WQ0012690_Final Permit_20011001

State of North Carolina
Department of Environment
and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
Michael F. Easley, Governor
William G. Ross Jr., Secretary
Gregory J. Thorpe, Ph.D., Acting Director
October 1, 2001
JACK L. BRADLEY, PARK SUPERINTENDENT
NCDENR DIVISION OF PARKS AND RECREATION
ROUTE 5, BOX 700
BURNSVILLE, NC 28714
Dear Mr. Bradley:
IT
4 0 •
NCDENR
NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT Or
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Subject: Permit No. WQ0012690
NCDENR Division of Parks and Recreation
Mount Mitchell State Park
(Maintenance area and Campground)
Wastewater Treatment & Drip Irrigation Facility
Yancey County
In accordance with your request received February 28, 2001, we are forwarding herewith Permit No.
WQ0012690, dated October 1, 2001, to NCDENR Division of Parks and Recreation, for the continued operation of
the subject wastewater treatment and drip irrigation facilities used for the Mount Mitchell State Park's Maintenance
area and Campground. The subject wastewater treatment and drip irrigation facility, shall only be operational for
the annual period beginning from May I" to the end of October 3154
This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until September 30, 2006, shall void Permit No.
WQ0012690, issued 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.
Please take time to review this permit thoroughly. Of special interest are the following items:
• Condition I.5.: Regarding applicable buffers to observe.
• Condition 11. 2. Regarding Operator in Responsible Charge (ORC) designation and Division
performance expectations of the ORC.
• Condition II.3.: Regarding maintenance of a suitable year-round vegetative cover upon the drip
irrigation field.
• Condition 111. IO.: Regarding controlling public access to the drip irrigation area, through the use of
fencing and appropriate posting of warning and/or "No Trespassing" signs.
1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617 Telephone [phone] Fax [phone]
An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer 50% recycled/ 10% post -consumer paper

• Condition II. 12.: Regarding responsibility for key operation and maintenance items.
• Condition Ill. 2.: Regarding record keeping of maintenance performed.
• Condition 111. 4.: Regarding effluent sampling method protocol. Please carefully read and perform
the sampling methods as described in footnotes "a" and "b."
• Condition III. S.: Regarding submission of data requested in Condition Ill. 2., Condition U1. 3., and
Condition 111. 4. (only for the -'system operational months of May I" through October 315'), by the last
day of November. Please note the changed mailing address.
• Condition 1U. 6.: Regarding the changed telephone number of the Asheville Regional Office.
• Condition IV. 2.: Regarding no application of wastewater when the vertical separation between the
depth of application and the water table is at less than one foot.
• Condition V. 3.: Regarding maintaining an inspection log.
• Condition VI.4.: Regarding Permittee action upon availability of a municipal or regional sewerage
collection system.
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 30 days following receipt of this permit. 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, 6714 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-6714. Unless such
demands are made this permit shall be final and binding.
If you need additional information concerning this matter, please contact Theresa Nartea at [phone]
extension 375.
Sincer ,
i'
Gregory J. Thorpe, Ph.D.
cc: Yancey County Health Department
Asheville Regional Office, Water Quality Section
Asheville Regional Office, Groundwater Section
Technical Assistance and Certification Unit
Non -Discharge Compliance/Enforcement Unit
NDPU files

NORTH CAROLINA
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
RALEIGH
DRIP IRRIGATION 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
NCDENR Division of Parks and Recreation
Yancey County
FOR THE
continued operation of a 1,800 gallon per day (GPD) drip irrigation wastewater treatment and disposal system
consisting of: ane -5,000 gallon pump tank; one -3,000 gallon septic tank; one -450 square foot, five GPD re-
circulating, lined sand filter (covered with small stones); one -tablet chlorinator, one -Pert -Rite Model W30C
filter assembly, with dual 23 gallon per minute (GPM) pumps; and one 0.44 acre (two -zone) drip irrigation
area; and all associated valves, piping, and appurtenances to serve NCDENR-Mount Mitchell State Park
(Maintenance area and Campground) only during the annual period beginning from May I" to the end of
October 315`, with no discharge of wastes to the surface waters, pursuant to the application received February
28, 2001, and in conformity with the project plan, specifications, and other supporting data subsequently filed
and approved by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and considered a part of this permit.
This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until September 30, 2006, shall void Permit No.
WQ0012690, issued July 31, 1997; and shall be subject to the following specified conditions and Iimitations:
L PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
The drip irrigation facilities shall be effectively maintained and operated at all times so that there
is no discharge to the surface waters, nor any contamination of ground waters which will render
them unsatisfactory for normal use. In the event that the facilities fail to perform satisfactorily,
including the creation of nuisance conditions or failure of the irrigation area to adequately
assimilate the wastewater, the Permittee shall take immediate corrective actions including those
actions that may be required by the Division of Water Quality (Division), such as the construction
of additional or replacement wastewater treatment and disposal facilities.
2. The residuals generated from these treatment facilities must be disposed in accordance with North
Carolina General Statute 143-215.1 and in a manner approved by the Division..
3. Diversion or bypassing of the untreated wastewater from the treatment facilities is prohibited.
4. The issuance of this permit shall not relieve the Permittee of the responsibility for damages to
surface water or groundwater resulting from the operation of this facility.

5. The following buffers shall be maintained:
a) 100 feet between wetted area and any residence or places of public assembly under separate
ownership,
b) 50 feet between wetted area and property lines,
c) 100 feet between wetted area and wells,
d) 50 feet between wetted area and drainageways or surface water bodies,
e) 50 feet between wetted area 'and public right of ways,
f) 100 feet between treatment/storage units and any wells, and
g) 50 feet between treatment units and property Iines.
Some of the buffers specified above may not have been included in previous permits for this waste
treatment and disposal system. These buffers are not intended to prohibit or prevent
modifications, which are required by the Division, to improve performance of the existing
treatment facility. These buffers do, however, apply to modifications of the treatment and disposal
facilities which are for the purpose of increasing the flow that is tributary to the facility. These
buffers do apply to any expansion or modification of the drip irrigation areas and apply in
instances in which the sale of property would cause any of the buffers now complied with, for the
treatment and disposal facilities, to be violated. The applicant is advised that any modifications to
the existing facilities will require a permit modification.
II. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS
1. The facilities shall be properly maintained and operated at all times.
Upon classification of the facility by the Water Pollution Control System Operators Certification
Commission (WPCSOCC), 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 WPCSOCC. The Permittee must also
employ a certified back-up operator of the appropriate type and grade to comply with the
conditions of 15A NCAC 8G .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 15A NCAC 8G .0202. Once the facility is classified, the
Permittee must submit a letter to the WPCSOCC which designates the operator in responsible
charge within thirty days after the wastewater treatment facilities are 50 percent complete.
3. A suitable year round vegetative cover shall be maintained on the drip irrigation field.
4. Irrigation shall not be performed during inclement weather or when the ground is in a condition
that will cause runoff.
Adequate measures shall be taken to prevent wastewater runoff from the drip field.
6. The application rate shall not exceed 0.32 inches per day.
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.
8. No type of wastewater other than that from the NCDENR-Mount Mitchell State Park
(Maintenance area and Campground) shall be dripped onto the irrigation area.
No traffic or equipment shall be allowed on the disposal area except while installation occurs or
while normal maintenance is being performed.

10. Public access to the land application sites shall be controlled during active site use. Fencing
around the treatment and disposal system, and posting of appropriate warning and/or "No
Trespassing" signs, shall be provided to prevent unauthorized entry.
IL The drip irrigation system shall be utilized from May I' to October 315", only. The existing
subsurface disposal system permitted by the Division of Environmental Health shall be utilized
from November 151 to April 30'x, when the state park is closed to visitors and the wastewater flow
is at a minimum volume.
12. The Permittee is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the entire treatment and
disposal system including, but not limited to, the following items:
a. The septic tank shall be checked annually and pumped out as needed.
b. The tablet chlorinator unit shall be checked every week. Tablets shall be added so as to
provide proper chlorination.
c. The storage, pump, and alarm (if alarms are installed) systems shall be inspected weekly. The
scum layer shall be removed at the same interval as the septic tank is cleaned out.
d. The drip irrigation system shall be inspected monthly to snake certain of the emitters proper
operation, that the soil is assimilating the disposed treated wastewater with no surface runoff,
and that no objectionable odors are being generated.
III. MONITORING AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
1_ Any monitoring (including groundwater, surface water, soil or plant tissue analyses) deemed
necessary by the Division to insure surface water and groundwater protection will be established
and an acceptable sampling reporting schedule shall be followed.
2. The Permittee shall maintain records of all maintenance performed on the system and irrigation
area, as required in Condition 11. 12. for a minimum of five years. This information shall be
provided to the Division upon request.
3. Adequate records shall be maintained by the Permittee tracking the amount of wastewater
disposed. These records shall include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following
information:
a. Date of irrigation;
b. Volume of wastewater irrigated;
c. Field irrigated;
d. Length of time field is irrigated;
e. Continuous weekly, monthly, and year to date hydraulic (inches per acre) loadings for each
field;
f. Weather conditions; and
g. Maintenance of cover crops.
3

4. The effluent from the subject facilities shall be monitored by the Permittee at the point prior to
drip irrigation EVERY JULY and SEPTEMBER for the following parameters:
aBODS 'TSS bFecal Coliform
bpH bNH3 N
a These parameters shall be sampled using the composite sampling method. The process, as
described in: Operation of Wastewater Treatment Plants, Third Edition, Volume 1, A Field Study
Training Pro ram, USEPA, 1989), is as follows: A composite sample is a "collection of individual
samples obtained at regular intervals, usually every one or two hours during a 24-hour time span.
Each individual sample is combined with the others in proportion to the flow when the sample was
collected. The resulting mixture (composite sample) forms a representative sample and is
analyzed to determine the average conditions during the sampling period."
b These parameters shall be sampled using the grab sampling method. The process, as described
in: Operation of Wastewater Treatment Plants. Third Edition. Volume 1. A Field Studv Training
Program, USEPA, 1989), is as follows: A grab sample is a "single sample of wastewater taken at
neither a set time nor flow."
Three copies of all operation and disposal records (as specified in Condition III. 2., and III. 3.) on
Form NDAR-1, shall be submitted on or before the last day of November. Three copies of all
effluent monitoring data (as specified in Condition III. 4.) on form NDMR-1 shall be submitted for
the annual period of system operation, beginning May I" and ending October 31", on or before the
last day of November. All information shall be submitted to the following address:
NC Division of Water Quality
Water Quality Section
Non -Discharge Compliance/Enforcement Unit
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617

6. Noncompliance Notification.-
The
otification:
The Permittee shall report by telephone to the Asheville Regional Office, telephone number (828)
251-6208, 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 sludge digester; 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 render the facility incapable
of adequate wastewater treatment such as mechanical or electrical failures of pumps, aerators,
compressors, etc.;
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 has gone out of
compliance with its permit limitations.
Persons reporting such occurrences by telephone shall also file a written report in letter form
within five 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.
� IV. GROUNDWATER REQUIREMENTS
1. Any additional groundwater quality monitoring, as deemed necessary by the Division, shall be
provided.
2. Waste application activities shall not occur when the vertical separation between depth of
application and the water table is at less than one foot. Verification of the water table can be
confirmed by auger borings, which must be done within 24 hours, prior to the application of
wastewater. Any open borings must be properly filled with native soil, prior to application, to
decrease the chance of any waste contaminating the groundwater.
The COMPLIANCE BOUNDARY for the disposal system is specified by regulations in 15A
NCAC 2L, Groundwater Classifications and Standards. The Compliance Boundary for the disposal
system individually permitted after December 31, 1983 is established at either (1) 250 feet from the
waste disposal area, or (2) 50 feet within the property boundary, whichever is closest to the waste
disposal area. An exceedance of Groundwater Quality Standards at or beyond the Compliance
Boundary is subject to immediate remediation action, according to 15A NCAC 2L .0106(d)(2). In
addition, the penalty provisions described under North Carolina General Statute 143-215.6A(a)(1),
are also applicable.
In accordance with 15A NCAC 2L, a REVIEW BOUNDARY is established around the disposal
systems midway between the Compliance Boundary and the perimeter of the waste disposal area.
Any exceedance of standards at the Review Boundary shall require remediation action on the part of
the Permittee, in accordance with 15A NCAC 2L .0 106(d)(1).

V. INSPECTIONS
Adequate inspection, maintenance, and cleaning shall be provided by the Permittee to insure
proper operation of the subject facilities.
2. Any duly authorized officer, employee, or representative of the Division may, upon presentation
of credentials, enter and inspect any property, premises or place on or related to the disposal site or
facility 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.
3. The Permittee or his designee shall inspect the wastewater treatment and disposal facilities to
prevent malfunctions and deterioration, operator errors and discharges which may cause or Iead 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 for
a period of three years from the date of the inspection and shall be made available upon request to
the Division, or other permitting authority.
VI. GENERAL CONDITIONS
1. This permit shall become voidable unless the facilities are constructed and operated, 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. 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 accompanied by an application fee, documentation from the parties involved, and other
supporting materials as may be appropriate. The approval of this request will be considered on its
merits and may or may not be approved.
4. Upon the availability of a municipal or regional sewerage collection system, the subject
wastewater treatment facilities shall be abandoned and all wastewater discharged into the
municipal or regional sewerage system.
Failure to abide by the conditions and limitations contained in this permit mdy subject the
Permittee to an enforcement action by the Division in accordance with North Carolina General
Statute 143-215.6A to 143-215.6C.
6. 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.
7. A set of approved plans and specifications for the subject project must be retained by the
Permittee for the life of the project.
8. The annual administering and compliance fee must be paid by the Permittee within 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 .0205 (c)(4).

9. The Permittee, at least six 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 first day of October, 2001.
NORTH CAROLINA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
I
Gregory J. Thorpe, Ph.D., Acting Director
Division of Water Quality
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Permit Number WQOOI2690

I ° L '� - r-� ��r 1rT� `'�l,t��\.�%r�� \� .. _� !/'• r, 4�•..�il� �(/,. �."1� �� ; 1r:7 �1�i�73�•�_/,;�/r��
r�
TssIt'�/ rl
,` - '~--'! , i ` r �•L j� �� _ - .1� -. ♦ :� , ` S I,� S I r I / r f\ fr / / J f{" 1 �,;�f� 1: 3592
r; -� --F�II����n r,{'�'�.�,.: ___ .♦.\;.\\�' a. .,, :`.�.�-."+",ilr ��Ii �f}Jiil,'''•I.
1i
:1' ., r /�-• F j . r�i l r/fir
- �� r I-- 11 t ; �; irl (, �' t� • "� ;,
Jf;
��•`~ \ p,JI• S r�� r / •.� rr - �� %� - � i ✓ =%J '�:.,t '� 1'{ �, .Si 4, },11I II V`'�O �
.._Ia7'3C'
�' `- ;l`T 'rI!!! 11�! �.��- �� '`..`� �`� \\� ;�--r�.�l , I (i-fl•.i � '�f �f'I,� �� irl1l til .V
i% t'
i �'�J"--i��,:- �-� �� - .. };1\\`I.�1�
: II_
'" `� �aabb��'"1. � a~= ` l •.,\ —� •'- !' : sit
~�•�' �- rbRTi�+ \'- � i, ,, �-1 r l{rr �' � [, �`t� 1 �1 i r' NX'
,.-. ., i •h, r`"�;`-!li '- l � =� -' 32oG""-' I� i i f� } i � t' 1s •6O
va
` �-, 1 ,i: - i(!!L. .fT ''i; "�•7 ':�•� -- __ - •'1•' ;�J ` �7 i� l� �! I .--t
� .\ \�♦\ — -� ; 1`i \� �•�` 1tii� ` w�\\ \���.' I - '' � II i f"' i � f r����J��^ cam% ---^��'� � / /% � ' •1r. 5• f' ' { ! r. - "-
♦ ; , �,1-.!•; _ti \,;' \� =;;; =, ; '°' ;e:;' i%` Ir ~ :11 �jl _ ��/�• l'+.t l'i:, l: rr {' . r
\•\\} tom- \ ,'.r ,+}}jF�`I \� �!i,i�@ -iy/
i,. 1;` �' �` CLQ}�_! �� 1�\\��'''... ;`� '\- ,•5'"i — �,1�,� �I• 'r 1
`~~ �yyI ._\`�i`�S \�, t'. \ \�� �� (i��.• - `�.\,�F .r `�� 1\��'4�1' 1 ':. 1, 5 'dn Cr .,
5�; ' J; . 1�:. "1 `�� . � 4♦� 1 ••`',!l�) ' j '14 5,,• ` �;\,. �.;��' • +; -�i :.`�''• ~,�•� : .11�i ', 1�1 1 �, '/ %•' `,-,` ,.
�\ \`,j�\\ �`� _
--r.,•.;�!~�`�=��` lis
CIO�•,51i,`i,:� O~'�: •`,f' `II L,`�,�j.'`��',J. ')};,� 1`r�r�'�'�i�?/ ' 1i1�,r�, �
✓ti ice':. \� ,`+" 4 3�`'�,• 7� I i,, �'0
\`\_-�.-;-. 'I -, .f �ff.'� i� I5 fi,( i' Sy a .�;0 'i•.
�/` 1 1 � L / , �� ti v `1 �\\�` ~�.-=\�,\ � t `-� `.~.�.•-1 I 11 ,- � r� /.! 4i )� � l 1 � � { � ''� ' � 'I' � .
,: i ;�, ����``✓��}�_` ��r'--J_ �� �`',1t�,''f4ti1�' �'��__ _ �� .�6� ` 11� T � ',% %' ,' 11'; �,I ; �,'' I -�) 1`' I� 'P
�• ��`-����•, \ �. •�Fi 111 %_�}. � ' '�',1.i1 '!+,' '\\li � ;if "�(�'; � I r " �'
�, f' ♦ L� .--�`�•--\. �� r�_ ✓ - -." �GC- � �\--titer = -�\,, ,.-, cTY �,r �/r' !� 1, tf \ �^'r
=A!.i l r �' ` ��Y J - ' Lf i C x'00KO + rOWER� ' r
r.l
Ga
•Ire � `f :i \��. �1� `':} ��'- 3958•
1,t5• ,� '.�- -w t` t —�� �`� amp dice ;
M N 15 "r,
\ �]
Ov
1,1, \\� r" � �•:- _%Y � � !- {{i 1 f altt�� F' -... •r �, ffffi a / P' i`+ `0;-, � \ •� � � Y�_ ,�
��\ - • �t�`�\,,\, ., \5� 1�1\ ��� ����r\ c •�' .gy r'-�;=, :I '� I,�wr_co,+�tq � ,j t I "I
' CT- l'7•-, .�- \.� `�'. .'.`� `\ . �! � 1 f` } I-! i4�• y�F. a \ �` �` .i .lr :�i I I i� o
rinmiSSaA 7
Go
.l _`�;, ill r '' •- -�00�. � �.`• `i "��•' ` � 1111 ba I,P t P� T \ ry 5T
�• �.. ] �� ::} 11yj1 }�i i a �� a i 3957-N.
. Z ..�/l�� i : I 1 j '\ •, �� l I i r
., .l' 11 !'%�• ir'r �/ •\! 11R M %(I r
i7'�C• ^ - J o
q5'
3&I • FNTERIDFI-GEOLOGICAL S RVEY, RESTON. VIRGINA-7993&8903M.E
Polyconic projection- 1927 North American datum -Oo
10,000 foot grid based on North Carolina lsyo
,
MILE rectangular coordinate system 'Ty O,p
2000•meter Universal Transverse Mercator grid ticks. %y
'D_ti =,Z -r Zone 17, shown In blue.
ROUTES USUALLY .'RAVELED
��^ ILL -✓� HARO. IMPERVIOUS SURFACES