WQ0000125_Rescission Information Letter_20220608

ROY COOPER
Governor
ELIZABETH S. BISER
Secretary
RICHARD E. ROGERS, JR.
Director
McCannon, George
Old Pressley Sapphire Mine
240 Pressley Mine Rd
Canton, NC 28716
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
June 8, 2022
SUBJECT: 15A NCAC 02U Rule Change
Old Pressley Sapphire Mine
Haywood County, North Carolina
Non -discharge Permit No. WQ0000125
Dear Permittee,
We wanted to bring to your attention a change in the rules that govern closed -loop recycle
systems per 15A NCAC 02U. Pursuant to15A NCAC-2U.0113, item 18, effective March 21, 2019,
Gem Mining Facilities meeting the following requirements are now considered "permitted by
regulation":
"Recycling of rinse water for separating gems from gravel, sand, or rock in a flume at
commercial gem mine facilities with total system flow of less than 100,000 gpd, provided
the wastewater is contained within storage structures, no biological or chemical
additives are used, and the facility develops and maintains a spill control plan in the
event of a wastewater release. The facility shall notify the appropriate Division regional
office in writing noting the owner, location, and that the design complies with the
required criteria. "
If you determine that your facility meets these requirements, a permit rescission request may
be submitted to Nathaniel Thornburg with the Non -Discharge Permitting Unit through the
following methods:
Email requests can be sent to [e-mail]
-or-
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources Asheville Regional Office 12090 U.S. Highway 70 1 Swannanoa North Carolina 28778
NORTH CAROLINA 828.296.4500
Dep dmem of Envlmnmenfal Dual

Letter requests can be mailed to:
Division of Water Resources
Non -Discharge Branch
C/O Nathaniel Thornburg
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1617
If you have specific questions or wish to discuss further, please contact me at 828-296-4653 or
via email at Melanie. Kemp(a)ncdenr.gov.
Sincerely,
EP
DocuSigned by:
Ael„Aie_ I"
66E104D60B524M...
Melanie Kemp, Environmental Specialist I
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Asheville Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
EC: LF
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
Asheville Regional Office 12090 U.S. Highway 70 1 Swannanoa, North Carolina 28778
NORTH CAROLINAD � / 828.296.4500
Depa"mem of Environmental Duality