WQ0006560_Final Permit_19920831

State of North Carolina
Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources
A Division of Environmental Management
512 North Salisbury Street • Raleigh, North Carolina 27611
James G. Martin, Governor A. Preston Howard, Jr., P.E..
William W. Cobey, Jr., Secretary Acting Director
August 31, 1992
Mr. Brown L. Johnson, Owner
Mason Mountain Rhodolite & Ruby Mine
895 Bryson City Road
Franklin, North Carolina 28734
Subject: Permit No. WQ0006560
Mason Mountain Rhodolite
& Ruby Mine
Wastewater Recycle System
Macon County
Dear Mr. Johnson:
In accordance with your application received May 26, 1992, we are forwarding herewith Permit
No. WQ0006560, dated August 31, 1992, to Mr. Brown L. Johnson for the subject recycle system.
This permit shall void Permit No. 13399 issued July 7, 1986 and shall be effective from the date of
issuance until July 31, 1997, 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 to you, you have
the right to request an adjudicatory hearing upon written request within 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.
Regional Offices
Asheville Fayetteville Mooresville Raleigh Washington Wilmington Winston-Salem
704/251-6208 919/486-1541 704/663-1699 919/5714700 919/946-6481 919/395-3900 919/896-7007
Pollution Prevention Pays
P.O. Box 29535, Raleigh, North Carolina 27626-0535 Telephone [phone]
An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer

If you need additional information concerning this matter, please contact Ms. Angela Y. Griffin at
9191733-5083.
rely,wPreston
cc: Macon County Health Department
Asheville Regional Office, Water Quality Section
Training and Certification

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
PERK 1SSION IS HEREBY GRANTED TO
Mr. Brown L. Johnson
Macon County
FOR THE
continued operation of a 32,400 GPD wastewater recycle system consisting of two (2) settling ponds in
series, each approximately 30,000 gallon in capacity, a 100 gpm recycle pumping system with a 3 -inch
force main, and a flume to serve Mason Mountain. Rhodolite &. Ruby Mme with no discharge of wastes to
the surface waters, pursuant to the application received May 26, 1992 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 void Permit No. 13399 issued July 7, 1986 and shall be effective from the date of
issuance until July 31, 1997, and shall be subject to the following specified conditions and limitations:
1. This permit shall become voidable unless the facilities are constructed in accordance with
the conditions of this permit, the approved plans, 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 Environmental Management 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 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.

Or
6. The Asheville Regional Office, telephone number [phone], 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 noffcation 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.
7. The sludge generated from these treatment facilities must be disposed of in accordance with
General Statute 143-215.1 and in a manner approved by the North Carolina Division of
Environmental Management.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. Diversion or bypassing of untreated wastewater from the treatment facilities is prohibited.
11. Freeboard in the settling pond shall not be less than two (2) feet at any time.
12. Any monitoring deemed necessary by the Division of Environmental Management 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 keep 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 upon request to
the Division of Environmental Management or other permitting authority.
15. Any duly authorized officer, employee, or representative of the Division of Environmental
Management 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
kept under the terms and conditions of this permit; or 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 15 NCAC 2H .0205
(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 Environmental Management in
accordance with North Carolina General Statute 143-215.6A to 143-215.6C.
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.
2

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 thmugh the facility; or any other unusual circumstances.
b. Any process unit failure, due to known or unknown reasons, that render 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.
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 15 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 Ieast 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 31st day of August, 1992
NOR CAROLINA E O NTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
Preston How , Ir., ., Acting Director
Division of Envim en agement
By Authority of the a ntal Management Commission
Permit No. WQ0006560
3

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FRANKLIN QUADRANGLE
NORTH CAROLINA-MACON CO
_ 7.5 MINUTE SERIES (TOPOGRAP'HIC) 167 -NW G¢���
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' r NAC 7718

RATING SCALE FOR CLASSIFICATION OF FACILITIES
Name of Plant: I. ASQU 1,Ltlx3UT-AjAJ. -*QUeY XeVAij-
Owner or Contact Person: LAR. SC}U
Mailing Address: f5 B04c, flt Cf it R.040
2 03
- 4
County: Telephoner '52q �5
NPDES Permit No. NCOO Nondisc. Per. Na.
lssueDate: Expiration Date: �l
Existing Facility New Facilit
Rated By: k'1 Date: 2.0 2
Reviewed (Train. & Cert.) Reg. Office
Reviewed (Train. & Cert.) Central Office
ORC Grade
Plant Class: (circle one) Il 111 IV Total Points
ITEM POINTS
(5) SECONDARY TREATMENT UNITS
(a) Carbonaceous Stage
(1)
Industrial Pretreatment Units andlor
(i)Aeration - High Purity Oxygen System .....
20
Industrial Pretreatment Program
Diffused Air System ...........
10
(see definition No. 33)
4
Mechanical Air Sys (fixed,
2)
�� FLOW OF PLANT IN GPD
floating or rotor) ..............
e
(not applicable to non-conlaminated cooling waters, sludge
Separate Sludge Reaeralion .....
3
handling facilities for water purification plants, totally
(ii) Trickling Filler
dosed cycle systems (der. No. 11), and facilities
High Rate ...................
7
consisting only of Item (4) (d) or Items (4) (d) and {11)
(d))
Standard Rate ...............
5
0 -• 20,000 ..........................
20,001 -- 50,000 ..........................
1
G2
Packed Tower.
(iii) Biological Aerated Filler or Aerated
5
50,001 - 100,000 ..........................
3
Biological Filler ......................
10
100,001 250,OD0 ..........................
4
(iv) Aerated Lagoons .....................
10
250,001 - 500,000 ..........................
5
.
500,001 --11,000,000 ..........................
8
(v) Rotating Biological Contactors ..........
10
1,000,001 » 2,000.000 ......... .......... ..
10
2,000,01)1 (and up) - rate 1 point additional for each
(vi) Sand Filters -
200,000 gpd capacity up to a
intermittent biological . , ...
2
maximum of 30/
Design Flow (gpd) L4 400U �
(XL(vu
recirculating biological .....
Stabilization Lagoons ...................
3
5
(3)
PRELIMINARY UNITS (see definition no. 32) T'
(viii)Ciaririer ..............................
5
(a) Bar Screens ................................
I
(ix) Single stage system tot combined
or
carbonaceous removal of BOD and
(b) Mechanical Screens. Stalic Screens or
nitrogenous removal by nitrification
Comminuting Devices ........................
2
(see del. No. 12) (Points for this item
(c) Grit Removal ...............................
1
have to be in addition to items (5) (a)
or
(ij through (5) (a) (viii) .................
8
(d) Mechanical or Aerated Grit Removal ...... , . • , .
2
(x) Nutrient additions to enhance BOD
(e) Flow Measuring Device .......................
1
fernoval . .............. ... .........
5
or
(xi) Biological Culture ('Super Bugs') addition
(1) Instrumented Flow Measurement ..............
2
to enhance organic compound removal .....
5
(p)Preaeration................................
2
(b) Nitrogenous Stage
(h) Influent Flow -Equalization
2
(i) Aeration - High Purity Oxygen System .....
20
.. .............. . .
(Q Grease or Oil Separators - Gravity ..........
2
Diffused Air System ...........
Mechanical Air System (fixed,
10
Mechanical .. ..... .
3
floating, or rotor) ...... ......
a
Dissolved Air Flotation.
8
Separate Sludge Reaeration .....
3
0) Prachlo4nation ..............................
5
(i) Trickling Filter -
Nigh Rate
7
(4)
PRIMARY TREATMENT UNITS
Standard
Standard Raatete ............
5
(a) Septic Tank (see definition no. 43) ..............
2
Packed Tower............
5
(b) Imhoff Tank ..................................
5
(iii) Biological Aerated Filter or Aerated
(c) Primary Clarifiers ............................
5
Biological Filler . •
10
(d) Settling Ponds or Settling Tanks for Inorganic
(iv) Rotating Biological Contactors ............
10
Non-toxic Materials {sludge handling facilities
(v) Sand Filler -
for water purification plants, sand, gravel,
intermittent biological ........
2
stone. and other mining operations except
recirculating biological ........
3

L'7
161 -T1AFtY OR ADVANCED TREATMENT UNIT
Sludge Digestion Tank -Heated ...............
(10) CHEMICAL ADDITION SYSTEM (S) (See definition No. 9)
Aerobic ...............
Activated Carbons Beds -
without carbon regeneration ..................
5
(not applicable to chemical additions rated as item
3
(b)
with carbon regeneration ....................
15
(3) {j), (5) (a) (xi), (6) (a), (6) (b), (7) (b). (7) (e),
Sludge Drying Beds - Gravity .................
(b)
Powdered or Granular Activated Carbon Feed -
Vacuum Assisted .......
(9) (a), (9) (b), or (9) (c) 5 points each: List:
(d)
Sludge Elutriation .............................
without carbon regeneration .................
5
Sludge Conditioner (chemical or thermal) ........
5
5
(1)
with carbon regeneration ....................
is
(g)
Dissolved Air Flotation Unit
(c)
Air Stripping ..............................
5
6
5
(d)
DenMlicalion Process (separate process) .....
10
Sludge Kolding Tank - Aerated ................
5
(e)
Eledrodklysis ........ _ ....................
5
(11) MISCELLANEOUS UNITS
Sludge incinerator - (not including activated
(0
Foam Separation .............................
5
(a) Holding Ponds, Holding Tanks or Settling Ponds
(k)
(g)
Ilon Exchange ................. • ....... "" • . •
5
for Organic or Toxic Materials including wastes
10
(h)
Land Application of Treated Efaluent
(a) Lagoons ... ............... ....................
from mining operations containing nitrogen and/or
(b)
Land Application (surface and subsurface)
(see definition no. 22b) (not applicable for
phosphorous compounds in amounts signilicanlly
sand. gravel, stone and other similar mining
10
greater than is common for domestic wastewater .......... 4
-by contracting to a land application operator who
operations)
(b) Effluent Flow Equalization (not applicable to storage
2
(i) on agricirHuraliy managed sites (See def.
basins which are inherent in land application systems). 2
No. 4) ...................................
10
(c) Stage Discharge (not applicable to storage basins
(c)
Landfilled (burial .............................
(ii) by high rate infiltration on non -agriculturally
managed sites (includes rotary distributors
DISINFECTION
inherent in land application systems .... .................. _............
3
(a)
Chlorination .............................
5
(d) Pumps.—
5
and similar fixed nozzle syslems) ...........
4
(e) Stand -By Power Supply.._.—....._.._... -
3
(iii) by subsurface disposal (includes low pressure
(r) Thermal Pollution Control Device. _
3
pipe systems and gravity systems except at
plants consisting of septic tank and nitrifica-
tion rives only) ............................
4
TOTAL POINTS
(�
MicrOSG'Ecr�e ..................................
5
(j)
Phosphorus Remoaal by Biological Processes
CLASSIFICATION
(See def. No. 26) ............................
20
(k)
Polishing Ponds - without aeration .......
2
Class 1 __„ - _ 5 - 25 Points
with aeration ..........
5
Class El. ... 26- 50 Points
(1)
Post Aeration - cascade ..............
0
Class It]— ___.__._.____ 51- 65 Points
diffused or mechanical ...
5
Class IV._ T T. 66- Up Points
Z)
Reverse Osmosis ...............................
5
�)
Sand or Mixed -Media Fillers -law rale ...........
2
Facilities having a rating of one through four points. Inclusive,
high rate ..........
5
do not require a certified operator. Classification of all other
(o)
Treatment processes for removal of metal or
facilities requires a comparable grade operator in responsible
cyanide ....................................
15
charge.
(p)
Treatment processes for removal of toxic
materials other than metal or cyanide .........
15
Facilities having an activated sludge process will be assigned
a minimum classification of Class 11.
1 SLUDGE TREATMENT
(a)
(9)
(a)
Sludge Digestion Tank -Heated ...............
10
Aerobic ...............
5
Unhealed .............
3
(b)
Sludge Stabilization (chemical or thermal) .......
5
(c)
Sludge Drying Beds - Gravity .................
2
Vacuum Assisted .......
5
(d)
Sludge Elutriation .............................
5
(e)
Sludge Conditioner (chemical or thermal) ........
5
(1)
Sludge Thickener (gravity) ......................
5
(g)
Dissolved Air Flotation Unit
(not applicable to a unit rates as (3) (1) .........
6
(h)
Sludge Gas Utilization (including gas storage) ....
2
(i)
Sludge Kolding Tank - Aerated ................
5
Nan -aerated ............
2
()j
Sludge incinerator - (not including activated
carbon regeneration) .....
10
(k)
Vacuum Filter, Centrifuge or Filler Press or other
similar dewalering devices ....................
10
SLUDGE DISPOSAL (including incinerated ash)
(a) Lagoons ... ............... ....................
2
(b)
Land Application (surface and subsurface)
(see definition 22a)
-where the facility holds the land app. permit ...
10
-by contracting to a land application operator who
holds the land application permit ................
2
-land application of sludge by a contractor who does
not hold the permit for the waslewaler treatment
facility where the sludge -is generated .........
10
(c)
Landfilled (burial .............................
5
DISINFECTION
(a)
Chlorination .............................
5
(b)
Dechsorinat'an ........................
5
(c)
Ozone ..............................
5
Facilities having treatment processes for the removal of metal
or cyanide will be assigned a minimum classification of Class p.
Facilities having treatment processes for the biological removal
of phosphorus will be assigned a minimum classification of Class
111.
In -plant processes and related control equipment which are an
integral part of industrial production shall not be considered waste
treatment. Likewise, discharges of wastewater from residences
having a design flow of 1,000 gpd or less, shall not be subject to
rating.
A2DITIONAL COMMENTS,