WQ0000331_Final Permit_19970916

State of North Carolina
Department of Environment,
Health and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
James B. Hunt, Jr., Governor
Wayne McDevitt, Secretary
A. Preston Howard, Jr., P.E., Director
Mr. Richard A. Johnson
Blue Ridge Gem Mine
Post Office Box 327
Little Switzerland, North Carolina 28749
Dear Mr. Johnson:
September 16, 1997
Subject: Permit No. WQ0000331
Blue Ridge Gem Mine
Wastewater Recycle System
Mitchell County
In accordance with your application received July 14, 1997, we are forwarding herewith Permit
No. WQ0000331, dated September 16, 1997, to you for the continued operation of the subject wastewater
recycle system.
This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until August 31, 2002, shall void Permit
No. WQ0000331, issued March 31, 1993, and shall be subject to the conditions and limitations as
specified therein. Please pay particular attention to the monitoring requirements in this permit. Failure to
establish an adequate system for collecting and maintaining the required operational information will result
in future compliance problems.
If any parts, requirements, or limitations contained in this permit are unacceptable, you have the
right to request an adjudicatory hearing upon written request within thirty (30) days following receipt of
this permit. This request must be in the form of a written petition, conforming to Chapter 150B of North
Carolina General Statutes, and filed with the Office of Administrative Hearings, P.O. Drawer 27447,
Raleigh, NC 27611-7447. Unless such demands are made this permit shall be final and binding.
If you need additional information concerning this matter, please contact LZicorekat (919) 733-
5083 extension 527.
Preston Howard, Jr., P.E.
cc: Mitchell County Health Department
Asheville Regional Office, Water Quality Section
Training and Certification Unit (no revised rating)
Facilities Assessment 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

NORTH CAROLINA
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH AND NATURAL RESOURCES
RALEIGH
RECYCLE SYSTEM PERMIT
In accordance with the provisions of Article 21 of Chapter 143, General Statutes of North Carolina as
amended, and other applicable Laws, Rules, and Regulations
PERMISSION IS HEREBY GRANTED TO
Blue Ridge Gem Mine
Mitchell County
FOR THE
continued operation of a 50,000 GPD wastewater recycle system consisting of two solids settling basins in
series (40 ft. by 10 ft. by 6 ft. and 60 ft. by 20 ft. by 6 ft.), a 96 GPM and a 50 GPM recirculation pump,
a 100 ft. flume line, an 80 GPM pump which is used to pump make-up water from the abandoned mine, a
90 ft. by 105 ft. main pond and all appurtenances to serve the Blue Ridge Gem Mine with no discharge of
wastes to the surface waters, pursuant to the application received July 14, 1997, and in conformity with
the project plan, specifications, and other supporting data subsequently filed and approved by the
Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources and considered a part of this permit.
This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until August 31, 2002, shall void Permit
No. WQ0000331, issued March 31, 1993, and shall be subject to the following specified conditions and
limitations:
This permit shall become voidable unless the facilities are constructed in accordance with
the conditions of this permit, the approved plans and specifications, and other supporting
data.
2. This permit is effective only with respect to the nature and volume of wastes described in
the application and other supporting data.
3. The facilities shall be properly maintained and operated at all times.
4. This permit is not transferable. In the event there is a desire for the facilities to change
ownership, or there is a name change of the Permittee, a formal permit request must be
submitted to the Division of Water Quality accompanied by an application fee,
documentation from the parties involved, and other supporting materials as may be
appropriate. The approval of the request will be considered on its merits and may or may
not be approved.
5. In the event that the facilities fail to perform satisfactorily, including the creation of
nuisance conditions, the Permittee shall take inunediate corrective action, including those
actions that may be required by this Division, such as the construction of additional or
replacement treatment or disposal facilities.

6 . The residuals generated from these treatment facilities must be disposed in accordance with
General Statute 143-215.1 and in a manner approved by the North Carolina Division of
Water Quality.
7. The issuance of this permit shall not relieve the Permittee of the responsibility for damages
to surface or groundwaters resulting from the operation of this facility.
8. The facilities shall be effectively maintained and operated as a non -discharge system to
prevent the discharge of any wastewater resulting from the operation of this facility.
9. Diversion or bypassing of untreated wastewater from the treatment facilities is prohibited.
10. Freeboard in the settling ponds shall not be less than two feet at any time.
11. No wastewater from the mining operation shall be discharged into the abandoned mine
shaft at any time.
12. Any monitoring deemed necessary by the Division of Water Quality to insure surface and
ground water protection will be established and an acceptable sampling reporting schedule
shall be followed.
13. Adequate inspection, maintenance, and cleaning shall be provided by the Permittee to
insure proper operation of the subject facilities.
14. The Permittee or his designee shall inspect the wastewater recycle facilities to prevent
malfunctions and deterioration, operator errors and discharges which may cause or lead to
the release of wastes to the environment, a threat to human health, or a nuisance. The
Permittee shall maintain an inspection log or summary including at least the date and time of
inspection, observations made, and any maintenance, repairs, or corrective actions taken by
the Permittee. This log of inspections shall be maintained by the Permittee for a period of
three years from the date of the inspection and shall be made available to the Division of
Water Quality or other permitting authority, upon request.
15. Any duly authorized officer, employee, or representative of the Division of Water Quality
may, upon presentation of credentials, enter and inspect any property, premises or place on
or related to the recycle system at any reasonable time for the purpose of determining
compliance with this permit, may inspect or copy any records that must be maintained
under the terms and conditions of this permit, and may obtain samples of groundwater,
surface water, or leachate.
16. The annual administering and compliance fee must be paid by the Permittee within thirty
(30) days after being billed by the Division. Failure to pay the fee accordingly may cause
the Division to initiate action to revoke this permit as specified by 15A NCAC 2H .0245
(c)(4).
17. Failure to abide by the conditions and limitations contained in this permit may subject the
Permittee to an enforcement action by the Division of Water Quality in accordance with
North Carolina General Statute 143-215.6(a) to 143-215.6(c).
18. The issuance of this permit 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.
19. A set of approved plans and specifications for the subject project must be retained by the
Permittee for the life of this project.

20. Noncompliance Notification:
The Permittee shall report by telephone to the Asheville Regional Office, telephone number
[phone] as soon as possible, but in no case more than 24 hours or on the next
working day following the occurrence or first knowledge of the occurrence of any of the
following:
a. Any occurrence at the wastewater treatment facility which results in the treatment of
significant amounts of wastes which are abnormal in quantity or characteristic, such as
the dumping of the contents of a basin or tank, the known passage of a slug of
hazardous substance through the facility, or any other unusual circumstances;
b. Any process unit failure, due to known or unknown reasons, that renders the facility
incapable of adequate wastewater treatment, such as mechanical or electrical failures of
pumps, aerators, compressors, etc.;
c. Any failure of a pumping station, sewer line, or treatment facility resulting in a by-pass
directly to receiving waters without treatment of all or any portion of the influent to
such station or facility; or
d. Any time that self-monitoring information indicates that the facility is not in compliance
with its permit limitations.
Persons reporting such occurrences by telephone shall also file a written report in letter
form within five (5) days following first knowledge of the occurrence. This report must
outline the actions taken or proposed to be taken to ensure that the problem does not recur.
21. 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 operator 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. The ORC of the facility must visit each Class I facility at
least weekly and each Class II, III, and IV facility at least daily, excluding weekends and
holidays, and must properly manage and document daily operation and maintenance of the
facility and must comply with all other conditions of Title 15A, Chapter 8A, .0202.
22. The Permittee, at least six (6) months prior to the expiration of this permit, shall request its
extension. Upon receipt of the request, the Commission will review the adequacy of the
facilities described therein, and if warranted, will extend the permit for such period of time
and under such conditions and limitations as it may deem appropriate.
Permit issued this the sixteenth day of September, 1997.
NOR7C;INA EN7NM"EWTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
x4. Preston Howard, Jr., P.E., Director
Division of Water Quality
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Permit Number WQ0000331

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