NCG520017_Site Inspection Report_20220914

EPA
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Washington, D.C. 20460
Water Compliance Inspection Report
Form Approved.
OMB No. 2040-0057
Approval expires 8-31-98
Section A: National Data System Coding (i.e., PCS)
Transaction Code NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type Inspector Fac Type
1 N 52 NCG520017 22/09/14 C S31112171819 20
21 66
Inspection Work Days Facility Self-Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA ----------------------Reserved-------------------
3 N67707172 73 74 75 80
Section B: Facility Data
Name and Location of Facility Inspected (For Industrial Users discharging to POTW, also include
POTW name and NPDES permit Number)
Cherokee Ruby and Sapphire Mine
41 Cherokee Mine Rd
Franklin NC 28734
Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date
Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date
12:30PM 22/09/14 21/03/01
Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s)
///
Eric N Handte//828-349-2941 /
Other Facility Data
01:30PM 22/09/14 25/07/31
Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number
Eric Handte,145 Pueblo St Tavernier FL 33070/Managing Member/828-349-2941/Contacted
No
Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated)
Records/Reports Facility Site Review Compliance Schedules Effluent/Receiving Waters
Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary)
(See attachment summary)
Name(s) and Signature(s) of Inspector(s)Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date
Brett Laverty DWR/Division of Water Quality/828-296-4500/
Signature of Management Q A Reviewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date
EPA Form 3560-3 (Rev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete.
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DocuSign Envelope ID: 7BB47835-01B9-4522-B400-2730A223B50E
9/23/2022
9/23/2022
NPDES yr/mo/day
22/09/14
Inspection Type
C3111218
1
Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary)
The flume/wash area was in operation during the site inspection. Water from the flume discharges
into two small settling basins before discharging to Caler Fork Creek, which is a Class C stream. The
upper pond is approximately 0.03 acres in size and was turbid on the day of the inspection. The
second settling pond is approximately 0.13 acres in size and was slightly turbid. There were no
turbidity issues in Caler Fork Creek downstream of the outfall on the day of the inspection. It is
important to note the previous inspection was critical of the outfall in that it was head cutting and
causing erosion. The current outfall is a black HDPE pipe and appears to be stable.
I spoke to Eric Handte about the semi-annual monitoring schedule for flow and turbidity. Mr. Handte
was unaware of the monitoring requirement but is willing to comply moving forward. I gave him a copy
of the permit and indicated that he would be receiving a Notice of Deficiency for failing to monitor.
NCG520017 17 (Cont.)
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DocuSign Envelope ID: 7BB47835-01B9-4522-B400-2730A223B50E
Permit:NCG520017
Inspection Date:09/14/2022
Owner - Facility:
Inspection Type:
Cherokee Ruby and Sapphire Mine
Compliance Evaluation
Compliance Schedules Yes No NA NE
Is there a compliance schedule for this facility?
Is the facility compliant with the permit and conditions for the review period?
No records were produced during the inspection to indicate the semi-annual flow and
turbidiy monitoring were conducted in the last five years.
Comment:
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DocuSign Envelope ID: 7BB47835-01B9-4522-B400-2730A223B50E