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Home My WebLink AboutWQ0006075_CEI_20220922 SENT VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL ONLY: NO HARD COPY WILL BE MAILED September 22, 2022 Madonna K Buchanan Kay Buchanan Emailed to: info@gemmountain.com SUBJECT: Compliance Inspection Report Gem Mountain Gemstone Mine CLRS Non-discharge Permit No. WQ0006075 Mitchell County Dear Permittee: The North Carolina Division of Water Resources conducted an inspection of the Gem Mountain Gemstone Mine CLRS on 9/20/2022. This inspection was conducted to verify that the facility is operating in compliance with the conditions and limitations specified in Non-discharge Permit No. WQ0006075. The findings and comments noted during this inspection are provided in the enclosed copy of the inspection report entitled "Compliance Inspection Report". There were no significant issues or findings noted during the inspection and therefore, a response to this inspection report is not required. If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Melanie Kemp with the Water Quality Regional Operations Section in the Asheville Regional Office at 828-296-4500 or via email at melanie.kemp@ncdenr.gov. Sincerely, Melanie Kemp, Environmental Specialist Water Quality Regional Operations Section Asheville Regional Office Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ ATTACHMENTS Ec: LF Compliance Inspection Report Permit:WQ0006075 Effective:11/21/17 Expiration:10/31/22 Owner :Charles R Buchanan SOC: Contact Person: Region: County: Directions to Facility: Mitchell Asheville Madonna K Buchanan Effective:Expiration:Facility:Gem Mountain Gemstone Mine CLRS 13780 Hwy 226 S Spruce Pine NC 28777 Title:Phone:828-765-6130Co-Owner Take Hwy. 226 north to Spruce Pine. The facility is located on the left approximately 1 mile south of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Secondary ORC(s): Phone:Certification:Primary ORC: System Classifications: On-site representative Kay Buchanan On-Site Representative(s): Related Permits: Secondary Inspector(s): Primary Inspector: Inspection Date:Exit Time:Entry Time: Phone: 09/20/2022 10:00AM 10:30AM Melanie Kemp Facility Status: Permit Inspection Type: Reason for Inspection:Inspection Type: Not CompliantCompliant Routine Closed-Loop Recycle Compliance Evaluation Question Areas: Miscellaneous Questions Record Keeping Storage (See attachment summary) Page 1 of 4 Inspection Date: Permit: Inspection Type : Owner - Facility: Reason for Visit: WQ0006075 09/20/2022 Compliance Evaluation Charles R Buchanan Routine Inspection Summary: Melanie Kemp with the Asheville Regional Office performed a compliance evaluation inspection on September 20, 2022 of the Gem Mountain Gemstone Mine, associated with non-discharge permit number WQ0006075. Site representative Kay Buchanan was present during the inspection, as well as the facilities manager. When needed (approximately every other week during operation), water is piped from East Fork Grassy Creek into a storage pond where it is then pumped up to the facility for use. The discharge pipe located within the storage pond was observed to be capped during the inspection, to prevent discharge to the creek. The effluent water flows to two concrete settling tanks before draining into a final settling pond. The residuals from the settling pond are removed monthly and the settling tanks are cleaned weekly. A maintenance and operation log, as well as notes regarding residuals removal, were kept on site in the office area. Photographs associated with the site inspection are included below. The owner indicated that there is not enough discharge water in the final settling pond to pump back into to the operations for reuse. A freeboard marker was not observed in the final settling pond during the time of the inspection. As a reminder, freeboard should be measured and recorded from the final settling pond in accordance with Section IV.3 of the permit. Page 2 of 4 Inspection Date: Permit: Inspection Type : Owner - Facility: Reason for Visit: WQ0006075 09/20/2022 Compliance Evaluation Charles R Buchanan Routine Type Yes No NA NE Infiltration System Reuse (Quality) Lagoon Spray, LR Single Family Spray, LR Activated Sludge Spray, LR Activated Sludge Drip, LR Activated Sludge Spray, HR Single Family Drip Recycle/Reuse Record Keeping Yes No NA NE Is a copy of current permit available? Are monitoring reports present: NDMR? NDAR? Are flow rates less than of permitted flow? Are flow rates less than of permitted flow? Are application rates adhered to? Is GW monitoring being conducted, if required (GW-59s submitted)? Are all samples analyzed for all required parameters? Are there any 2L GW quality violations? Is GW-59A certification form completed for facility? Is effluent sampled for same parameters as GW? Do effluent concentrations exceed GW standards? Are annual soil reports available? # Are PAN records required? # Did last soil report indicate a need for lime? If so, has it been applied? Are operational logs present? Are lab sheets available for review? Do lab sheets support data reported on NDMR? Do lab sheets support data reported on GW-59s? Are Operational and Maintenance records present? Were Operational and Maintenance records complete? Has permittee been free of public complaints in last 12 months? Is a copy of the SOC readily available? Page 3 of 4 Inspection Date: Permit: Inspection Type : Owner - Facility: Reason for Visit: WQ0006075 09/20/2022 Compliance Evaluation Charles R Buchanan Routine No treatment units bypassed since last inspection? Comment: FINAL SETTLING POND - Storage Yes No NA NE Storage Type?Pond Storage amount?2000 Square Feet # At what point is side-stream wastewater returned to treatment? Is there a Spill Control Plan? Aerated or Mixed? If aeration is present, is it adequate? If present, are diffusers cleaned regularly? Is influent structure acceptable? Are banks/berms free of seepage and erosion? Are banks/berms free of excessive vegetation? Is pond lined? Liner Type Unlined Is liner acceptable? Are baffles/curtains acceptable? Does the pond have a freeboard marker? Required freeboard?24 Inches Actual freeboard?24 Is there suitable grassed vegetation? Is the vegetation maintained? Is the area free of excessive weeds and/or woody species? Is the area free from signs of overflow? Is color acceptable? Are floating mats acceptable? No excessive buildup of solids? Are aerators/mixers acceptable? Is effluent structure acceptable? If present, is pond cover acceptable? The pond is not lined.Comment: Page 4 of 4 Influent pipe from East Fork Grassy Creek Freeboard marker in storage pond One of two settling tanks Final settling pond