15A NCAC 02B .0300
6. The permittee shall report to the DWR Winston Salem Regional Office any noncompliance with,
and/or any violation of, stream or wetland standards [15A NCAC 02B .0200], including but not limited
to sediment impacts to streams or wetlands. Information shall be provided orally within 24 hours (or
the next business day if a weekend or holiday) from the time the permittee became aware of the non-
compliance circumstances.
Citation: 15A NCAC 02H .0506(b); 15A NCAC 02H .0507(c)
7. No waste, spoil, solids, or fill of any kind shall occur in wetlands or waters beyond the footprint of
the approved impacts (including temporary impacts).
Citation: 15A NCAC 02H .0506; 15A NCAC 02H .0507(c)
8. All activities shall be in compliance with any applicable State Regulated Riparian Buffer Rules in
Chapter 2B of Title 15A in the North Carolina Administrative Code.
Citation: 15A NCAC 02H .0506(b); 15A NCAC 02H .0507(c)
9. When applicable, all construction activities shall be performed and maintained in full compliance
with G.S. Chapter 113A Article 4 (Sediment and Pollution Control Act of 1973). Regardless of
applicability of the Sediment and Pollution Control Act, all projects shall incorporate appropriate
Best Management Practices for the control of sediment and erosion so that no violations of state
water quality standards, statutes, or rules occur.
Design, installation, operation, and maintenance of all sediment and erosion control measures shall
be equal to or exceed the requirements specified in the most recent version of the North Carolina
Sediment and Erosion Control Manual, or for linear transportation projects, the North Caroline
Department of Transportation Sediment and Erosion Control Manual.
All devices shall be maintained on all construction sites, borrow sites, and waste pile (spoil) sites,
including contractor-owned or leased borrow pits associated with the project. Sufficient materials
required for stabilization and/or repair of erosion control measures and stormwater routing and
treatment shall be on site at all times.
For borrow pit sites, the erosion and sediment control measures shall be designed, installed,
operated, and maintained in accordance with the most recent version of the North Carolina Surface
Mining Manual. Reclamation measures and implementation shall comply with the reclamation in
accordance with the requirements of the Sedimentation Pollution Control Act and the Mining Act of
1971.
Citation: 15A NCAC 02H .0506(b); 15A NCAC 02H .0507(c); 15A NCAC02B .0200; 15A NCAC
02B .0231
10. Sediment and erosion control measures shall not be installed in wetland or waters except within the
footprint of temporary or permanent impacts otherwise authorized by this Certification. If placed
within authorized impact areas, then placement of such measures shall not be conducted in a
manner that results in dis-equilibrium of any wetlands, streambeds, or streambanks. Any silt fence
DocuSign Envelope ID: 81B7BA9B-A0E5-434E-BAAE-E98A121C6CA6
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality | Division of Water Resources
Winston-Salem Regional Office | 450 W. Hanes Mill Rd, Suite 300 | Raleigh, North Carolina 27105
336.776.9800
Wilkes Mountain Properties LLC
DWR# 20220265
Individual Certification #WQC004750
Page 6 of 7
installed within wetlands shall be removed from wetlands and the natural grade restored within two
(2) months of the date that DEMLR or locally delegated program has released the specific area
within the project to ensure wetland standards are maintained upon completion of the project.
Citation: 15A NCAC 02H .0506(b); 15A NCAC 02H .0507(c); 15A NCAC 02B .0200; 15A NCAC 02B
.0231
11. Erosion control matting that incorporates plastic mesh and/or plastic twine shall not be used along
streambanks or within wetlands.
Citation: 15A NCAC 02H .0506(b); 15A NCAC 02H .0507(c)
12. If the project is covered by NPDES Construction Stormwater Permit Number NCG010000 or NPDES
Construction Stormwater Permit Number NCG250000, full compliance with permit conditions
including the erosion & sedimentation control plan, inspections and maintenance, self-monitoring,
record keeping and reporting requirements is required.
Citation: 15A NCAC 02H .0506(b); 15A NCAC 02H .0507(c); 15A NCAC 02B .0200; 15A NCAC
02B .0231
13. All work in or adjacent to streams shall be conducted so that the flowing stream does not come in
contact with the disturbed area. Approved best management practices from the most current
version of the NC Sediment and Erosion Control Manual, or the NC Department of Transportation
Construction and Maintenance Activities Manual, such as sandbags, rock berms, cofferdams, and
other diversion structures shall be used to minimize excavation in flowing water.
Citation: 15A NCAC 02H .0506(b); 15A NCAC 02H .0507(c); 15A NCAC 02B .0200
14. Application of fertilizer to establish planted/seeded vegetation within disturbed riparian areas
and/or wetlands shall be conducted at agronomic rates and shall comply with all other Federal,
State and Local regulations. Fertilizer application shall be accomplished in a manner that minimizes
the risk of contact between the fertilizer and surface waters.
Citation: 15A 02H .0506(b); 15A NCAC 02H .0507(c); 15A NCAC 02B .0200; 15A NCAC 02B .0231
15. If concrete is used during construction, then all necessary measures shall be taken to prevent direct
contact between uncured or curing concrete and waters of the state. Water that inadvertently
contacts uncured concrete shall not be discharged to waters of the state.
Citation: 15A 02H .0506(b); 15A NCAC 02H .0507(c); 15A NCAC 02B .0200; 15A NCAC 02B .0231
16. Any rip-rap required for proper culvert placement, stream stabilization, or restoration of temporarily
disturbed areas shall be restricted to the area directly impacted by the approved construction
activity. All rip-rap shall be placed such that the original streambed elevation and streambank
contours are restored and maintained and shall consist of clean rock or masonry material free of
debris or toxic pollutants. Placement of rip-rap or other approved materials shall not result in de-
stabilization of the stream bed or banks upstream or downstream of the area or be installed in a
manner that precludes aquatic life passage.
Citation: 15A NCAC 02H .0506(b); 15A NCAC 02H .0507(c)
17. Any rip-rap used for stream or shoreline stabilization shall be of a size and density to prevent
movement by wave, current action, or stream flows, and shall consist of clean rock or masonry
material free of debris or toxic pollutants. Rip-rap shall not be installed in the streambed except in
specific areas required for velocity control and to ensure structural integrity of bank stabilization
measures.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 81B7BA9B-A0E5-434E-BAAE-E98A121C6CA6
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality | Division of Water Resources
Winston-Salem Regional Office | 450 W. Hanes Mill Rd, Suite 300 | Raleigh, North Carolina 27105
336.776.9800
Wilkes Mountain Properties LLC
DWR# 20220265
Individual Certification #WQC004750
Page 7 of 7
Citation: 15A NCAC 02H .0506(b); 15A NCAC 02H .0507(c); 15A NCAC 02B .0201
18. All mechanized equipment operated near surface waters shall be inspected and maintained
regularly to prevent contamination of surface waters from fuels, lubricants, hydraulic fluids, or other
toxic materials. Construction shall be staged in order to minimize the exposure of equipment to
surface waters to the maximum extent practicable. Fueling, lubrication, and general equipment
maintenance shall be performed in a manner to prevent, to the maximum extent practicable,
contamination of surface waters by fuels and oils.
Citation: 15A NCAC 02H .0506(b); 15A NCAC 02H .0507(c); 15A NCAC 02B .0200; 15A NCAC 02B
.0231
19. Heavy equipment working in wetlands shall be placed on mats or other measures shall be taken to
minimize soil disturbance and compaction.
Citation: 15A NCAC 02H .0506(b); 15A NCAC 02H .0507(c); 15A NCAC 02B .0231
20. In accordance with 143-215.85(b), the permittee shall report any petroleum spill of 25 gallons or
more; any spill regardless of amount that causes a sheen on surface waters; any petroleum spill
regardless of amount occurring within 100 feet of surface waters; and any petroleum spill less than
25 gallons that cannot be cleaned up within 24 hours.
Citation: 15A NCAC 02H .0507(c); N.C.G.S 143-215.85(b)
21. The permittee and their authorized agents shall conduct all activities in a manner consistent with
State water quality standards (including any requirements resulting from compliance with §303(d)
of the Clean Water Act), and any other appropriate requirements of State and Federal Law.
Citation: 15A NCAC 02H .0506(b); 15A NCAC 02H .0507(c)
22. The permittee shall require its contractors and/or agents to comply with the terms and conditions of
this certification in the construction and maintenance of this project, and shall provide each of its
contractors and/or agents associated with the construction or maintenance of this project with a
copy of this Water Quality Certification. A copy of this Water Quality Certification shall be available
at the project site during the construction and maintenance of this project.
Citation: 15A NCAC 02H .0506(b); 15A NCAC 02H .0507(c)
This approval to proceed with your proposed impacts or to conduct impacts to waters as depicted in
your application shall expire upon expiration of the 404 Permit. The conditions in effect on the date of
issuance shall remain in effect for the life of the project, regardless of the expiration date of this
Certification. [15A NCAC 02H .0507(c)]
This, the 4th day of April 2022
Lon T. Snider
Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ – WSRO
DocuSign Envelope ID: 81B7BA9B-A0E5-434E-BAAE-E98A121C6CA6