NC0032131_Permit Issuance_19951229

State of North Carolina
Department of Environment,
Health and Natural Resources
Division of Environmental Management
James B. Hunt, Jr., Governor
Jonathan B. Howes, Secretary
A. Preston Howard, Jr., P.E., Director
Mr. Spencer Robbins
Tweetsie Railroad, Incorporated
P.O. Box 388
Blowing Rock, North Carolina 28605
Dear Mr. Robbins:
ATI7‘TAA
C)EHNR
December 29, 1995
Subject: NPDES Permit Issuance
Permit No. NC0032131
Tweetsie Railroad
Watauga County
In accordance with the application for a discharge permit received on May 24, 1995, the Division is
forwarding herewith the subject 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.
In a letter from Charles E. Powell dated October 11, 1995, questions were raised on the stringent permit
limits established for flows above 0.035 MGD. Tweetsie Railroad discharges to Middle Fork of the South
Fork New River which is upstream of a designated ORW (Outstanding Resource Waters) area. Regulation
15A NCAC 2B .0216 (e)(4)(c) states that new or expanding NPDES permitted wastewater discharges located
upstream of the designated ORW will comply with limits of 5 mg/1 BOD5 (summer) and 2 mg/1 NH3
(summer) and a 10 mg/1 TSS limit. Flows above the constructed capacity of 0.035 MGD are considered
"new" by rule 15A NCAC 2H .0103(14). Therefore, because Tweetsie Railroad proposes to expand from
0.035 MGD to 0.07 MGD in the future, the facility must comply with the ORW rule at the increased flow.
Attached are copies of these regulations for your reference.
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.
Please take note that this permit is not transferable. Part 11, 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
requirements to obtain other permits which may be required by the Division of Environmental Management 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 Mr. Mack Wiggins at telephone
number [phone], extension 542.
Si cerely,
A. Preston Howard, Jr., .E.
cc: Central Files
Winston-Salem Regional Office, Water Quality Section
Mr. Roosevelt Childress, EPA
Permits and Engineering Unit
Facility Assessment Unit
Technical Assistance and Certification Group
P.O. Box 29535, Raleigh, North Carolina 27626-0535 Telephone [phone] FAX [phone]
An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer 50% recycled/ 10% post -consumer paper

Permit No. NC0032131
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH, AND NATURAL RESOURCES
DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
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 Mangement Commission,
and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended,
Tweetsie Railroad, Incorporated
is hereby authorized to discharge wastewater from a facility located at
Tweetsie Railroad
US Highway 221/321
northeast of Blowing Rock
Watauga County
to receiving waters designated as Middle Fork of the South Fork in the New River Basin
in accordance with effluent limitations, monitoring requirements, and other conditions set forth in Parts I,
II, and III hereof.
The permit shall become effective February 1, 1996
This permit and the authorization to discharge shall expire at midnight on November 30, 2000
Signed this day December 29, 1995
A. Preston Howard, Jr., P.$., Director
Division of Environmental Management
By Authority of the Environmental Mangement Commission

Permit No. NC0032131
SUPPLEMENT TO PERMIT COVER SHEET
Tweetsie Railroad Inc.
is hereby authorized to:
1. Continue to operate an existing wastewater treatment system consisting of a bar screren, surge
basin, aerstion basin, clarifier, chlorine basin, flow meter, dechlorination basin, digester and
standby power located at Tweetsie Railroad Inc., U.S. Highway 221/321, Between Boone and
Blowing Rock, Watauga County (See Part III of this Permit), and
2. After receiving an Authorization to Construct from the Division of Environmental Management,
construct to expand the existing facilities not to exceed 0.070 MGD, and
3. Discharge from said treatment works at the location specified on the attached map into the Middle
Fork of the South Fork of the New River which is classified Class WS-IV Trout waters in the
New River Basin.

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Tweetsie Railroad, Inc.
NC0032131
Discharge Point
Latitude 36°09'53"
,Longitude 81°38'47"
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A. ( ). EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS FINAL
Permit No. NC0032131
During the period beginning on the effective date of the permit and lasting until expansion above 0.035 MGD, the Permittee is authorized to
discharge from outfall(s) serial number 001. Such discharges shall be limited and monitored by the permittee as specified below:
Effluent Characteristics
Flow
BOD, 5 day, 20°C
Total Suspended Residue
NH3 as N
Fecal Coliform (geometric mean)
Total Residual Chlorine
Temperature
Total Nitrogen (NO2 + NO3 + TKN)
Total Phosphorus
Dissolved Oxygen
Discharge Limitations
Monthly Avg.
0.035 MGD
30.0 mg/I
30.0 mg/I
200.0 /100 ml
Weekly Avg.
Daily Max
45.0 mg/I
45.0 mg/I
400.0 /100 ml
17.0 µg/I
Monitoring
Measurement
Frequency
Continuous
Weekly
Weekly
Weekly
Weekly
2/Week
Weekly
Semi-annually
Semi-annually
Weekly
Requirements
Sample *Sample
Type Location
Recording I or E
Composite E
Composite E
Composite E
Grab E
Grab E
Grab E
Composite E
Composite E
Grab E
* Sample locations: E - Effluent, I - Influent
The pH shall not be less than 6.0 standard units nor greater than 9.0 standard units and shall be monitored weekly at the effluent by grab
sample.
There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam in other than trace amounts.

A. (). EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS SUMMER (April 1- October 31) Permit No. NC0032131
During the period beginning after expansion above 0.035 MGD and lasting until expiration, the Permittee is authorized to discharge from
outfall(s) serial number 001. Such discharges shall be limited and monitored by the permittee as specified below:
Effluent Characteristics
Flow
BOD, 5 day, 20°C
Total Suspended Residue
NH3 as N
Dissolved Oxygen**
Fecal Coliform (geometric mean)
Total Residual Chlorine
Temperature
Total Nitrogen (NO2+NO3+TKN)
Total Phosphorus
Discharge Limitations
Monthly Avg. Weekly Avg. Daily MaX
0.070 MGD
5.0 mg/I 7.5 mg/I
10.0 mg/I 15.0 mg/I
2.0 mg/I
200.0 /100 ml
400.0 /100 ml
17.0 µg/I
* Sample locations: E - Effluent, I - Influent
** The daily average dissolved oxygen effluent concentration shall not be less than 5.0 mg/l.
Monitoring
Measurement
Frequency
Continuous
Weekly
Weekly
Weekly
Weekly
Weekly
2/Week
Weekly
Semi-annually
Semi-annually
Requirements
Sample *Sample
Type. Location
Recording I or E
Composite E
Composite E
Composite E
Grab E
Grab E
Grab E
Grab E
Composite E
Composite E
The pH shall not be less than 6.0 standard units nor greater than 9.0 standard units and shall be monitored weekly at the effluent by grab
sample.
There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam in other than trace amounts.

A. (). EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS WINTER (November 1 - March 31) Permit No. NC0032131
During the period beginning after expansion above 0.035 MGD and lasting until expiration, the Permittee is authorized to discharge from
outfall(s) serial number 001. Such discharges shall be limited and monitored by the permittee as specified below:
Effluent Characteristics
Flow
BOD, 5 day, 20°C
Total Suspended Residue
NH3 as N
Dissolved Oxygen**
Fecal Coliform (geometric mean)
Total Residual Chlorine
Temperature
Total Nitrogen (NO2 + NO3 + TKN)
Total Phosphorus
Discharge Limitations.
Monthly AvQ
0.070 MGD
10.0 mg/I
10.0 mg/I
4.0 mg/I
200.0 /100 ml
Weekly Avg.
Daily Max
15.0 mg/I
15.0 mg/I
400.0 /100 ml
17.0 µg/I
Monitoring
Measurement
Frequency
Continuous
Weekly
Weekly
Weekly
Weekly
Weekly
2/Week
Weekly
Semi-annually
Semi-annually
Requirements
Sample
Type
Recording
Composite
Composite
Composite
Grab
Grab
Grab
Grab
Composite
Composite
*Sample
Location
I or E
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
* Sample locations: E - Effluent, I - Influent
** The daily average dissolved oxygen effluent concentration shall not be less than 5.0 mg/l.
The pH shall not be less than 6.0 standard units nor greater than 9.0 standard units and shall be monitored weekly at the effluent by grab
sample.
There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam in other than trace amounts.

cc: Permits and Engineering
Technical Support Branch
County Health Dept.
Central Files
WSRO
SOC PRIORITY PROJECT: Yes NoX
To: Permits and Engineering Unit
Water Quality Section
Attention: Mack Wiggins
Date: June 26, 1995
NPDES STAFF REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
County Watauga
Permit No. NC0032131
PART I - GENERAL INFORMATION
1. Facility and Address:
2. Date of Investigation:
3. Report Prepared by:
Tweetsie Railroad, Inc.
U.S. Highway 221/321
P.O. Box 388
Blowing Rock, NC 28605
June 21, 1995
Beth Morton
4. Persons Contacted and Telephone Number: Denver Eggers, Hydrologic
[phone]
5. Directions to Site: From the intersection of Highway 321/221 South and 105, travel
south on Highway 321 for 3.4 miles. The entrance to Tweetsie Railroad is on the
right side of the road. The treatment plant is located to the left of the park, following
the dirt road through the parking lot.
6. Discharge Points(s), List for all discharge points:
Latitude: 36°09'53" Longitude: 81 °38'47"
U.S.G.S. Quad No. C12 NW U.S.G.S. Quad Name Boone
7. Site size and expansion area consistent with application? X Yes
8. Topography (relationship to flood plain included): The plant is located on a small

Tweetsie Railroad, Inc.
Staff Report & Recommendations
June 26, 1995
Page 2
knoll above the flood plain.
9. Location of nearest dwelling: > 1000 feet.
10. Receiving stream or affected surface waters: Middle Fork of the South Fork of the
New River.
a. Classification WS-IV
b. River Basin and Subbasin No.: 05-07-01
c. Describe receiving stream features and pertinent downstream uses: Receiving
river is a water supply. The river also supports fish, wildlife, and agriculture.
Part II - DESCRIPTION OF DISCHARGE AND TREATMENT WORKS
1. a. Volume of Wastewater to be permitted: Q.07 MGD (Ultimate Design Capacity)
b. What is the current permitted capacity of the Waste Water Treatment facility?
0.07 MGD
c. Actual treatment capacity of the current facility (current design capacity)?
0.035 MGD. The plant is designed to add a parallel package plant to achieve
the full 70,000 gallons capacity.
d. Date(s) and construction activities allowed by previous Authorizations to
Construct issued in the previous two years. None.
e. Please provide a description of existing or substantially constructed wastewater
treatment facilities; The package treatment facility consists of a bar screen,
surge basin, aeration basin, clarifier, chlorine basin, flow meter, dechiorination
basin, digester and standby power.
f. Please provide a description of proposed wastewater treatment facilities. No
changes are proposed.
g. Possible toxic impacts to surface waters: None.
h. Pretreatment Program (POTWs only): NA
2. Residuals handling and utilization/disposal scheme: Residuals are pumped and
hauled to the WWTP (Boone or Blowing Rock).
3. Treatment plant classification (attach completed rating sheet). II

Tweetsie Railroad, Inc.
Staff Report & Recommendations
June 26, 1995
Page 3
4. SIC Code(s): 7999
Primary 11 Secondary NA
Main Treatment Unit Code: 06 00 7
PART III - OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION
1. Is this facility being constructed with Construction Grant Funds or are any public
monies involved. (municipals only)? No.
2. Special monitoring or limitations (including toxicity) requests: None.
3. Important SOC, JOC or Compliance Schedule dates: (Please indicate) None.
4. Alternative Analysis Evaluation: Has the facility evaluated all of the non -discharge
options available. Please provide regional perspective for each option evaluated.
Spray Irrigation: Topography is not suitable for spray irrigation.
Connection to Regional Sewer System: Due to the mountainous area, connection to
the regional system would be difficult.
Subsurface: Subsurface would not be an option for this facility.
Other disposal options: NA
5. Other Special Items: None.
PART IV - EVALUATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Recommendation is made to renew the permit as requested.
ignature of report preparer
ater Quality gional Supervisor
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