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FACT SHEET FOR WASTELOAD ALLOCATION
• Request# G/35
Facility Name: Unimin Corp-Spruce Pine-Mica Operations(PIPE 001)
NPDES No.: NC0000361
Type of Waste: Industrial- 100%
Facility Status: Existing
Permit Status: Modification
Receiving Stream: The North Toe River c � •_
Stream Classification: WS-III Trout — f
Subbasin: 040306 " '
_
County: Avery Stream Characteristic: :1 ;
Regional Office: Asheville USGS # :_z
Requestor: -Barona- l�r Date: -
Date of Request 12/20/91 Drainage Area(mi2): 96.5
Topo Quad: D11NW Summer 7Q10(cfs): 30
Winter 7Q10(cfs): 39
Average Flow(cfs): 165
30Q2(cfs): 55
IWC(%): 10
Wasteload Allocation Summary
(approach taken,correspondence with region,EPA,etc.)
Facility requesting renewal of existing NPDES permit. One of the four fluoride bearing waste
dischargers into the North Toe River.All facility permits are interdependent because total
assimulative capacity of fluoride is allocated between the four industries and all permits should be
issued at the same time per the Asheville RO.
**Modification to pipe 001 to add gasoline contaminated groundwater in spray form over existing
settling pond.**
Special Schedule Requirements and additional comments from Reviewers:
Recommended by: .-et_ Date:7/24/92 _
Reviewed by
Instream Asse.. SS nt Date: I 4 h
Regiosor: 1 01--M-&-, Date: /D 9
Permits : Engineering: Date• X12
RETURN TO TECHNICAL SERVICES BY: SEP 0 3 192
RECEIVED
Water Quality S ctioa
AUG 6 - 1992
Asheville Regional 0i'10
Asheville, North Carotis

2
TOXICS/METALS/CONVENTIONAL PARAMETERS
• Type of Toxicity Test: Chronic pass,/fail
Existing Limit:
Recommended Limit 10%
Monitoring Schedule: APR JUL OCT JAN
Existing Limits
Daily Average Daily Max.
Wasteflow(MGD): 2.16
TSS (mg/1): 20 30
pH(SU): 6-10
Turbidity(NTU):
Temperature(C): **
Settleable solids(m1/1): monitor
*The discharge shall not increase turbidity of receiving waters mote than 10 NTU. If the turbidity exceeds 10 NTU
due to natural conditions,the discharge shall not cause any increase in turbidity.
**The temperature of the effluent shall be such as not to cause an increase in the temperature of the receiving stream
of more than 05 degress C and in no case cause the ambient water temperature to exceed 20 degrees C.
Recommended Limits
Daily Average Daily Max. WQ or EL
Wasteflow(MGD): 2.16
TSS (mg/1): 20 30 EL
pH(SU): 6-10
Turbidity(NTU):
Temperature(C): **
Settleable solids(m1/1): monitor
Toluene(ug/1): 183 WQ
Benzene(ug/1): monitor WQ
Methyl Tent Butyl Ether(ug/1): monitor WQ
*The discharge shall not increase turbidity of receiving waters mote than 10 NTU. If the turbidity exceeds 10 NTU
due to natural conditions,the discharge shall not cause any increase in turbidity.
**The temperature of the effluent shall be such as not to cause an increase in the temperature of the receiving stream
of more than 0.5 degress C and in no case cause the ambient water temperature to exceed 20 degrees C.
Limits Changes Due To:
Change in 7Q10 data
Change in stream classification
Relocation of discharge
Change in wasteflow
New pretreatment information
Other(onsite toxicity study,interaction,etc.)
X_ Parameter(s)are water quality limited. For some parameters,the available load capacity of the immediate
receiving water will be consumed. This may affect future water quality based effluent limitations for additional
dischargers within this portion of the watershed.
OR
No parameters are water quality limited,but this discharge may affect future allocations.
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INSTREAM MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Upstream Location: Kaolin Pumphouse
Downstream Location: Franklin Town Bridge
Parameters: Fluoride,turbidity,pH,settleable matter
Special instream monitoring locations or monitoring frequencies:
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION&SPECIAL CONDITIONS
Adequacy of Existing Treatment
Has the facility demonstrated the ability to meet the proposed new limits with existing treatment
facilities? Yes No
If no,which parameters cannot be met?
Would a"phasing in"of the new limits be appropriate?Yes No
If yes,please provide a schedule(and basis for that schedule)with the regional
office recommendations:
If no, why not?
Special Instructions or Conditions
There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam in other than trace amounts.
Minimum treatment will include an oil/water separator,air stripping or diffused aeration and activated cal
adsorption.
Design and Construction of the Water Treatment Facility will emphasim the use of plastic pipes and fittir
where practically possible.
Wasteload sent to EPA? (Major) (Y or N)
(If yes,then attach schematic,toxics spreadsheet,copy of model,or,if not modeled,then old
assumptions that were made,and description of how it fits into basinwide plan)
Additional Information attached? (Y or N) If yes,explain with attachments.

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I . _
Facility Name ea",
/1(cA- Permit# AIGpov o 34,/ Pipe# 0°
CHRONIC TOXICITY PASS/FAIL PERMIT LIMIT (QRTRLY)
(**Chronic Toxicity(Ceriodaphnia)P/F at /0 %, ,siydoGN°tl,See Part E Condition(.)
The effluent discharge shall at no time exhibit chronic toxicity using test procedures outlined in:
1.) The North Carolina Ceriodaphnia chronic effluent bioassay procedure(North Carolina Chronic Bioassay
Procedure- Revised*September 1989)or subsequent versions.
The effluent concentration at which there may be no observable inhibition of reproduction or significant mortality
is /° % (defined as treatment two in the North Carolina procedure document). The permit holder shall perform
guarterty monitoring using this procedure to establish compliance with the permit condition. The first test will be
performed after thirty days from the effective date of this permit during the months of
Fcre AIRY .4 t/6 No✓ . Effluent sampling for this testing shall be performed at the NPDES
permitted final effluent discharge below all treatment processes.
All toxicity testing results required as part of this permit condition will be entered on the Effluent Discharge
Monitoring Form (MR-1) for the month in which it was performed,using the parameter code TGP3B.
Additionally,DEM Form AT-1 (original)is to be sent to the following address:
Attention: Environmental Sciences Branch
North Carolina Division of
Environmental Management
4401 Reedy Creek Road
Raleigh, N.C. 27607-6445
Test data shall be complete and accurate and include all supporting chemical/physical measurements performed in
association with the toxicity tests,as well as all dose/response data. Total residual chlorine of the effluent toxicity
sample must be measured and reported if chlorine is employed for disinfection of the waste stream.
Should any single quarterly monitoring indicate a failure to meet specified limits,then monthly monitoring will
begin immediately until such time that a single test is passed. Upon passing,this monthly test requirement will
revert to quarterly in the months specified above.
•
Should any test data from this monitoring requirement or tests performed by the North Carolina Division of
Environmental Management indicate potential impacts to the receiving stream,this permit may be re-opened and
modified to include alternate monitoring requirements or limits.
NOTE: Failure to achieve test conditions as specified in the cited document, such as minimum control organism
survival and appropriate environmental controls, shall constitute an invalid test and will require immediate
retesting(within 30 days of initial monitoring event). Failure to submit suitable test results will constitute
noncompliance with monitoring requirements.
7Q10 30 cfs
Permitted Flow .2t H. MGD Rec• ; nded by:
IWC% /6
Basin& Sub-basin FROa( 4 �'`'`C
Receiving Stream N.114 1t �u<✓ -"'_
County g'n, D. e /tel 9 Z
QCLR Version 9/91

RECEIVED
. Water Quality Suction
FACT SHEET FOR WASTELOAD ALLOCATION
. JUN 5 - 1292
• Request# 6681
Facility Name: Unimin Corp-Spruce Pine-Mica Operations (PIPE 001)iistieville Regional O1f4a
NPDES No.: NC0000361 Asheville, North Carotivs
Type of Waste: Industrial- 100%
Facility Status: Existing
Permit Status: Renewal
Receiving Stream: The North Toe River
Stream Classification: WS-III Trout
Subbasin: 040306
County: Avery Stream Characteristic:
Regional Office: Asheville USGS #
Requestor: Barr., Date:
Date of Re" Drainage Area(mi2): 96.5
Topo Quac5 Ply Summer 7Q10(cfs): 30
d Cha Winter 7Q10(cfs): 39
7 Average Flow (cfs): 165
30Q2 (cfs): 55
LL IWC(%): /o;
401.115
Wasteload Alswanon Summary
(approach taken,correspondence with region,EPA,etc.)
Facility requesting renewal of existing NPDES permit. One of the four fluoride bearing waste
dischargers into the North Toe River.All facility permits are interdependent because total
assimulative capacity of fluoride is allocated between the four industries and all permits should be
issued at the same time per the Asheville RO. t il es: R tStrro :WC r -4r CIO s 00'2./ c.-•+z
-kikt.4 I;At:& hew,. laces eivtrd 4I5..
SpecialSchedule Requirements and additional comments from Reviewers: :so ,
;,
7e e * .& . R¢,�`i i/i'f �6,x, 'l�� ihe.vi f4(/.%� e N SAr+t' N r A s r" ` -i_.
Pit 10" v .62.1.+60/.'1} Oi1/44/71 /e✓ r"/1R��. o'"`(V, Dc al.,.- 40"1- �1 I ��:j i
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Recommended by: r..1.--A•1741.* Date: 5/20/92_
Reviewed by
Instream Assessm•nt: O Arpibt.o-01-- Date: 5all/a
Region. 's!�..�. sor: O.�v..�n Date: V 6
Permits • Engineering: Date: /(Vct 2
JUN 2 7 1992
RETURN TO TECHNICAL SERVICES BY:

2
TOXICS/METALS/CONVENTIONAL PARAMETERS
Type of Toxicity Test: Cy,Co•v/c l'�s/AyL
Existing Limit: —
Recommended Limit: /0,4
Monitoring Schedule: 1r - ti49, fJG is
Existing Limits
Daily Average Daily Max.
Wasteflow(MGD): 2.16
TSS (mg/1): 20 30
pH(SU): 6-10
Turbidity(NTU):
Temperature(C): **
Settleable solids(m1/1): monitor
*The discharge shall not increase turbidity of receiving waters mote than 10 NTU. If the turbidity exceeds 10 NTU
due to natural conditions,the discharge shall not cause any increase in turbidity.
**The temperature of the effluent shall be such as not to cause an increase in the temperature of the receiving stream
of more than 0.5 degress C and in no case cause the ambient water temperature to exceed 20 degrees C.
Recommended Limits
Daily Average Daily Max. WQ or EL
Wasteflow(MGD): 2.16
TSS (mg/1): 20 30 EL
pH(SU): 6-10
Turbidity(NTU):
Temperature(C): **
Settleable solids(m1/I): monitor
*The discharge shall not increase turbidity of receiving waters mote than 10 NTU. If the turbidity exceeds 10 NTU
due to natural conditions,the discharge shall not cause any increase in turbidity.
**The temperature of the effluent shall be such as not to cause an increase in the temperature of the receiving stream
of more than 0.5 degress C and in no case cause the ambient water temperature to exceed 20 degrees C.
Limits Changes Due To: Forams ter(s1 Affected
Change in 7Q10 data
Change in stream classification
Relocation of discharge
Change in wasteflow
New pretreatment information
Other(onsite toxicity study,interaction,etc.)
Parameter(s)are water quality limited. For some parameters,the available load capacity of the immediate
receiving water will be consumed. This may affect future water quality based effluent limitations for additional
dischargers within this portion of the watershed.
OR
_X_ No parameters are water quality limited,but this discharge may affect future allocations.

3
INSTREAM MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Upstream Location: Kaolin Pumphouse
Downstream Location: Franklin Town Bridge
Parameters: Fluoride,turbidity,pH,settleable matter
Special instream monitoring locations or monitoring frequencies:
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION&SPECIAL CONDITIONS
Adequacy of Existing Treatment
Has the facility demonstrated the ability to meet the proposed new limits with existing treatment
facilities? Yes No
If no,which parameters cannot be met?
Would a"phasing in"of the new limits be appropriate?Yes No
If yes,please provide a schedule(and basis for that schedule)with the regional
office recommendations:
If no, why not?
Special Instructions or Conditions
Wasteload sent to EPA? (Major) (Y or N)
(If yes,then attach schematic, toxics spreadsheet,copy of model,or,if not modeled, then old
assumptions that were made,and description of how it fits into basinwide plan)
Additional Information attached? (Y or N) If yes,explain with attachments.

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• STREAM DATA
INSTREAM SELF-MONITORING DATA
MONTHLY AVERAGES
Discharger: (stili.,„J - //ficg Permit No. Ne-cr000�6l
Receiving Stream: ,V 'i JJt 4J t.,/ Sub-basin: os'336
Upstream Location: ,riyo%,r /41c• Downstream Location: c/.4-,ICA 7 /3" c
DATE TEMP forr..50,41 fu/o 440 an4/0 ,activity 2-4,4ICS -
Alen--9•r
fp-et 91
Sem h
x-91 '
Attar-91
Mar-92 of ,v52.. 5,d73 ,nS6
Feb-94 7.75 ,°S-7 , U67
Jan-94 733 ,07' 7 7,1- , 5.y/
Dec-9d //, y '4•25— /Z,/ �, zs-
Nov-91 8, 7
Oct-9q 5,2 S,er zs-
Sep-9P 6,
Aug-90 /o,( ',2f /43 <, 2r
Jul-90 //, 7 2,S //, 2 4', Li--
Jun-9P /5,/ , 3L /S. 7 , 3d.5-
,0004 May-9f /O,I , y/ //. , y0
Apr-9i /7. 2 c,25 /7,d z-2-5-
Mar-9.45
.i5`Mar-945 70,/ c,2c /a,3
Feb-9b A i . z, z.r
• Jan-916 11,3 c, 2. - 1 4 C, L
Dec-89
Nov-89
Oct-89
Sep-89
Aug-89
Jul-89
Jun-89
May-89
Apr-89
Mar-89
Feb-89
Jan-89
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PART II - DESCRIPTION OF DISCHARGE AND TREATMENT WORKS
1. Type of wastewater: % Domestic
100 % Industrial
a. Volume of Wastewater: 001- 2 . 16 MGD (Design Capacity)
002- 0. 300 MGD
b. Types and quantities of industrial wastewater:
Discharge 001-Mineral Processing of Clay and Mica and
groundwater remediation of gasoline
Discharge 002-Mineral Processing of Quartz.
c. Prevalent toxic constituents in wastewater: Fluoride,
benzene, toulene, ethylene and xylene.
d. Pretreatment Program (POTWs only) :
in development approved
should be required not needed
2. Production rates (industrial discharges only) in pounds per day:
1765 tons/day of raw ore.
a. Highest month in the past 12 months: lbs/day
b. Highest year in the past 5 years: lbs/day
3. Description of industrial process (for industries only) and
applicable CFR Part and Subpart: The milling, processing and
flotation of ore to produce feldspar, clay, mica and silica
quartz. Mica and silica quartz are by products of the feldspar
flotation process. In accordance with 40 CFR Part 436 Subpart
I-Mica and Sericite Subcategory and Subpart AI-Feldspar
Subcategory have been reserved. No effluent guidelines have been
developed for this industry. The discharge will now include the
discharge of water from a groundwater remediation of a gasoline
spill.
4. Type of treatment (specify whether proposed or existing) : The
existing wastewater treatment facility consists of an influent
lift station, screw classifier, two hydrocyclones, three inorganic
solids settling basins operated in series, continuous pH recorder,
automatic effluent pH control system with control units on the
Page 2

•
lime and sulfuric acid feed systems, baffled flume to improve
mixing and continuous flow recording and totalizing and the
proposed wastewater treatment facility for Discharge 002 will
consist of a tailings thickener, waste neutralization and tailings
pond with continuous flow recording and totalizing equipment.
The groundwater remediation facilities will consists of the
following: the groundwater would be pumped from the well to a sump
and the water would be pumped from the sump to a spray apparatus
where the contaminated water will be sprayed into the existing
wastewater treatment ponds. The spraying is to volitilize the
gasoline contaminants and the remaining residues would be diluted
by the mining wastewater in the ponds.
5. Sludge handling and disposal scheme: Tailings from the wastewater
treatment facility are landfilled in old mine sites.
6. Treatment plant classification (attach completed rating sheet) :
Class II .
7. SIC Codes(s) : 3295
Wastewater Code(s) : Primary 41 Secondary 82
Main Treatment Unit Code: 51502
PART III - OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION
1. Is this facility being constructed with Construction Grant funds
(municipals only)?
2. Special monitoring requests:
3. Additional effluent limits requests:
4. Other:
PART IV - EVALUATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Unimin Corporation-Mica Operation has requested renewal of NPDES
Permit No. NC0000361 for the continued discharge of industrial
process wastewater for the production of mica and clay and to
construct additional processing and wastewater treatment
facilities for the production of feldspar and silica quartz from
their plant in Avery County near Spruce Pine, North Carolina.
There are no effluent guidelines for this industry and the
effluent limits were developed using production and process
information and the North Carolina Water Quality Standard for
fluoride of 1.8 mg/1 . There are four. companies, Unimin
Corporation-Mica Operation, Unimin Corporation-Quartz Operation,
The Feldspar Corporation and K-T Feldspar Corporation which have
similar industrial processes and wastewater characteristics. Each
Company discharges or proposes to discharge to the North Toe
River. It has been determined that there is a maximum
Page 3

assimilative capacity of 574 lbs/day of fluoride in the North Toe
River at the mouth of Little Bear Creek, which is the most
downstream point fluoride is discharged. All four Permits are
interdependent on each other because of the total assimilative
capacity of the fluoride is allocated between the four .industries
and all permits should be issued at the same time.
Because of existing agreements between the four Companies and the
Division of Environmental Management, Unimin Corporation-Mica
Operations, is now proposing to construct industrial processes
which will utilize fluoride in the process. This agreement was
developed for the existing NPDES Permits based on different
operational plans each Company had proposed. With Unimin
Corporation-Mica Operations exercising its option, Configuration
IV, in the existing NPDES Permits will now become the effluent
limitations.
Effluent limitations and the development of these limits are
listed in the draft permit and fact sheet, respectively.
It should be noted that this discharge is to "WS-III-trout"
waters. The Town of Spruce Pine is going to use this water for
drinking water purposes; however, the proposed site of the intake
structure may be above or below this discharge.
Unimin Corporation has made application to discharge wastewater
from a groundwater remediation project to removed groundwater
which is slightly contaminated with gasoline. The treatment
scheme for the groundwater is to pump the water into a sump and
then pump the water through a spray device over an existing pond
which is a part of the existing wastewater treatment system. It
is proposed to pump approximately 250 gallons per day from the
well and use the spray to volitize the contaminants. The
wastewater would be discharged through the existing 001 discharge
location.
The company anticipates this remediation project to last no more
than six months.
The proposed Spruce Pine water plant has not been constructed and
is most likely that the remediation process will be completed
should the Town of Spruce .Pine locate the intake below the Unimin
Corporation discharge.
If there are no substantial objections from the Water Supply
Branch or the public it is recommended that the permit be issued.
?C-114"--E -
Signature
,
C'��,-.-"` - % -.r-
Signature of Report Preparer
W: er Quality Regional Supervisor
7/7/9°2--
Date