WQ0003441_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20170426

Compliance Inspection Report
Permit:WQ0003441 Effective:08/10/07 Expiration:07/31/16 Owner :The Dills 2012 Irrevocable Trust
SOC:
Contact Person:
Region:
County:
Directions to Facility:
Swain
Asheville
Brenda C Dills
Effective:Expiration:Facility:Nantahala River Gem Mine
1107 Wesser Creek
Bryson City NC 28713
Title:Phone:[phone]Trustee
Take Hwy. 19 west toward Wesser. The mine is located on the left before you get to the Nantahala Outdoor Center.
Secondary ORC(s):
Phone:Certification:Primary ORC:
System Classifications:
24 hour contact name Brenda C Dills 828-488-6345
On-site representative Brenda C Dills 828-488-6345
On-Site Representative(s):
Related Permits:
Secondary Inspector(s):
Primary Inspector:
Inspection Date:Exit Time:Entry Time:
Phone:
04/26/2017 10:30AM 11:15AM
Beverly Price 828-296-4500
Facility Status:
Permit Inspection Type:
Reason for Inspection:Inspection Type:
Not CompliantCompliant
Routine
Closed-Loop Recycle
Compliance Evaluation
Question Areas:
Miscellaneous Questions Record Keeping
(See attachment summary)
Page 1 of 4
Inspection Date:
Permit:
Inspection Type :
Owner - Facility:
Reason for Visit:
WQ0003441
04/26/2017 Compliance Evaluation
The Dills 2012 Irrevocable Trust
Routine
Inspection Summary:
The inspection was conducted by Beverly Price of the Asheville Regional Office. Brenda
& Billy Dills, owners, were present and assisted with the inspection.
The facility has never operated as a recycle system. The system consists of five settling
basins in series that gravity flow from one to the other. The water either evaporates or
infiltrates into the ground. The last basin contained very little water with no turbidity.
Most of the soil/residuals drop out into the first basin. These residuals are then recycled
and placed in buckets for sale for gem mining. There was no evidence of soil/residual
material entering Wesser Creek. Other system components include a sluice and piping to
move make-up water from a well, Wesser Creek or a spring, to the sluice for gem mining.
The settling basins are fenced on one side and bordered on the other by Wesser Creek.
The maintenance logs need to be kept on site. Mrs. Dills indicated the records are kept
electronically but were not available at the time of the inspection. A copy of the
maintenance records was requested. The vegetation should be maintained around each
of the basins.
The current operational setup, even though no recycling is occurring, appears to be
working without any adverse effects to water quality.
Page 2 of 4
Inspection Date:
Permit:
Inspection Type :
Owner - Facility:
Reason for Visit:
WQ0003441
04/26/2017 Compliance Evaluation
The Dills 2012 Irrevocable Trust
Routine
Type Yes No NA NE
Infiltration System
Reuse (Quality)
Lagoon Spray, LR
Single Family Spray, LR
Activated Sludge Spray, HR
Activated Sludge Spray, LR
Recycle/Reuse
Single Family Drip
Activated Sludge Drip, LR
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:
WQ0003441
04/26/2017 Compliance Evaluation
The Dills 2012 Irrevocable Trust
Routine
No treatment units bypassed since last inspection?
The maintenance logs were not on site for review. The records are kept electronically per the
owner. A copy of the records was requested to be submitted.
Comment:
Page 4 of 4