NC0061123_Draft Permit_20220809

ROY COOPER
Governors ,;M\‘1�`
ELIZABETH S.BISER
Secretary
RICHARD E.ROGERS,JR. NORTH CAROLINA
Director Environmental Quality
August 9,2022
Ms. Stephanie Anderson
The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center
P.O.Box 1299
Highlands,NC 28741-1299
Subject: Draft NPDES Permit NC0061123
The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center
Grade I Biological WPCS
Macon County
Dear Permittee:
The Division has reviewed your request to renew the subject permit. Enclosed with this letter is a copy of the draft
permit for your facility.Please review this draft carefully to ensure your thorough understanding of the
information,conditions,and requirements it contains.
The draft permit includes the following significant changes from the existing permit. These changes are
required because your facility discharges to a Trout stream:
➢ Monitoring for turbidity has been added to determine compliance with 15A NCAC 02B.0211 (21).
➢ A footnote regarding temperature increases was added to determine compliance with 15A NCAC
02B.0211 (18).
➢ A footnote regarding TRC compliance was added to section A. (1.)
The NPDES standard conditions(Parts II,III,and IV)that are a part of the permit are not included in this draft
document(cover,map,and Part I).The conditions are the same as in your current permit except that agency and
division names have been updated. The latest version is available at https://bit.Iy/3k5NFaL and can be viewed
online or downloaded as a PDF file.
With this notification,the Division will solicit public comment on this draft permit by publishing a notice in
newspapers having circulation in the general Macon County area,per EPA requirements.Please provide your
comments,if any,to me at the address below no later than 30 days after receiving this draft permit.
Following the 30-day public comment period,the Division will review all pertinent comments and take
appropriate action prior to issuing a final permit.If you have questions concerning the draft,please contact me at
via e-mail at [e-mail].
Sincerely,
I, it 1/14:1
Environmental Specialist II
NPDES Compliance and Expedited Permitting
ec: NPDES File[Laserfiche]
North Department of Quality I Division of Water Resources
....
Q�� 512 NorthCarolina Salisbury Street 11611Environmental Mail Serviceua Center I Raleigh North Carolina 27699-1611
CMOs NA 919.707.9000
of EnviromuMal Uual

Permit NC0061123
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
PERMIT
TO DISCHARGE WASTEWATER UNDER THE
NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM
In compliance with the provision of North Carolina General Statute 143-215.1,other lawful standards and
regulations promulgated and adopted by the North Carolina Environmental Management Commission,and the
Federal Water Pollution Control Act,as amended,the
The Mountain Retreat & Learning Center, Inc.
is hereby authorized to discharge wastewater from a facility located at
The Mountain Retreat & Learning Center WWTP
3872 Dillard Road
Highlands
Macon County
to receiving waters designated as Abes Creek in the Savannah Broad River Basin in accordance with effluent
limitations,monitoring requirements, and other conditions set forth in Parts I,II,III and IV hereof.
This permit shall become effective
This permit and authorization to discharge shall expire at midnight on August 31,2027.
If the permittee intends to continue to discharge at the facility beyond the term of this permit, a renewal
application must be submitted no later than March 4, 2027(180 days before the expiration of this
permit).
Signed this day
4Fr**
Richard E.Rogers,Jr.,Director
Division of Water Resources
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Page 1 of 7

Permit NC0061123
SUPPLEMENT TO PERMIT COVER SHEET
All previous NPDES Permits issued to this facility, whether for operation or discharge are hereby revoked.As of this permit
issuance, any previously issued permit bearing this number is no longer effective. Therefore, the exclusive authority to
operate and discharge from this facility arises under the permit conditions, requirements, terms, and provisions included
herein.
The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center is hereby authorized to:
1. Continue to operate an existing 0.006 MGD wastewater treatment facility that includes the following
components:
• Multiple septic tanks
• Surface sand filters
• Tablet chlorine disinfection
• Dechlorination equipment
This facility is located at The Mountain Retreat & Learning Center(3872 Dillard Road,near
Highlands) in Macon County.
2. Discharge from said treatment works via outfall 001 into Abes Creek(stream segment 03-10-2-2-2),
a waterbody currently classified C-Trout ORW waters in hydrologic unit 03060102 of the Savannah
River Basin(Subbasin 03-13-01) at the location specified on the attached map.
Page 2 of 7

Permit NC0061123
Part I
Grade WW-1 Water Pollution Control System [15A NCAC 08G.0302]
A. (1.) EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
[15 NCAC 02B .0400 et seq., 02B .0500 et seq.]
During the period beginning on the effective date of this permit and lasting until expiration,the Permittee is
authorized to discharge from outfall 001. Such discharges shall be limited,monitored,and reported' by the
Permittee as specified below:
PARAMETER LIMITS MONITORING REQUIREMENTS,
{PCS Code] Monthly Average Daily Maximum Measurement Sample Type Sample
Frequency Location2
Flow 0.006 MGD Weekly Instantaneous Influent or
[50050] Effluent
BOD, 5-day(20°C) [C0310] 30.0 mg/L 45.0 mg/L 2/Month Grab Effluent
Total Suspended Solids [C0530] 30.0 mg/L 45.0 mg/L 2/Month Grab Effluent
NH3 as N [C0610] 2/Month Grab Effluent
Dissolved Oxygen [00300] Daily average>6.0 mg/L Weekly Grab Effluent
Dissolved Oxygen [00300] Weekly Grab U &D
Fecal Coliform(geometric mean) 200/100 mL 400/100 mL 2/Month Grab Effluent
[31616]
Turbidity [00070] Weekly Grab Effluent
Total Residual Chlorine3 [50060] 17 ug/L 2/Week Grab Effluent
Temperature°C4 [00010] 2/Week Grab Effluent
Temperature°C [00010] Weekly Grab U &D
MBAS [38260] Monthly Grab Effluent
Chronic Toxicity5 [TGP3B] Quarterly Grab Effluent
pH [00400] >6.0 and <9.0 standard units Weekly Grab Effluent
Footnotes:
1. The permittee shall submit discharge monitoring reports electronically using the Division's eDMR system
[see A. (4)].
2. U: at least 50 feet upstream from the outfall. D: at least 100 feet downstream from the outfall.
3. The Permittee shall report all effluent TRC values reported by a NC-certified laboratory [including field-
certified]. Effluent values < 50 µg/L will be treated as zero for compliance purposes. Dechlorination must
be used when using chlorine for effluent disinfection.
4. The instream temperature shall not be increased by more than 0.5 degrees C(0.9 degrees F)due to the discharge
of heated liquids, but in no case to exceed 20 degrees C (68 degrees F). If the stream temperature exceeds 20
degrees C due to natural background conditions, the effluent cannot cause any increase in instream water
temperature.
5. Chronic Toxicity (Ceriodaphnia) P/F at 90% with testing in February, May, August, and November [see A.
(3)]•
• All samples much be collected from a typical discharge event.
• There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam in other than trace amounts.
Page 3 of 7

Permit NC0061 123
A. (2.) EXPANSION/MODIFICATION CONDITION
[NCGS 143-215.1 (a)]
In the event that additional facilities at this site are constructed and discharge to the Little Tennessee River Basin,
the 0.006 MGD discharge into the Savannah River shall either be eliminated or redirected to the Little Tennessee
River Basin.
A. (3.) CHRONIC TOXICITY PASS/FAIL MONITORING(QUARTERLY)
[15A NCAC 02B .0500 et seq.]
The permittee shall conduct quarterly chronic toxicity tests using test procedures outlined in the"North Carolina
Ceriodaphnia Chronic Effluent Bioassay Procedure,"Revised December 2010,or subsequent versions.
The effluent concentration defined as treatment two in the procedure document is 90%. The testing shall be
performed as a Ceriodaphnia dubia 7-day pass/fail test. The tests will be performed during the months of
February,May,August,and November. These months signify the first month of each three-month toxicity
testing quarter assigned to the facility. Effluent sampling for this testing must be obtained during representative
effluent discharge and shall be performed at the NPDES permitted final effluent discharge below all treatment
processes.
All toxicity testing results required as part of this permit condition will be entered on the Effluent Discharge
Monitoring Form(MR-1)for the month in which it was performed,using the parameter code TGP3B.
Additionally,DWR Form AT-1 (original)is to be sent to the following address:
Attention: North Carolina Division of Water Resources
Environmental Sciences Section
1621 Mail Service Center
Raleigh,N.C. 27699-1621
Or, results can be sent to the email, ATForms.ATB(alincdenr.gov.
Completed Aquatic Toxicity Test Forms shall be filed with the Environmental Sciences Section no later than 30
days after the end of the reporting period for which the report is made.
Test data shall be complete and accurate and include all supporting chemical/physical measurements performed in
association with the toxicity tests,as well as all dose/response data.Total residual chlorine of the effluent toxicity
sample must be measured and reported if chlorine is employed for disinfection of the waste stream.
Should there be no discharge of flow from the facility during a month in which toxicity monitoring is required,
the permittee will complete the information located at the top of the aquatic toxicity(AT)test form indicating the
facility name,permit number,pipe number,county,and the month/year of the report with the notation of"No
Flow"in the comment area of the form.The report shall be submitted to the Environmental Sciences Section at
the address cited above.
Should the permittee fail to monitor during a month in which toxicity monitoring is required,then monthly
monitoring will begin immediately.Upon submission of a valid test,this monthly test requirement will revert to
quarterly in the months specified above.
Page 4 of 7

Permit NC0061 123
Should any test data from this monitoring requirement or tests performed by the North Carolina Division of Water
Resources indicate potential impacts to the receiving stream,this permit may be re-opened and modified to
include alternate monitoring requirements or limits.
If the Permittee monitors any pollutant more frequently then required by this permit,the results of such
monitoring shall be included in the calculation&reporting of the data submitted on the DMR&all AT Forms
submitted.
NOTE: Failure to achieve test conditions as specified in the cited document,such as minimum control organism
survival,minimum control organism reproduction,and appropriate environmental controls, shall constitute an
invalid test and will require immediate follow-up testing to be completed no later than the last day of the month
following the month of the initial monitoring.
A. (4.) ELECTRONIC REPORTING OF DISCHARGE MONITORING REPORTS
[NCGS 143-215.1 (b)]
Federal regulations require electronic submittal of all discharge monitoring reports(DMRs) and program
reports. The final NPDES Electronic Reporting Rule was adopted and became effective on December
21, 2015.
NOTE: This special condition supplements or supersedes the following sections within Part II of this
permit(Standard Conditions for NPDES Permits):
• Section B. (11.) Signatory Requirements
• Section D.(2.) Reporting
• Section D. (6.) Records Retention
• Section E. (5.) Monitoring Reports
1. Reporting Requirements [Supersedes Section D.(2.)and Section E.(5.)(a)1
The permittee shall report discharge monitoring data electronically using the NC DWR's Electronic
Discharge Monitoring Report(eDMR) internet application.
Monitoring results obtained during the previous month(s) shall be summarized for each month and
submitted electronically using eDMR. The eDMR system allows permitted facilities to enter
monitoring data and submit DMRs electronically using the internet. The eDMR system may be
accessed at: https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/edmr.
If a permittee is unable to use the eDMR system due to a demonstrated hardship or due to the facility
being physically located in an area where less than 10 percent of the households have broadband
access, then a temporary waiver from the NPDES electronic reporting requirements may be granted
and discharge monitoring data may be submitted on paper DMR forms (MR 1, 1.1, 2, 3) or
alternative forms approved by the Director. Duplicate signed copies shall be submitted to the
following address:
NC DEQ/Division of Water Resources/Water Quality Permitting Section
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Permit NC0061 123
ATTENTION: Central Files
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh,North Carolina 27699-1617
See"How to Request a Waiver from Electronic Reporting" section below.
Regardless of the submission method, the first DMR is due on the last day of the month following
the issuance of the permit or in the case of a new facility, on the last day of the month following the
commencement of discharge.
Starting on December 21,2025, the permittee must electronically report the following compliance
monitoring data and reports, when applicable:
• Sewer Overflow/Bypass Event Reports;
• Pretreatment Program Annual Reports; and
• Clean Water Act(CWA) Section 316(b)Annual Reports.
The permittee may seek an electronic reporting waiver from the Division(see"How to Request a
Waiver from Electronic Reporting" section below).
2. Electronic Submissions
In accordance with 40 CFR 122.41(1)(9), the permittee must identify the initial recipient at the time
of each electronic submission. The permittee should use the EPA's website resources to identify the
initial recipient for the electronic submission.
Initial recipient of electronic NPDES information from NPDES-regulated facilities means the entity
(EPA or the state authorized by EPA to implement the NPDES program)that is the designated entity
for receiving electronic NPDES data [see 40 CFR 127.2 (b)].
EPA plans to establish a website that will also link to the appropriate electronic reporting tool for
each type of electronic submission and for each state. Instructions on how to access and use the
appropriate electronic reporting tool will be available as well. Information on EPA's NPDES
Electronic Reporting Rule is found at: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2015/10/22/2015-
24954/national-pollutant-discharge-elimination-system-npdes-electronic-reporting-rule
Electronic submissions must start by the dates listed in the"Reporting Requirements"section above.
3. How to Request a Waiver from Electronic Reporting
The permittee may seek a temporary electronic reporting waiver from the Division. To obtain an
electronic reporting waiver, a permittee must first submit an electronic reporting waiver request to
the Division. Requests for temporary electronic reporting waivers must be submitted in writing to
the Division for written approval at least sixty(60) days prior to the date the facility would be
required under this permit to begin submitting monitoring data and reports. The duration of a
temporary waiver shall not exceed 5 years and shall thereupon expire. At such time,monitoring data
Page 6 of 7

Permit NC0061123
and reports shall be submitted electronically to the Division unless the permittee re-applies for and is
granted a new temporary electronic reporting waiver by the Division. Approved electronic reporting
waivers are not transferrable. Only permittees with an approved reporting waiver request may
submit monitoring data and reports on paper to the Division for the period that the approved
reporting waiver request is effective.
Information on eDMR and the application for a temporary electronic reporting waiver are found on
the following web page:
http://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/edmr
4. Signatory Requirements [Supplements Section B.(11.)(b)and Supersedes Section B.(11.)(d)1
All eDMRs submitted to the permit issuing authority shall be signed by a person described in Part II,
Section B. (11.)(a)or by a duly authorized representative of that person as described in Part II,
Section B. (11.)(b). A person, and not a position,must be delegated signatory authority for eDMR
reporting purposes.
For eDMR submissions,the person signing and submitting the DMR must obtain an eDMR user
account and login credentials to access the eDMR system. For more information on North
Carolina's eDMR system,registering for eDMR and obtaining an eDMR user account,please visit
the following web page:
http://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/edmr
Certification. Any person submitting an electronic DMR using the state's eDMR system shall make
the following certification [40 CFR 122.22]. NO OTHER STATEMENTS OF CERTIFICATION
WILL BE ACCEPTED:
"I certify, under penalty of law, that this document and all attachments were prepared under my
direction or supervision in accordance with a system designed to assure that qualified personnel
properly gather and evaluate the information submitted. Based on my inquiry of the person or
persons who manage the system, or those persons directly responsible for gathering the information,
the information submitted is, to the best of my knowledge and belief true, accurate, and complete. I
am aware that there are significant penalties for submitting false information, including the
possibility of fines and imprisonment for knowing violations."
5. Records Retention [Supplements Section D.(6.)1
The permittee shall retain records of all Discharge Monitoring Reports,including eDMR
submissions. These records or copies shall be maintained for a period of at least 3 years from the
date of the report. This period may be extended by request of the Director at any time [40 CFR
122.41].
Page 7 of 7

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NC0061123
The Mountain Retreat & Learning Center Facility \
Latitude: 35°O1'54" Stream Class: Location i
Longitude: 83°15'44" C-Trout ORW
USGS Quad: Scaly Mountain
Receiving Stream: Abes Creek Subbasin: 03-13-02 Macon County
1