WQ0006075_Permit Renewal Notification_20221109

DocuSign Envelope ID: E5E178B8-BD3C-4726-AFC3-45DAB6A5D115
ROY COOPER
Governor
ELIZABETH S. BISER
Secretary
RICHARD E. ROGERS, JR.
Director
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
November 9, 2022
CHARLES R. AND MADONNA K. BUCHANAN
P.O. Box 488
SPRUCE PINE, NC 287770
Subject: Permit No. WQ0006075
Permit Renewal Notification
Gem Mountain Gemstone Mine
Closed -Loop Recycle System
Mitchell County
Dear Mr. and Ms. Buchanan:
Division of Water Resources' records indicate that Permit No. WQ0006075, which was issued
November 21, 2017, expired October 31, 2022. To date, the Division has not received a renewal
application. Pursuant to administrative code 15A NCAC 02T .0109, permit renewal requests shall be
submitted at least 180 days prior to permit expiration.
The Permittee is responsible for renewing and maintaining this permit. If the non -discharge system
is to be constructed and/or operated, then a renewal application shall be submitted. Accordingly, please
complete and submit the attached renewal application.
Once the application is received, Asheville Regional Office staff will conduct a site visit and
inspect the non -discharge system. Upon completion of the site visit and review of the application, a
renewed non -discharge permit will be issued for a length of up to eight years.
Please complete and submit the renewal application within 30 calendar days of receiving this
notification. Failure to provide these forms prior to the permit expiration date shall result in a Notice
of Violation for operating the subject facilities without a valid permit, which is a violation of G.S.
143-215.1, and may subject the Permittee to appropriate enforcement actions pursuant to G.S. 143-
215.6A-6C. Civil penalties of up to $25,000 per day per violation may be assessed for failure to secure
a valid permit.
If you need additional information concerning this letter, please contact me at [phone] or
[e-mail].
Sincerely, ,—DocuSigned by:
N
"-4C22170C5AA04F3...
Alys Hannum, Environmental Specialist
Division of Water Resources
cc: Asheville Regional Office, Water Quality Regional Operations Section (Electronic Copy)
Laserfiche File (Electronic Copy)
Digital Permit Archive (Electronic Copy)
=D.E
NORTH CAROLINA
Department of Environmental Duality
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
512 North Salisbury Street 11617 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
919.707.9000