NC0000175_Authorization to Construct_19990322

State of North Carolina
Department of Environment
and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
James B. Hunt, Jr., Governor
Wayne McDevitt, Secretary
Kerr T. Stevens, Director
March 22, 1999
Mr. Jeffrey Ferguson
Unimin Corporation
300 Crystal Drive
Spruce Pine, North Carolina 28777
AM15VA
T41 0
DEN R
Subject: Authorization to Construct
NC0000175; ATC#000 I 75ACC
Unimin Quartz Operation
Mitchell County
Dear Mr. Ferguson:
A letter of request for Authorization to Construct was received by the Division on September 17,
1998 with additional data received January 26, 1999, and final plans and specifications for the subject
project have been reviewed and found to be satisfactory. Authorization is hereby granted for the
construction of facilities at the Unimin Quartz Plant- Spruce Pines wastewater treatment system, which
discharges via NPDES- permitted Outfall 001 into the North Toe River (Class C Trout) in the French
Broad River Basin. Specifically, authorization is granted for the following construction activities:
• Replacement of the JADAIR pretreatment unit with a new 30 -foot clarifier for solids removal.
This Authorization to Construct is issued in accordance with Part III, Section F(1) of NPDES
Permit No. NC0000175 issued January 22, 1997, and shall be subject to revocation unless the
wastewater treatment facilities are constructed in accordance with the conditions and limitations
specified in Permit No. NC0000175. Failure to abide by the requirements contained in this
Authorization to Construct may subject the Permittee to an enforcement action by the Division of Water
Quality in accordance with North Carolina General Statute 143- 215.6A to 143- 215.6C.
The issuance of this Authorization to Construct does not preclude the Permittee from complying
with any and all statutes, rules, regulations, or ordinances which may be imposed by other government
agencies (local, state, and federal) which have jurisdiction. The sludge generated from these treatment
facilities must be disposed of in accordance with G.S. 143 -215.1 and in a manner approved by the North
Caroline Division of Water Quality. The Operational Agreement between the Permittee and the
Environmental Management Commission is incorporated herein by reference and is a condition of this
permit. Noncompliance with the terms of the Operational Agreement shall subject the Permittee to all
sanctions provided by G.S. 143 -215.6 for violation of or failure to act in accordance with the terms and
conditions of this permit.
Upon classification of the facility by the Certification Commission, the Permittee shall employ a
certified wastewater treatment plant operator to be in responsible charge (ORC) of the wastewater
treatment facilities. The ORC must hold a certificate of the type and grade at least equivalent to or
greater than the classification assigned to the wastewater treatment facilities by the Certification
Commission. The Permittee must also employ a certified back -up operator of the appropriate type and
grade to comply with the conditions of Title 15A, Chapter 8A, .0202.
P.O. Box 29535, Raleigh, North Carolina 27626 -0535 Telephone 919 - 733 -5083 FAX [phone]
An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer 50% recycled/ 10% post- consumer paper

Authorization to Construct
ATC# 000175ACC; NC0000175
Unimin Corp.- Quartz Operation, Spruce Pine
March 22, 1999
Page 2
In the event that the facility fails to perform satisfactorily, including the creation of nuisance
conditions, the Permittee shall take immediate corrective action, including those as may be required by
this Division, such as the construction of additional or replacement wastewater treatment or disposal
facilities.
The Asheville Regional Office, telephone number (828) 251 -6208, shall be notified at least forty-
eight (48) hours in advance of operation of the installed facilities so that an on -site inspection can be
made. Such notification to the regional supervisor shall be made during the normal office hours from
8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Monday through Friday, excluding State Holidays.
Upon completion of construction and prior to operation of this permitted facility, a certification
must be received from a professional engineer certifying that the permitted facility has been installed in
accordance with the NPDES Permit, this Authorization to Construct, and the approved plans and
specifications. Mail the completed certification to: North Carolina DENR -DWQ, NPDES Unit, P.O.
Box 29535, Raleigh, NC 27626 -0535.
One (1) set of approved plans and specifications is being forwarded to you. A copy of the
approved plans and specifications shall be maintained on file by the Permittee for the life of the facility.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Tom Belnick, telephone number
(919) 733 -5083, extension 543.
Sincerely,
err T. Stevens
cc: Central Files
NPDES Unit
Asheville Regional Office, Water Quality
Technical Assistance and Certification Unit

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. Chuck Klimper, Plant Manager.
UNIlVIIN - Quartz Operation
P.O. Box 588
Spruce Pine, North Carolina 28777
Dear Mr. Klimper:
December 22, 1995
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IDEHNR
Subject: Permit No. NC0000175
Authorization to Construct
Tertiary Treatment - Fluorit Removal
Mitchell County
A letter of request for an Authorization to Construct permit for the UNIMIN Quartz Operation
• Wastewater Treatment Facility was received November 16, 1995 by the Division and final plans and
specifications for the subject project have been reviewed and found to be satisfactory. Authorization is [
hereby granted for additional fluoride removal treatment at the existing treatment facility for the quartz
O plant. The following components shall be added under this Authorization to Construct: 32,000 gallon
equalization tank; 900 gpm centrifugal process feed pump; 15,000 gallon reactor tank with mixer; polymer
feed system; inclined plate type clarifier; 9000 gallon pumping tank to multimedia filter; 850 gpm
multimedia centrifugal feed pump; 4, 78 inch diameter multimedia filters (garnet, sand, and anthracite)
rated for 850 gpm and influent TSS up to 20 mg/1; 10,500 gallon effluent tank; 500 gpm centrifugal
backwash pump from the effluent tank with backwash to the influent equalization tank; 800 gpm pump
from effluent tank back to equalization tank (as necessary); diaphragm slurry transfer pump from clarifier;
15,000 gallon slurry tank with tank overflow directed to influent equalization tank; diaphragm type filter
press feed pump; 75 cubic foot capacity filter press with filtrate directed back to the influent equalization
tank and ultimate solids disposal to existing landfill; 12,500 gallon alum tank with diaphragm alum
transfer pump to reactor tank; 1000 gallon lime tank and mixer with diaphragm lime transfer pump to
reactor tank. All additions and improvements shall be as indicated in the approved plans and specifications
including all the associated valves, piping, and appurtenances with discharge of treated wastewater to the
North Toe River in the Fiench Broad River Basin.
The filter press shall be appropriately sized to accommodate the percent solids estimated from the
inclined plate clarifier and slurry tank.
This Authorization to Construct is issued in accordance with Part III, Paragraph C of NPDES
Permit No. NC0000175 issued July 15, 1993, and shall be subject to revocation unless the wastewater
treatment facilities are constructed in accordance with the conditions and limitations specified in Permit No.
NC0000175.
10 The sludge generated from these treatment facilities must be disposed of in accordance with G.S.
143 -215.1 and in a manner approved by the North Carolina Division of Environmental Management.
P.O. Box 29535, PabkA North Carolina 27626 -0535 Telephone [phone] FAX [phone]
An Equal Oppodw*y Affirmative Action Employer 50% recycled/ 10% post- consumer paper

Permit No. NC0000175
Authorization to Construct
UNIMIN Quartz Operation
Page 2
In the event that the facilities fail to perform satisfactorily, including the creation of nuisance
conditions, the Permittee shall take immediate corrective action, including those as may be required by this
Division, such as the construction of additional or replacement wastewater treatment or disposal facilities.
The Asheville Regional Office, telephone number (704) 251- 6208, shall be notified at least forty-
eight (48) hours in advance of operation of the installed facilities so that an in -place inspection can be
made. Such notification to the regional supervisor shall be made during the normal office hours from 8:00
a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Monday through Friday, excluding State Holidays.
Upon completion of construction and prior to operation of this permitted facility, a certification
must be received from a professional engineer certifying that the permitted facility has been installed in
accordance with the NPDES Permit, this Authorization to Construct and the approved plans and
specifications. Mail the Certification to the Permits and Engineering Unit, P.O. Box 29535, Raleigh, NC
27626 -0535.
A copy of the approved plans and specifications shall be maintained on file-b the Permittee for the
life of the facility.
Failure to abide by the requirements contained in this Authorization to Construct may subject the
Permittee to an enforcement action by the Division of Environmental Management in accordance with
North Carolina General Statute 143- 215.6A to 143- 215.6C.
The issuance of this Authorization to Construct does not preclude the Permittee from complying O
with any and all statutes, rules, regulations, or ordinances which may be imposed by other government
agencies (local, state, and federal) which have jurisdiction. 0
One (1) set of approved plans and specifications is being forwarded to you. If you have any
questions or need additional information, please contact Susan A. Wilson, telephone number 919/33-
5083, ext. 555.
Sincerely, /
. Presto oward, Jr., P.E.
cc: Asheville Regional Office, Water Quality
Central Files
Mitchell County Health Department
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State of North Carolina
Department of Natural Resources and Community Development
512 North Salisbury Street • Raleigh, North Carolina 27611
James G. Martin, Governor April 19, 1985 S Thomas Rhodes, Secretary
Mr. Dewey Hall, Jr., Southeast Area Manager
International Minerals and Chemical Corporation
P. 0. Box 545
Spruce Pine, North Carolina 28777
SUBJECT: Permit No. NC0000175
Authorization to Construct
International Minerals and Chemical Corp.
MRL Building Wastewater Treatment System
Mitchell County
Dear Mr. Hall:
A letter of request for Authorization to Construct was received January
2, 1985, by the Division and final plans and specifications fo rthe subject
project have been reviewed and found to be satisfactory. Authorization is hereby
granted for the construction modifications to a 0.2592 MGD wastewater treatment
facility consisting of three (3) stabilization ponds for containing neutralized
waste from the mineral research laboratory, prior to processing by the, existing
wastewater treatment plant.
This Authorization to Construct is issued in accordance with Part III
paragraph C of NPDES Permit No. NC0000175 issued September 18, 1980, and shall
be subject to revocation unless the wastewater treatment facilities are constructed
in accordance with the conditions and limitations specified in Permit No. NC0000175.
The Permittee must employ a certified wastewater operator in accordance
with Part III paragraph D of the referenced permit.
The sludge generated from these treatment facilities must be disposed of
in accordance with General Statutes 143 - 21501 and in a manner appiovible by
the North Carolina Division of Environmental Management.
In event the facilities fail to perform satisfactorily in meeting its NPDES
permit effluent limits, International Mineral and Chemical'Corporation shall
take such immediate corrective action as may be required by this Division, including
the construction of additional wastewater treatment and disposal facilities.
Three (3) monitor wells (1 upgrade and 2 downgrade) must be constructed
to monitor changes in groundwater quality. These.wells should be sampled upon
completion of construction and every March, July and November thereafter for
the folowing constituents: Barium, Chromium, Arsenic, Lead, TDS, pH, and Water
Levels. The exact locations and construction details should be approved by
the Asheville Regio �07�r�e� North Cardin 27611.76V Telephone [phone]
Contd . An Equal opportw,ity / Affirmative Action Employer

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State of North Carolina
Department of Natural Resources and Community Development
Division of Environmental Management
512 North Salisbury-Street 9 Raleigh, North Carolina 27611
fames G. Martin, Governor May 11, 1988 R. Paul Wilms
S Thomas Rhodes, See ry Director
Mr. Roy Riddle, Environmental Manager
Unimin Quartz Operation
P.O. Box 588
Bakersville Highway
Spruce Pine, N. C. 28777
SUBJECT: Permit No. NC0O0O175
Authorization to Construct'
Unimin Quartz Operation
Floride Removal Equipment
Mitchell County
Dear Mr. Riddle:
A letter of request for an Authorization to Construct was received March 21,
1988, by the Division and final plans and specifications for the subject project
have been reviewed and found to be satisfactory. Authorization is hereby granted
for the additional construction of floride removal equipment to the existing
wastewater treatment facility. This equipment shall consist of a polymer mixing
tank and pump, a water clarification module with floculation and clarification
stages and a solids holding bin.
This Authorization to Construct is issued in accordance with Part III paragraph
C of the NPDES Permit No. NC0OOO175 issued February 25, 1987, and shall be subject
to revocation unless the wastewater treatment facilities are constructed in
accordance with the conditions and limitations specified in Permit No. NC000O175.
The Permittee must employ a certified wastewater operator in accordance with
Part III paragraph D of the referenced permit.
The sludge generated from these treatment facilities must be disposed'of in
accordance with G.S. 143 -215.1 and in a manner approvable by the North Carolina
Division of Environmental Management.
In event the facilities fail to perform satisfactorily in meeting its NPDES
permit effluent limits, the permittee shall take such immediate corrective action as
may be required by this Division, including the construction of additional
wastewater treatment and disposal facilities.
Pollutitm Preir„tion Pays
Po Box 276x, Rako. Noah CAfOma 276ti•7667 TekOxm 919-733 -7015

1
Upon completion of construction and prior to operation of this permitted
facility, a certification must be received from a professional engineer with the
certifying that the permitted facility has been installed in accordance approved
plans and specifications.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Ms.
Babette McKemie, telephone number 919/733 -5083, ext. 546.
Sincerely,
R. Paul Wilms
cc Mitchell County Health Department
Asheville Regional Supervisor
NMr. Dennis R. Ramsey
Mr. John Campbell
Engineer's Certification
I , as a duly registered Professional Engineer in
the State of North Carolina, hereby certify Yhat construction of these permitted
facilities has been completed in accordance with the approved plans and
specifications.
Signature Registration Number
Date
NC0000175