NC0061123_Permit Issuance_19970818

NPDES DOCUMENT SCANNING COVER SHEET
NPDES Permit:
NC0061123
The Mountain Retreat WWTP
Document Type:
Permit Issuance
Wasteload Allocation
Authorization to Construct (AtC)
Permit Modification
Complete File - Historical
Engineering Alternatives (EAA)
Correspondence
Owner Name Change
Technical Correction
Instream Assessment (67b)
Speculative Limits
Environmental Assessment (EA)
Document Date:
August 18, 1997
This document is printed on reuse paper - ignore any
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•
Staff Review and Evaluation
NPDES Wastewater Permit
FACILITY INFORMATION
Facility Highlands Camp & Conference Center
NPDES No. NC0061123
Design Flow (MGD) 0.006 MGD
Facility Class I
STREAM CHARACTERISTICS
Stream Name Abes Creek
Stream Class C-TR ORW
Sub -basin 03-13-01
Drainage Area (mi2) 00.11
S7Q10 (cfs) 0.0
W7Q10 (cfs) 0.07
30Q2 (cfs) 0.09
IWC (%) 90
nx?f..t«" 'imigiiimaam
mg.:Parameters Affected
I3astS fac a,n()..::.::.... `
Permit Cover Sheet Page
Added Part IV reference
Not part of previous permit
Special Conditions Page
Deleted Special Condition F
Language is now covered within
new boilerplate
Effluent Limitations and
Monitoring Requirements Page
Changed monitoring frequency
for TRC from daily to 2 / week.
Changes to reflect 2B.0500 Rules
for a Class 1 facility
Supplement to Effluent
Limitations and Monitoring
Requirements Page
Revised Toxicity Language
Included new toxicity language
Compliance Schedule: n/a
Special Condition(s):
Region, please comment on proposed changes (see bolded additions) to
special condition A.(3).
A.(3). Expansion / Modification Condition
In the event that additional facilities at this site discharging to the Little
Tennessee River Basin are constructed, this 0.006 MGD discharge into
the Savannah River shall either be eliminated or redirected to the
Little Tennessee River Basin.
Permits & Engineering Comments:
N/
The application has not been received for this facility to date. This permit was drafted under the
assumption that no modifications have been made to the existing facility.
Upon review of the DMR data for the facility, it appears that the facility has been consistently
failing its toxicity monitoring requirement. The violations go as far back as 1993. In 1996, the following
violations were reported:
• September 1996
• August 1996
• July 1996
Region, please comment on reoccurring toxicity violations and any permitting actions needed to be
included in this renewal. The following text was included in the Basin wide plan in reference to Abes
Creek and the Highlands Camp & Conference Center's discharge: Abes Creek is rated Support
Threatened based on monitoring data from 1989 and chronic toxicity problems from an NPDES

• Staff Review and Evaluation
NPDES Wastewater Permit (Continued)
permitted discharger. The Highlands Camp and Conference Center has a very small volume
discharge, but releases effluent to Abes Creek. The creek has an Outstanding Resource Water
(ORW) classification and a 7Q10 flow of zero, two facts that mandate a stringent chronic toxicity
testing requirement . Five failures of the toxicity test occurred in 1995, and another failure
occurred in January of 1996. The pattern of toxicity failures that occurred in 1995 is also evident
in the records from 1994 and 1993. Unfortunately, the steep terrain around the stream and difficult
access make benthic surveys impossible as a means for determining the impact of toxics on the
stream. However, the mandate of the ORW classification should be met using the following
course of action.
Enforcement action corrected the problems in the past, but renewed occurrences of failure show
that the corrections were not permanent. If another toxicity test failure occurs in 1996, a series of
chronic toxicity tests should be conducted to determine the level (if any) at which the facility does
receive a "pass" result. If the facility can pass at a level just below the 90% mandate, enforcement
action may be limited to advisory meetings with the treatment plant operator. However, if the
passing level is far below the current mandate, actions are needed. First, the source of the toxicity
problem must be positively identified, and corrective action recommended. Second, enforcement
action should be levied against the facility.
Region please comment of the above referenced language. What revisions are recommended and
what enforcement action is planned if any.
It is recommended tha his permit be renewed as drafted.
Prepared by: (�
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Regional Office Evaluation and Recommendations:
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State of North Carolina •
Department of Environment,
Health and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
James B. Hunt, Jr., Governor
Wayne McDevitt, Secretary
A. Preston Howard, Jr., P.E., Director
Mr. Ian R. Denham
The Mountain Highlands Camp &
Conference Center
Post Office Box 1299
Highlands, North Carolina 28741
Dear Mr. Denham:
.A7C7/1
�EHNR
August 18, 1997
Subject: Issuance of NPDES Permit NC0061123
Highlands Camp & Conference
Center
Macon County
In accordance with your application dated March 18, 1997, the Division is forwarding the
subject State-NPDES permit. This permit is issued pursuant to the requirements of North
Carolina General Statute 143-215.1 and the Memorandum of Agreement between North Carolina
and the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency dated December 6,1983.
The Division has drafted the following paragraphs in response to your comment letter, dated
July 28, 1997, concerning the draft permit:
• The street address for the facility has been changed to reflect the records identified by
the county -wide 911 system.
• The Division acknowledges your request to review the receiving stream flow
characteristics with regard to 7Q10 flow for Abes Creek. Please be advised that you,
as the Permittee, have the right to perform a stream flow analysis at any time. The
Division will be available to assist you in gathering the proper information to complete
this analysis, but unfortunately funds and resources are not available for the Division
to complete this task for you. Please contact the Division for assistance if you plan to
perform a stream flow analysis on Abes Creek.
• The name change you requested can not be processed at this time. To date, the
Division has not received proper documentation (i.e., completed name .and ownership
change form (attached) and applicable legal documents identifying this change has
taken place). Please complete the name and ownership change form and submit this to
the Division along with a check for $100.00 once all paperwork is processed by your
attorney.
If any parts, measurement frequencies or sampling requirements contained in this permit are
unacceptable to you, you have the right to an adjudicatory hearing upon written request within
thirty (30) days following receipt of this letter. This request must be in the form of a written
petition, conforming to Chapter 150B of the North Carolina General Statutes, and filed with the
Office of Administrative Hearings, Post Office Drawer 27447, Raleigh, North Carolina 27611-
7447. Unless such demand is made, this decision shall be final and binding
P.O. Box 29535, Raleigh, North Carolina 27626-0535 Telephone [phone] FAX [phone]
An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Acton Employer 50% recycled/ 10% post -consumer paper

Issuance of NPDES Permit NC0061123
Highlands Camp & Conference Center
Page 2 of 2
Please take notice that this permit is not transferable. Part II, E.4. addresses the requirements
to be followed in case of change in ownership or control of this discharge.
This permit does not affect the legal requirement to obtain other permits which may be required
by the Division of Water Quality or permits required by the Division of Land Resources, Coastal
Area Management Act or any other Federal or Local governmental permit that may be required.
If you have any questions concerning this permit, please contact Jeff Myhra at telephone
number 919/733-5083, ext. 597.
Sincerely,
Original Signed By
David A. Goodrich
A. Preston Howard, Jr., P.E.
cc: Central Files
Mr. Roosevelt Childress, EPA
Asheville Regional Office, Water Quality Section
Facility Assessment Unit
Permits and Engineering Unit / Jeff Myhra
Aquatic Survey and Toxicology Unit

Permit No. NC0061123
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH, AND NATURAL RESOURCES
DIVISION OF WATER QUALITY
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 Mountain
is hereby authorized to discharge wastewater from a facility located at the
Highlands Camp and Conference Center
3872 Dillard Road
southwest of Highlands
Macon County
to receiving waters designated as Abes Creek in the Savannah River Basin in accordance with effluent
limitations, monitoring requirements, and other conditions set forth in Parts I, II, III, and IV hereof.
The permit shall become effective October 1,1997
This permit and the authorization to discharge shall expire at midnight on August 31, 2002
Signed this day August 18, 1997
Original Signed By
David A. Goodrich
A. Preston Howard, Jr., P.E., Director
Division of Water Quality
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission

SUPPLEMENT TO PERMIT COVER SHEET
The Mountain
is hereby authorized to:
Permit No. NC0061123
1. Continue to operate a 0.006 MGD wastewater treatment facility that consists of
multiple septic tanks with surface sand filters located at Highlands Camp and Conference
Center, 841 NC Highway 106, southwest of Highlands, Macon County (See Part III of this
Permit), and
2. Discharge from said treatment works at the location specified on the attached map into
Abes Creek which is classified Class C-Trout ORW waters in the Savannah River Basin.

ROAD CLASSIFICATION
PRIMARY HIGHWAY
HARD SURFACE
LIGHT•DUTY ROAD, HARD OR
IMPROVED SURFACE _
SECONDARY HIGHWAY HARD SURFACE =ICI UNIMPROVED ROAD = = =
Latitude 35°01'54' Longitude 83°1644.
Map # G5SE
Stream Class
Sub -basin
C-TR-ORW
03-13-01
Discharge Class 1
Receiving Stream Abes Creek
Design Q 0.006 MGD Permit expires 08/31/02
SCALE 1:24 000
0
1 MILE
0
7000 FEET
1
0
1 KILOMETER
NENE
CONTOUR INTERVAL 40 FEET
Highlands Camp &
Conference Center
NC0061123
Macon County

A.(1). EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS FINAL
Permit No. NC0061123
During the period beginning on the effective date of the permit and lasting until expiration, the Permittee is authorized to discharge from outfall serial number
001. Such discharges shall be limited and monitored by the Permittee as specified below:
.IMI!
DNITORINC
QUIREMENT
Monthly
Average
eekly
erag+r
Daily.
aximun
Measurement
Frequency
ample
VP()
Sample
Location
Flow2
0.006 MGD
Weekly
Instantaneous
I or E
BOD, 5 day, 20'C
30.0 mg/I
45.0 mg/I
2 / Month
Grab
E
Total Suspended Residue
NH3 as N
30.0 mg/I
45.0 mg/I
2 / Month
Grab
2 / Month
Grab
Dissolved Oxygen3
Fecal Coliform (geometric mean)
Total Residual Chlorine4
200 / 100 ml
400 / 100 mI
Weekly
2 / Month
Grab
Grab
E, U, D
E, U, D
17 µg/I
2 / Week
Grab
E
Temperature
Temperature
Conductivity
MBAS
Daily
Grab
E
Weekly
Grab
U, D
Weekly
Grab
U, D
Monthly
Grab
E
pH5
Chronic Toxicity6
2/Month
Quarterly
Grab
Grab
Notes:
' Sample locations: E - Effluent, I - Influent, U - Upstream 50 feet, D - Downstream 100 feet.
2 See Special Condition A.(3). on the Supplement to Effluent Limitations and Monitoring Requirements Page.
3 The daily average dissolved oxygen effluent concentration shall not be less than 6.0 mg/I.
4 See Special Condition A.(2). on the Supplement to Effluent Limitations and Monitoring Requirements Page.
The pH shall not be less than 6.0 standard units nor greater than 9.0 standard units.
6 Chronic Toxicity (Ceriodaphnia) P/F at 90%: February, May, August, and November, See Special Condition A.(4). on the Supplement to Effluent Limitations
and Monitoring Requirements Page.'
There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam in other than trace amounts.
Special permit conditions applicable to the subject facility are listed on the Supplement to Effluent Limitations and Monitoring Requirements Page.

Permit No. NC0061123
SUPPLEMENT TO EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS
AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
SPECIAL CONDITIONS
A.(2). Dechlorination Condition
If chlorine disinfection is used, the permit holder shall employ dechlorination facilities.
A.(3). Expansion / Modification Condition
In the event that additional facilities at this site discharging to the Little Tennessee River
Basin ' are constructed, this 0.006 MGD discharge into the Savannah River shall either be
eliminated or redirected to the Little Tennessee River Basin.
A.(4). Chronic Toxicity Pass/Fail Permit Limit (Qrtrly)
The effluent discharge shall at no time exhibit chronic toxicity using test procedures
outlined in the "North Carolina Ceriodaphnia Chronic Effluent Bioassay Procedure,"
Revised November 1995, or subsequent versions.
The effluent concentration at which there may be no observable inhibition of reproduction
or significant mortality is 90.0% (defined as treatment two in the procedure document).
The permit holder shall perform quarterly monitoring using this procedure to establish .
compliance with the permit condition. The tests will be performed during the months of
February, May, August, and November. Effluent sampling for this testing 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, DWQ Form AT-1 (original) is to be sent
to the following address:
Attention: Environmental Sciences Branch
North Carolina Division of Water Quality
4401 Reedy Creek Road
Raleigh, North Carolina 27607
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,
QCL P/F Version 9/96

Permit No. NC0061123
SUPPLEMENT TO EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS
AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS (Continued)
SPECIAL CONDITIONS
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 Branch at the
address cited above.
Should any single quarterly monitoring indicate a failure to meet specified limits, then
monthly monitoring will begin immediately until such time that a single test is passed.
Upon passing, this monthly test requirement will revert to quarterly in the months specified
above.
Should the permittee fail to monitor during a month in which toxicity monitoring is
required, then monthly monitoring will begin immediately until such time that a single test
is passed. Upon passing, this monthly test requirement will revert to quarterly in the
months specified above.
Should any test data from this monitoring requirement or tests performed by the North
Carolina Division of Water Quality indicate potential impacts to the receiving stream, this
permit may be re -opened and modified to include alternate monitoring requirements or
limits.
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.
QCL P/F Version 9/96

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NC0061123
Facility: Highlands Camp & Conference Center
Discharge to: Abes Creek
Stream class and index #: C-TR ORW
Residual Chlorine
7Q10 (CFS)
DESIGN FLOW (MGD)
DESIGN FLOW (CFS)
STREAM STD (UG/L)
UPS BACKGROUND LEVEL (UG/L)
IWC (%)
Allowable Conc. (ug/I)
Fecal Limit
Ratio of 0.0 :1
Ammonia as NH3
(summer)
0 7010 (CFS)
0.006 DESIGN FLOW (MGD)
0.0093 DESIGN FLOW (CFS)
17.0 STREAM STD (MG/L)
0 UPS BACKGROUND LEVEL (MG/L)
100.00 IWC (%)
17.00 Allowable Concentration (mg/l)
200/100mI
Ammonia as NH3
(winter)
7Q10 (CFS)
DESIGN FLOW (MGD)
DESIGN FLOW (CFS)
STREAM STD (MG/L)
UPS BACKGROUND LEVEL (MG/L)
IWC (%)
Allowable Concentration (mg/l)
0
0.006
0.0093
1.0
0.22
100.00
1.00
minimum = 2
0.07
0.006
0.0093
1.8
0.22
11.73
13.69
minimum = 4