NC0000353_Issuance of Permit_19961216

State of North Carolina
• Department of Environment,
Health and Natural Resources AlF:1119rliA
Division of Water Quality
JamesB. Hunt, Jr., Governorp E 1--I N 1=1Jonathan B. Howes, Secretary
A. Preston Howard, Jr., P.E., Director
December 16,1996
Mr. David Marek
The Feldspar Corporation
P.O.Box 99
Spruce Pine,North Carolina 28777
Subject: NPDES Permit Issuance
Permit No. NC0000353
The Feldspar Corporation
Mitchell County
Dear Mr. Marek:
In accordance with the application for a discharge permit received on July 2, 1996, 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 US
Environmental Protection Agency dated December 6,1983.
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 notice this permit is not transferable. Part II, 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 Water Quality 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 Paul Clark at telephone number(919)733-
5083,extension 580.
Sincerely,
Original Signed By
David A. Goodrich
A.Preston Howard,Jr.,P.E.
cc: Central Files
Asheville Regional Office
Mr. Roosevelt Childress, EPA
Permits and Engineering Unit"
Facility Assessment Unit
Aquatic Survey&Toxicology Unit
•
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

r
Permit No. NC0000353
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH, AND NATURAL RESOURCES
DIVISION OF WATER QUALITY
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 Management
Commission, and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended,
The Feldspar Corporation
is hereby authorized to discharge wastewater from a facility located at
The Feldspar Corporation
NCSR 1121
Spruce Pine
Mitchell County
to receiving waters designated as the North Toe River in the French Broad River Basin
in accordance with effluent limitations,monitoring requirements, and other conditions set forth in Parts I,
II, III, and IV hereof.
The permit shall become effective February 1, 1997
This permit and the authorization to discharge shall expire at midnight on December 31, 2001
Signed this day December 16, 1996
Original Signed By
David A. Goodrich
A. Preston Howard,Jr., P.E.,Director
Division of Water Quality
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission

Permit No. NC0000353
SUPPLEMENT TO PERMIT COVER SHEET
The Feldspar Corporation
is hereby authorized to:
1. Continue to operate a 3.5 MGD wastewater treatment facility (outfall 001) consisting of a
treatment process with lime and acid feed systems for pH adjustment, polymer feed systems,
cyclone separator, vacuum filters, three clarifiers, flow measuring and totalizing equipment
and recycle pumps and continue to discharge non-contact cooling water from outfalls 002
and 003 located at the Feldspar Corporation, NCSR 1121, in Spruce Pine, Mitchell County
(See Part III of this permit),and
2. Discharge wastewater from said treatment works at the locations specified on the attached
map into the North Toe River which is classified C-Trout waters in the French Broad River
Basin.

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♦. ,
001 Latitude :315054'16" 002 Latitude 35°54'17" 003 Latitude 34154'17"
N
Longitude Longitude a Lon itude a2°ns'42"
ROAD CLASSIFICATION
PRIMARY MG14WAY LIGHT -DUTY ROAD, HARD OR
HARD SURFACE IMPROVED SURFACE
SECONDARY HGHWAY
HARD SURFACE C=3NM= UNIMPROVED ROAD
Map # Di ONE Sub -basin 040306
Stream Class C-Trout
Discharge Class 41 14
Receiving Stream North Toe River
Design Q 3.5 MGD Permit expires 12/31/01
SCALE 1:24 000
0 1 MILE
0 7000 FEET
1 0 1 KILOMETER
CONTOUR INTERVAL 40 FEET
QUAD LOCATION
The Feldspar Corporation
NC0000353
Mitchell County

A. EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS FINAL Permit No. NC0000353
During the period beginning on the effective date of the permit and lasting until Unimim Corporation-Crystal Operation (NC0084620) initiates direct discharge,
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 LIMITS MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Monthly Weekly Daily Measurement Sample Sample
Average Average Maximum Frequency Type Location1
Flow 3.5 MGD Continuous Recording I or E
Total Suspended Residue 1568 lbs/day 3137 lbs/day , Daily Composite E
Total Fluoride 225 lbs/day 448 lbs/day Daily Composite E, U, D
Settleable Solids Daily Grab E
Turbidity 2 Daily Grab E, U, D
pH 3 Daily Grab E, U, D
Chloride 4 Quarterly Composite E
Chronic Toxicity 5 _ Quarterly Composite E
Notes:
1 Sample locations: E- Effluent, I-Influent, U-Upstream at Altapass Road highway bridge, D-Downstream at footbridge in Spruce Pine. Instream samples
shall be grab samples and shall be conducted 3/week.
2 The discharge shall not cause the turbidity of the receiving water to exceed 10 NTU. If the turbidity exceeds these levels due to natural background
conditions, the discharge level cannot cause any increase in the turbidity of the receiving water.
3 The pH shall not be less than 6.0 standard units nor greater than 10.0 standard units.
4 Chloride shall be monitored quarterly during the same months as toxicity testing.
5 Chronic Toxicity(Ceriodaphnia) P/F at 11%;January, April,July, and October; See Part III Condition E.
There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam in other than trace amounts.

A. EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS FINAL Permit No. NC0000353
During the period beginning when Unimim Corporation- Crystal Operation (NC0084620) initiates direct discharge 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 LIMITS MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Monthly Weekly Daily Measurement Sample Sample
Average _ Average Maximum Frequency _ Type Location'
Flow 3.5 MGD Continuous Recording I or E _
Total Suspended Residue 1568 lbs/day , 3137 lbs/day Daily Composite E
Total Fluoride 174 lbs/day 348 lbs/day Daily , Composite E, U,D
Settleable Solids Daily Grab E _
Turbidity 2 Daily Grab E, U,D
pH 3 Daily Grab E, U,D
Chloride 4 Quarterly Composite E
Chronic Toxicity 5 Quarterly _ Composite _ E
Notes:
1 Sample locations: E-Effluent, I - Influent, U-Upstream at Altapass Road highway bridge, D-Downstream at footbrige in Spruce Pine. Instream samples
shall be grab samples and shall be conducted 3/week.
2 The discharge shall not cause the turbidity of the receiving water to exceed 10 NTU. If the turbidity exceeds these levels due to natural background
conditions, the discharge level cannot cause any increase in the turbidity of the receiving water.
3 The pH shall not be less than 6.0 standard units nor greater than 10.0 standard units.
4 Chloride shall be monitored quarterly during the same months as toxicity testing.
5 Chronic Toxicity(Ceriodaphnia) P/F at 11%;January,April,July,and October; See Part III Condition E.
There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam in other than trace amounts.

A. EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS FINAL Permit No. NC0000353
During the period beginning on the effective date of the permit and lasting until expiration, the Permittee is authorized to discharge Non-contact cooling
water from outfall serial number 002. Such discharges shall be limited and monitored by the Permittee as specified below:
(Fine Grind and Plant Number 1)
EFFLUENT CHARACTERISTICS LIMITS MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Monthly Weekly Daily Measurement Sample Sample
Average Average Maximum Frequency Type Location1
Flow Monthly Recording I or E
Temperature ` ` Monthly Grab E
Total Residual Chlorine 3 Monthly Grab E,U, D
Notes:
THERE SHALL BE NO CHROMIUM,ZINC,OR COPPER ADDED TO THE TREATMENT SYSTEM EXCEPT AS PRE-APPROVED ADDITIVES TO BIOCIDAL
COMPOUNDS.
1 Sample locations: E- Effluent, I-Influent, U-Upstream, D-Downstream.
2 The temperature of the effluent shall not to cause an increase in the temperature of the receiving stream of more than 0.5°C and in no case cause the
ambient water temperature to exceed 20.0°C.
3 Monitoring requirements only apply if chlorine is added to the non-contact cooling water.
The permittee shall obtain authorization for the Division of Water Quality prior to utilizing any biocide in the non-contact cooling water(See Part III Condition F of
this Permit).
The pH shall not be less than 6.0 standard units nor greater than 9.0 units and shall be monitored monthly 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 FINAL Permit No. NC0000353
During the period beginning on the effective date of the permit and lasting until expiration, the Permittee is authorized to discharge Non-contact cooling
water from outfall serial number 003. Such discharges shall be limited and monitored by the Permittee as specified below:
(Fine Grind and Plant Number 1)
EFFLUENT CHARACTERISTICS LIMITS MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Monthly Weekly Daily Measurement Sample Sample
Average Average Maximum Frequency Type Location'
Flow Monthly Recording I or E
Temperature ` ` Monthly Grab E
Total Residual Chlorine 3 _ Monthly Grab E, U, D
Notes:
THERE SHALL BE NO CHROMIUM,ZINC,OR COPPER ADDED TO THE TREATMENT SYSTEM EXCEPT AS PRE-APPROVED ADDITIVES TO BIOCIDAL
COMPOUNDS.
I Sample locations: E- Effluent, I -Influent, U-Upstream, D-Downstream.
2 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°C and in no case
cause the ambient water temperature to exceed 20.0°C.o-c-
3 Monitoring requirements only apply if chlorine is added to the non-contact cooling water.
The permittee shall obtain authorization for the Division of Water Quality prior to utilizing any biocide in the non-contact cooling water(See Part III Condition F of
this Permit).
The pH shall not be less than 6.0 standard units nor greater than 9.0 units and shall be monitored monthly at the effluent by grab sample.
There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam in other than trace amounts.

•
4
Part III Permit No. NC0000353
E. CHRONIC TOXICITY PASS/FAIL PERMIT LIMIT(QRTRLY)
The permittee is required to perform the toxicity test as specified below.
The effluent discharge shall at no time exhibit chronic toxicity using test procedures
outlined in the"North Carolina Ceriodaphnia Chronic Effluent Bioassay Procedure,"
Revised November 1995, or subsequent versions.
The effluent concentration at which there may be no observable inhibition of reproduction
or significant mortality is 11%(defined as treatment two in the procedure document). The
permit holder shall perform quarterly monitoring using this procedure to establish
compliance with the permit condition. The tests will be performed during the months of
January,April,July, and October. 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, DWQ Form AT-1 (original) is to be sent to
the following address:
Attention: Environmental Sciences Branch
North Carolina Division of
Water Quality
4401 Reedy Creek Road
Raleigh, North Carolina 27607
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 there be no discharge of flow from the facility during a month in which toxicity
monitoring is required,the permittee will complete the information located at the top of the
aquatic toxicity(AT)test form indicating the facility name,permit number,pipe number,
county, and the month/year of the report with the notation of"No Flow"in the comment
area of the form. The report shall be submitted to the Environmental Sciences Branch at the
address cited above.
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 the permittee fail to monitor during a month in which toxicity monitoring is
required,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 Water Quality 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,minimum control organism reproduction,and
appropriate environmental controls,shall constitute an invalid test and will require
immediate follow-up testing to be completed no later than the last day of the month
following the month of the initial monitoring.
F. In the event that violations of the turbidity standard of the North Carolina Water Quality
Standards occur as a result of this discharge,this permit shall be modified,or alternately,
revoked and reissued to incorporate limitations sufficient to protect the receiving waters.
G. Solids removed or resulting from the wastewater treatment process shall be contained
and disposed of in such a manner as to prevent any contamination of the surface waters of
the State.
H. This permit shall be modified,or revoked and reissued to incorporate new fluoride
effluent limitations in the event that acute or chronic bioassay testing or other studies results
in a change in the North Carolina Water Quality Standard for fluoride.
I. This permit shall be modified,or revoked and reissued to incorporate new limitations in
the event that production changes are requested by any of the existing fluoride using
industries or should any new fluoride using discharge request to locate on the North Toe
River.

r
DIVJSTON OF WATER QUALITY
October 14, 1996
•
Memorandum
To: Forrest Westin
Mike Parka
From Susan Paul cAa Wsl
Subject: Mining Par:pit:ies on the North Toe River
Please review the enclosed :• . ilement,effluent sheets,and special conditions(minus any
• stocmwater language,if app' •1a)regarding the renewal of the mining/processing
facilities located on the North Toe River in the French Broad River Basin. The following
summarizes the PE's review of these facilities:
• No'changes are ••, .• to the fluoride loadings at each faclity[ref.SWT's letter
6/2]/951. The P.:. r Unit would like to be involved in the future rc-allocation
development of f1uoridc at these facilities.
• P&recommends effluent monitoring frequencies("1'P,TSS)of weekly for facilities
<1 MUD; daily for fatalities>1 MGD [most facilities reflect this frequency).
• P&E rxxmends that instream monitoring be weekly for facilities e] MGA); i/Week
for facilities> 1 MGD. This should provide tie Division ample data to rtsview dating
the next permit cycle. [Some facilities currently have daily loanoaaf monitoring].
• As recommencued by your office,,chloride monitoring has been implemented quarterly
(during the same months as toxicity testing).
• Effluent settleable solids,pH,and tnbidify monitoring have been continued on a daily
frequency
•
Reviewed by:
1p1,7/9L
•
n
/!! , . cam.. � : a --i `)
FenEngineering: f/1.� 7 Date: fn /

MINING FACILITIES ON THE NORTH TOE RIVER
Permit Limits and Monitoring Requirements
Facility Unimin Schoolhouse Qtz. Feldspar Unimin Crystal K-T Feldspar
NPDES No, NC0000361 NC0000353 NC0084620 NC000040)
Mon. avg. Dail. max. Freq. Mon. avg. Dail. max. Freq. Mon. avg. Dail. max. Freq. Mon. avg. Dail.max. Frcq.
PF(MGD) 2.16 3.5 0.173 1.73
TF(#/day) 109 218 daily 174 348 daily 50 1(X) weekly 132 264 week)
TF(m9.I 18.2
(mg/I) 6.1 12.1 6 12 35 70 y
TSS(11/day) 450 721 daily 1568 3137 daily 86.6 173.2 weekly 1240 2480 weekly
TSS(mg/1) 25 40 54 108 60 120 86 172
SS monitor daily monitor daily monitor daily monitor daily
pH (SU) 6-10 daily 6-10 daily 6-10 daily 6-10 daily
Turb(NTU) 10 daily 10 daily 10 daily I t)
Tux P/F 10% Qtrly P/F 11% QtrlC50>65%Qtrly P/F 6% Qtrly
U,D TF,Turb TF,Turh, TF(wkly) TF,Turh,
(daily) pH Turb, pH
(daily) pH(daily) (daily--
3/week)
Facility Unimin Qtz Unimin Qtz(processing-new)
NPDES No NCOO(X)175 NC(X)85839
Mon. avg. Dail. max. Frcq. Mon. avg. Dail. max. Frcq.
PF(MGD) 3.6 0.682
IF(#/day) 218 436 daily 2(8) 4(X) weekly
TF(mg/1) 7.3 14.5 35 70
TSS (#/day) 1320 2640 daily 142 284 weekly
TSS(mg/I) 44 88 25 50
SS monitor daily monitor daily
p11 (SU) 6-I0 daily 6-10 daily
Tuib(NTU) 10 daily 10 weekly
Tox P/F 11% Qtrly P/F 1.15% Qtrly
U,D TF,Turb TF,Turh
•
pH (weekly)
(daily--
3/week)
THIS IS THE CURRENT MONITORING AND LIMIT SCHEME FOR THE MINING FACILITIES AS OF 10/96.
October 16, 1996

,
MINING FACILITIES,NORTH TOE RIVER
NOTES TO FILE
NC0084620 (Unimin Crystal). Located at River Mile 33.8, this facility
currently discharges to the Feldspar plant(NC0000353). UNIMIN requested
an increase in flow from 0.173 MGD to 0.36 MGD for incidental wastewater
associated with the process. The facility is to begin discharging directly via this
permit in the near future. The increase in flow increased the IWC, and
consequently,the toxicity testing percentage.
IWC based on 7Q10s=41 cfs and 0.36 MGD permitted flow. (IWC = 1.3%)
This is classified as a'MINOR' permit.
There has been no direct discharge from this outfall,therefore no instream data
have been taken.
[See memo to ARO 10/14/96]
/14
October 15, 1996

.State of North Carolina4 -
Department of Environment,
Health and Natural Resources 461761,
• Division of Water Quality
wilpr
James B. Hunt, Jr., Governor
Jonathan B. Howes, Secretary HI\IFR
A. Preston Howard, Jr., P.E., Director
Asheville Regional Office
WATER QUALITY SECTION
August 15, 1996
MEMORANDUM
TO: Dave Goodrich
Permits and Engineeri g Unit
THROUGH: Forrest R. Westa 1
Regional Water Qu_4V Supervisor
FROM: Mike Parker/07
Environmental Chemist
SUBJECT: Staff Reports
Feldspar Mining Company' s
Avery and Mitchell County' s
I have completed the staff reports and recommendations for
the following facilities :
The Feldspar Corporation NPDES Permit No. NC0000353
K-T Feldspar Corporation NPDES Permit No. NC0000400
Unimin Corporation-Schoolhouse NPDES Permit No. NC0000361
Unimin Corporation-Crystal NPDES Permit No . NC0084620
Unimin Corporation-Quartz NPDES Permit No. NC0000175
It is requested that all of these permits be sent to public
notice and issued at the same time with the same expiration
dates . As you know all of these permit are interdependent on
each other because of the fluoride allocation in the North Toe
River. The total allocation of fluoride (574 lbs/day) is
allocated between these companies .
Also, please refer to the attached letter dated June 21,
1995, to Representative Charles Buchanan from Steve Tedder,
advising that the fluoride allocation will not be reduced when
the permits are reissued.
Interchange Building,59 Woodfin Place Nin C FAX [phone]
Asheville,North Carolina 28801 An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer
Voice 704-251-6208 Reducer RAMS Rawls 50%recycles/10%post-consumer paper

og, . •
Dave Goodrich Memo
August 15, 1996
Page Twb
Additionally, chlorides have been noted in the results of
the Annual Pollutant Analysis data provided by these companies .
It may need to be added to the permits as a new parameter. If it
is decided to be added it is recommended that monitoring only be
conducted until we have adequate data to determine it limits are
necessary.
If you have questions or would like to discuss the staff
reports, please call me at 704-251-6208 .

SOC PRIORITY PROJECT: Yes No X
IF YES, SOC NUMBER
TO: PERMITS AND ENGINEERING UNIT
WATER QUALITY SECTION
ATTENTION: Susan Wilson
DATE: August 14, 1996
NPDES STAFF REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
COUNTY Mitchell
PERMIT NUMBER NC0084620
PART I - GENERAL INFORMATION
1. Facility and Address: Unimin Corporation-Crystal
Post Office Box 588
Spruce Pine, North Carolina 28777
2 . Date of Investigation: January 27, 1995
3 . Report Prepared By: Michael R. Parker
4. Persons Contacted and Telephone Number: Roy Riddle
0 704/765-4383
5. Directions to Site:From the intersection of North Carolina
Highway 226 and North Carolina Secondary Road 1117, travel
east on NCSR 1117 approximately 0 . 55 mile. Turn north onto
private gravel road to Unimin Crystal Plant .
6. Discharge Point (s) , List for all discharge points:
Latitude: 35°54' 16" Longitude: 82°03 '46"
Attach a USGS map extract and indicate treatment facility site and
discharge point on map.
U.S.G.S. Quad No.D1ONE U.S.G.S. Quad Name Spruce Pine, N. C.
7. Site size and expansion area consistent with application?
X Yes No If No, explain:
8. Topography (relationship to flood plain included) :
Facility will not be subject to flooding.
Page 1

9. Location of nearest dwelling: Greater than 500 feet .
10 . Receiving stream or affected surface waters: North Toe River
a. Classification: C-trout
b. River Basin and Subbasin No. : FBR 06
c. Describe receiving stream features and pertinent downstream
uses: fishing, wading, canoeing, fish and wildlife
propagation, agricultural, industrial water supply.
PART II - DESCRIPTION OF DISCHARGE AND TREATMENT WORKS
1. a. Volume of wastewater to be permitted 0 .360 MGD (Ultimate
Design Capacity)
b. What is the current permitted capacity of the Wastewater
Treatment facility? 0 . 173 MGD
c. Actual treatment capacity of the current facility (current
design capacity. 0.720 MGD
d. Date(s) and construction activities allowed by previous
Authorizations to Construct issued in the previous two years:
January 9, 1995
e. Please provide a description of existing or substantially
constructed wastewater treatment facilities: The existing
wastewater treatment facilities consist of an equalization
tank, lime feed system, chemical additions, sludge thickener,
drum filter with vacuum system, sludge conveyer, pH
monitoring equipment, flow recorder and totalizer, (4) fiber
glass tanks for neutralization and effluent flow
equalization, pumps, piping and appurtenacnes. Pumps and
piping to The Feldspar Corporation will be left in place in
case there is a malfunction at Unimin Corporation' s
wastewater treatment facility.
f. Please provide a description of proposed wastewater treatment
facilities: NA
g. Possible toxic impacts to surface waters: None anticipated.
h. Pretreatment Program (POTWs only) :
in development approved
should be required not needed
2 . Residuals handling and utilization/disposal scheme:
a. If residuals are being land applied, please specify DEM
Permit Number
Residuals Contractor
Telephone Number
b. Residuals stabilization: PSRP PFRP
OTHER
Page 2

•
C. Landfill: Residuals removed from this facility will be taken
to Unimin' s Quartz Operations landfill .
d. Other disposal/utilization scheme (Specify) : Sludge removed
from this facility will be taken to the landfill at Unimin
Corporation's Quartz Operations.
3 . Treatment plant classification (attach completed rating sheet) :
Class II .
4. SIC Codes (s) :1499
Primary 41 Secondary
Main Treatment Unit Code: 51602
PART III - OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION
1. Is this facility being constructed with Construction Grant Funds
or are any public monies involved. (municipals only) ?
2 . Special monitoring or limitations (including toxicity) requests:
•
3 . Important SOC, JOC, or Compliance Schedule dates: (Please
indicate)
Date
Submission of Plans and Specifications
Begin Construction
Complete Construction
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: Not feasible due to area required.
Connection to Regional Sewer System: Mining wastewater is not
acceptable.
Subsurface: No enough area.
Other disposal options:
5 . Other Special Items:
Page 3

PART IV - EVALUATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS-
Unimin Corporation has made application for renewal of NPDES
Permit No. NC0084620 . The company is asking that the flow be
increased from 0 .173 MGD to 0 .360 MGD with no increase in the
pollutant loading. The effluent limits for fluoride and TSS are
to remain the same as the existing permit. The company indicates
that their normal flow has increased to this amount and the sketch
attached to the application indicates that the wastewater
treatment capacity is 500 GPM or 0 .750 MGD.
The APA indicates that chlorides are high in the effluent,
measured at 760 mg/1, we may want to include this parameter in the
permit; possibly monitoring only at weekly intervals.
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/l. It has been determined there is a maximum
assimilative capacity of 574 lbs/day of fluoride in the North Toe
River at the mouth of Little Bear Creek. The 574 lbs/day of
fluoride are divided between four other dischargers, Unimin
Corporation-Schoolhouse Quartz Operation, K-T Feldspar
Corporation, The Feldspar Corporation and Unimin Corporation-
Quartz Operation, all of which have similar industrial processes
and wastewater characteristics. Each company discharges or
proposes to discharge fluorides to the North Toe River. All of
the permits for these companies are interdependent on each other
because of the total assimilative capacity of the fluoride is
allocated between these five industries and all of the permits
should be issued at the same time.
It is recommended that the permit be issued.
Si ature of Report P eparer
/I "—IOW/
Water Qual' ty Regional Supervisor
fef
Da e
Page 4

State of North Carolina
.
Department of Environment,
• Health and Natural Resources
A .
Division of Environmental Management •
James B. Hunt, Jr., Governor
Jonat
an
B. Howes, SecretaryLDA. Preston Howard, Jr., P.E., Director
June 21, 1995
Representative Charles Buchanan
Route 1, Box 273
Green Mountain, North Carolina 28740
Re: Fluoride
Dear Representative Buchanan:
This correspondence is to clarify our position and hopefully to address concerns expressed by several
feldspar and quartz processing operations near Spruce Pine concerning fluoride limitations within their
NPDES permits.
The Water Quality Section of the Division of Environmental Management has worked closely with the
mining facilities on the fluoride allocation issue for several years. In 1985 we worked with the mining
operations to allocate the available assimilative capacity of the North Toe River in consultation with the
mining interests in that area.
The industries have expressed concerns that we may modify the allocations upon permit renewal in
1996. Although an error in mass calculations has been noted, I can assure you that there will not be a
reduction in allowable pounds allocated to these facilities for fluoride upon permit re-issuance. We will
continue to monitor the situation as the allocation for fluoride has been exhausted in the North Toe River
near Spruce Pine.
I have relayed this information previously to Unimin Corporation and to Charles Case and Lucius
Pullen.
If there are additional questions,please do not hesitate to call.
Sincerely
•
-/&
Steve W.Tedder,Chief
"`Water Quality Section
SWT: ps _
cc: Forrest Westall
Don Safrit \-1
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