WQ0006075_Permit Renewal Notification Email_20221109

Hannum, Alys K
From: Kemp, Melanie
Sent: Friday, March 31, 2023 12:07 PM
To: [e-mail]
Cc: Hannum, Alys K
Subject: RE: [Permit Renewal Reminder] Gem Mountain Gemstone Mine CLRS - WQ0006075
Kay —
I met you last year for the inspection. I'm happy to help with the application process as much as I can. Here is some
information regarding the permit renewal application. You all can submit your permit application online if that is
convenient.
The actual form that you need to fill out is here:
https://www.deg.nc.gov/water-resources/non-discharge/clrs-r-02-21/download
Once that form has been completed, you can upload it online here:
https://edocs.deg.nc.gov/Forms/NonDischarge-Branch-Submittal-Form-Ver2
You will be selecting "Renewal" for a "Closed -Loop Recycling" permit.
Your current permit is stored online for your reference:
https://edocs.deg.nc.gov/WaterResources/DocView.aspx?id=734000&dbid=0&repo=WaterResources
I know when we met last year, we talked about the possibility of becoming "deemed permitted" which means not
needing to hold an individualized permit with us as you have for many years. As my inspection report indicated (as did
the follow up letter from your rescission request), there are a few maintenance things you all need to address. So if
you'd like to move in that direction please let me know. Regardless of whether you want to keep or rescind your permit,
these are maintenance items that need to be addressed prior to my next inspection because you are currently not
operating in accordance with your permit. Here is a reminder of those to-do items:
1. You all need to set up a way to pump the water from the settling pond back into the sluice operation for reuse in
order to avoid any potential discharge from the final settling pond into surface waters.
2. A freeboard marker needs to be installed in the final settling pond to monitor freeboard levels. Right now you
have a marker in the storage pond, but not in the settling pond. This is so you can keep track of the freeboard in
the pond and ensure it is at least 2 feet at all times.
Develop and provide a spill control plan to address how you all would deal with the release of wastewater from
your settling pond. This can be something simple you can have printed and kept on site (and provide to us in
writing as well). Here is an example from another facility: "In the event of an overflow of the pond, we have
sandbags ready for deployment, and heavy equipment available to berm the edges of the pond and isolate the
water from flooding and contaminating groundwater and/or surface water."
Let me know if you want to discuss any of this further. My cell phone is the best way to get in touch (in my signature
below). If you want to go through the process of requesting a rescission again, I will just need to come back out for
another inspection so that I can confirm you have completed the to-do list above. Let me know if you have any
questions as I'm here to help!
All the best,
Melanie Kemp (she/her)

North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Office: [phone] 1 Cell: [phone]
From: Hannum, Alys K <[e-mail]>
Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2023 2:54 PM
To: [e-mail]
Cc: Kemp, Melanie <[e-mail]>
Subject: [Permit Renewal Reminder] Gem Mountain Gemstone Mine CLRS - WQ0006075
Good afternoon,
I'm not talking about the annual fees. Renewing the permit is something that typically happens every 5 to 8 years, and is
a condition listed on the front page of your current permit. There's no fee associated with the permit renewal, we just
need you to fill out the application. You are correct that you're all paid on your annual fees, which are billed in June.
Annual fees and renewals are separate.
I also was not the person who inspected your facility earlier, that was someone from the regional office. I've cc'ed her
on this email; hopefully she can also assist.
Alys Hannum (she/her)
Compliance Specialist 11
Division of Water Resources - Non -Discharge Branch
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Office: [phone]
alys.hannum(a)ncdenr.gov
NORTH CAROLINAD_ 0 Q�//
Department of Environmental Duality
Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the North
Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
From: Gem Mountain Gemstone Mine <[e-mail]>
Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2023 2:45 PM
To: Hannum, Alys K <[e-mail]>
Subject: [External] Re: [Permit Renewal Reminder] Gem Mountain Gemstone Mine CLRS - WQ0006075
CAUTION: External email. Do not click links or open attachments unless you verify. Send all suspicious email as an attachment to
Report Spam.
Hi,
We paid the permit on 06/06/2023. 1 am attaching a photo of the cancelled check. It is number 3064.
Madonna talked with the man about not having to do the permit anymore so we thought that was taken care of for this
year. We haven't received a bill for the permit for 2023 yet. They usually come in June.
Can you let me know if we are supposed to continue with this or not? I showed you the receipt when you came for the
inspection and you said it was probably too late for a refund but if we called the man you told us to we could get
exempted because things had changed and we weren't processing enough or big enough or something to have to have a
permit.
You also said that it was showing that I hadn't paid the permit fee when you were here but you said they probably just

hadn't got it posted. The check cleared on 06/10/2022.
Please let me know how to proceed with this.
Thank youl
Kay Buchanan
Gem Mountain Gemstone Mine
13780 Highway 226 South
Spruce Pine, North Carolina 28777
PO Box 488
www.gemmountain.com
[e-mail]
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
On Wednesday, March 29, 2023, 04:05:15 PM EDT, Hannum, Alys K <alys.hannum(cDncdenr.gov> wrote:
Please forward the below emails and attachments to Ms. Buchanan. Thank you again, and have a good rest of the day!
Alys Hannum(she/her)
Compliance Specialist 11
Division of Water Resources - Non -Discharge Branch
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Office: [phone]
alys.hannum(@ncdenr.gov
From: Hannum, Alys K <alys.hannum(cDncdenr.gov>
Sent: Wednesday, December 14, 2022 11:16 AM
To: info(cDgemmountain.com
Subject: Re: [Permit Renewal Reminder] Gem Mountain Gemstone Mine CLRS - WQ0006075
Good morning,
Just checking in on this. As of today, we have not received a renewal application and the permit is
expired.
Alys Hannum(she/her)

Environmental Specialist 11
Division of Water Resources - Non -Discharge Branch
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Office: [phone]
alys.hannum(@ncdenr.gov
From: Hannum, Alys K
Sent: Wednesday, November 9, 2022 2:38 PM
To: info(a�gemmountain.com <info(c gemmountain.com>
Cc: Thornburg, Nathaniel<nathaniel.thornburg(a�ncdenr.gov>; Davidson, Landon <landon.davidson(c�ncdenr.gov>;
Boss, Daniel J <daniel.boss(a)ncdenr.gov>
Subject: [Permit Renewal Reminder] Gem Mountain Gemstone Mine CLRS - WQ0006075
Dear Charles and Madonna Buchanan,
Division of Water Resources records indicate that your permit, which was issued November 21, 2017, expired October 31,
2022. To date, the Division has not received a renewal application. It is a condition of your permit and required by
administrative code 15A NCAC 02T .0109 to request renewal of your permit at least 180 days prior to its expiration.
As the Permittee, you are responsible for renewing and maintaining this permit. Failure to do so may result in assessment
of civil penalties in accordance with North Carolina General Statute §143-215.6A. Therefore, it is important that you
respond as soon as possible by selecting one of the following options:
1. APPLY FOR PERMIT RENEWAL — When you apply for and receive a renewal, operation of your non -discharge
system will be permitted to continue. As such, the payment of annual fees, and any operation and maintenance
procedures specified in your permit will be required. You may renew your permit by completing and submitting
the attached permit renewal application.
2. APPLY FOR PERMIT RESCISSION — If the non -discharge system has not been constructed, or if it is no longer
active, you may request to rescind your permit. By rescinding your permit, all overdue annual fees will be
waived; however, if in the future you wish again to operate the subject non -discharge system, you must first
apply for and receive a new permit.
3. CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP — If you no longer own the property containing the subject facilities, please request a
Change of Ownership application.
Please submit the completed forms electronically via one of the following methods:
1. For files less than 20 MB, send via Email to Non- Discharge. Reports(a)ncdenr.gov.
2. For files greater than 20 MB, upload via the following link: https://edocs.deg.nc.gov/Forms/NonDischarge-
Branch-Submittal-Form-Ver2
Pleasedo not submit paper copies of your application. The only physical mail that should be submitted is an
application feeif your renewal includes a major modification. If an application fee is necessary, submit the fee to
my attention at 1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1617. Renewal with Major Modification applications
will be accepted for review once both the electronic application and fee have been received.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation and timely response. If you need additional information regarding this e-mail,
please contact me at your convenience.

Alys Hannum(she/her)
Compliance Specialist 11
Division of Water Resources - Non -Discharge Branch
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Office: [phone]
alys.hannum(o-)ncdenr.gov
Effective September 19, 2022, the Non -Discharge Branch has multiple vacancies. As a result, our response and
review times will be slower than normal. Thank you in advance for your patience.