NC0087963_Authorization to Construct_20220513

North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality | Division of Water Resources
512 North Salisbury Street | 1611 Mail Service Center | Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1611
919.707.9000

May 13, 2022

Mr. James E. Harrill II
President
The Bluffs at Blowing Rock Property Owner’s Association, Inc.
133 Echota Pkwy
Boone, North Carolina 28607

SUBJECT: Authorization to Construct
A to C No. 087963A01
The Bluffs at Blowing Rock
Property Owner’s Association, Inc.
Buckeye Creek WWTP
NPDES Permit No. NC0087963

Dear Mr. Harrill:

A letter of request for an Authorization to Construct was received November 22, 2021, by
the Division of Water Resources (Division). With additional information received on May 13,
2022, final plans and specifications for the subject project have been reviewed and found to be
satisfactory. Authorization is hereby granted for the construction of the new 0.05 MGD Buckeye
Creek WWTP, with discharge of treated wastewater into the Thunderhole Creek in the Catawba
River Basin.

This authorization is for a new 0.05 MGD wastewater treatment plant, and is awarded for
the following specific construction:

Installation of one (1) 0.125 MGD manual bar screen (another 0.125 MGD standby manual
bar screen is provided onsite), one (1) 12,500-gallon flow equalization tank with two (2)
50 SCFM blowers and two (2) 69.44 GPM EQ pumps, a dual train extended aeration
system with each train containing one (1) 2,500-gallon anoxic zone with one (1) 0.5 HP
mixer, and one (1) 25,000-gallon aerobic zone; Installation of three (3) 200 SCFM blowers
in total for aeration basins and sludge holding tanks, two (2) 142 square feet rectangular
secondary clarifiers with 9.5 feet side water depth, two (2) 34.75 square feet tertiary sand
filters with two (2) 520 GPM backwash pumps and two (2) 40 SCFM blowers for air
scouring, two (2) 69.44 GPM RAS pumps, two (2) 50 GPM internal recycle pumps for
aeration basins, two (2) 60 GPM mudwell pumps to return backwash liquid to the EQ tank,
one (1) 5,325-gallon post aeration tank, a dual channel ultraviolet disinfection system
consisting of one (1) bank in each channel with each bank rated at 0.1 MGD peak hourly
flow, two (2) 3,750-gallon aerobic sludge holding tanks, and all necessary piping and
controls; in conformity with the project plans, specifications, and other supporting

Mr. James E. Harrill II, President
May 13, 2022
Page 2 of 3

documentation comprising the ATC Permit Application package submitted to the
Department of Environmental Quality.

This ATC is issued in accordance with Part III, Paragraph A of NPDES Permit No.
NC0087963 issued effective March 1, 2022, and shall be subject to revocation unless the
wastewater treatment facilities are constructed in accordance with the conditions and limitations
specified in Permit No. NC0087963.

It is the Owner’s responsibility to ensure that the as-constructed project meets the
requirements of all applicable regulations and statutes, the ATC Permit Application package, and
all of the requirements contained herein. Failure to comply may result in penalties in accordance
with North Carolina General Statute §143-215.6A through §143-215.6C.

The sludge generated from these treatment facilities must be disposed of in accordance
with G.S. 143-215.1 and in a manner approved by the Division.

In the event that the facilities fail to perform satisfactorily, including the creation of
nuisance conditions, the Permittee shall take immediate corrective action, including those as may
be required by the Division, such as the construction of additional or replacement wastewater
treatment or disposal facilities.

The Winston-Salem Regional Office, telephone number 336-776-9800, shall be notified at
least forty-eight (48) hours in advance of operation of the installed facilities so that an on-site
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.

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 the NPDES Permit and the ATC Permit Application package.
Mail the Certification to: Division of Water Resources, WQ Permitting – NPDES, 1617 Mail
Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1617.

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 least
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 T15A:8G.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, must properly manage the facility, must documen t daily operation and
maintenance of the facility, and must comply with all other conditions of T15A:8G.0202.

Mr. James E. Harrill II, President
May 13, 2022
Page 3 of 3

A copy of the project plans and specifications shall be maintained on file by the
Permittee for the life of the facility.

During the construction of the proposed additions/modifications, the Permittee shall
continue to properly maintain and operate the existing wastewater treatment facilities at all times,
and in such a manner, as necessary to comply with the effluent limits specified in the NPDES
Permit.
You are reminded that it is mandatory for the project to be constructed in accordance with
the North Carolina Sedimentation Pollution Control Act, and when applicable, the North Carolina
Dam Safety Act. In addition, the specifications must clearly state what the contractor’s
responsibilities shall be in complying with these Acts.

Prior to entering into any contract(s) for construction, the recipient must have obtained all
applicable permits from the State.

The issuance of this ATC 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.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Min Xiao, PE at
telephone number [phone] or by email at [e-mail].

Sincerely,

for Richard E. Rogers, Jr.
Director, Division of Water Resources

by Min Xiao, PE
NPDES Industrial Permitting Unit

With Engineer’s Certificate attached:
cc: NPDES Files

ecopy: Manjiang Chen, PE
McGill Associates, PA
Email: [e-mail]
DWR Winston-Salem Regional Office, Water Quality Programs

Without Engineer’s Certificate attached:
cc: Watauga County Health

The Bluffs at Blowing Rock Property Owner’s Association, Inc.
Buckeye Creek WWTP
Authorization to Construct No. 087963A01
Issued May 13, 2022
NPDES Permit No. NC0087963

Engineer's Certification

I, , as a duly registered Professional Engineer in
the State of North Carolina, having been authorized to observe (periodically/weekly/full time)
the construction of the modifications and improvements to the Buckeye Creek Wastewater
Treatment Plant, located in Watauga County, hereby state that, to the best of my abilities, due
care and diligence was used in the observation of the following construction:

Installation of one (1) 0.125 MGD manual bar screen (another 0.125 MGD standby
manual bar screen is provided onsite), one (1) 12,500-gallon flow equalization tank
with two (2) 50 SCFM blowers and two (2) 69.44 GPM EQ pumps, a dual train
extended aeration system with each train containing one (1) 2,500-gallon anoxic
zone with one (1) 0.5 HP mixer, and one (1) 25,000-gallon aerobic zone;
Installation of three (3) 200 SCFM blowers in total for aeration basins and sludge
holding tanks, two (2) 142 square feet rectangular secondary clarifiers with 9.5 feet
side water depth, two (2) 34.75 square feet tertiary sand filters with two (2) 520
GPM backwash pumps and two (2) 40 SCFM blowers for air scouring, two (2)
69.44 GPM RAS pumps, two (2) 50 GPM internal recycle pumps for aeration
basins, two (2) 60 GPM mudwell pumps to return backwash liquid to the EQ tank,
one (1) 5,325-gallon post aeration tank, a dual channel ultraviolet disinfection
system consisting of one (1) bank in each channel with each bank rated at 0.1 MGD
peak hourly flow, two (2) 3,750-gallon aerobic sludge holding tanks, and all
necessary piping and controls; in conformity with the project plans, specifications,
and other supporting documentation comprising the ATC Permit Application
package submitted to the Department of Environmental Quality.

I certify that the construction of the above referenced project was observed to be built within
substantial compliance, intent and in conformity with all applicable regulations and statutes and
the project plans, specifications, and other supporting documentation comprising the
Authorization to Construct Permit Application package.

Signature Registration No.____________________

Date__________________

Mail this Certification to: Attn: Min Xiao, PE
NPDES Industrial Permitting Unit
DEQ/DWR/Water Quality Programs
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1617