NCG020274_Complete File - Historical_20170418

Georgoulias, Bethany N (A� 0 20 Z?L¢
From: Wiggs, Linda
Sent: Tuesday, April 18, 2017 4:56 PM
To: Teresa Morris; S. Todd Mickleborough
Cc: Georgoulias, Bethany, Scott, Chris; [e-mail]; lames Garofalo;
Riddle, Shawna; Bill Blackmore; Glenn Young; Rolf Pippert
Subject: RE: Approved PAMs List
Teresa,
Gorilla Snot:
You may need to contact Cindy Moore regarding the information needed on getting Gorilla Snot approved. Her
contact info is on the bottom of the list I sent in the previous email. It is my understanding that Quartz Corp
staff (Todd, I believe) have worked with Environmental Testing Solutions (ETS) in Asheville on testing this
product.
Sampling Data:
I have requested data from two outfalls, PM-10 and PM-12. As I noted in my email, these two outfalls are listed
on the site map/aerial in the Regional Office referencing the two newer outfalls near the tailings dump at the
Southwest area of Pine Mountain mine. This data is requested, regardless of whether or not Gorilla Snot has
been or will be used in these areas. Data was due by March 1, 2017 in the Central office, unless an exceedance
occurred, then the data was due in the Region the following month.
2016 Data:
Central office was able to get me the 2016 Annual Summary Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR) for the
majority of the outfalls at PM: PM #5, Westpit, NOVPM, PM#6, PST#3 and PST#15. There were no reports for
the two outfalls (10 & 12) noted above.
Todd,
Have any samples been collected from these two outfall since the last time Shawna and I were at PM with you
(3/14/2016). Has everything in that area been directed to #3? My recollection was #3 was on the upside of
your haul road and 10 and 12 were on the downside of your haul road. Regardless, where to do U/D for this area
will need to be worked out. This should have been worked out in September of 2016.
U/D sampling for PM #5 are not on the DMRs. These locations were determined for you on 3/14/2016. U is
upstream (north through the trees) in the tributary that PM #5 basin is built in and D is on that same tributary
before it goes under the road.
PST#15 is penciled in on the site map we have. I don't believe PST#15 was completed on 3/14/2016 or where it
will enter that tributary, but your U for PM#5 should be upstream of that.
Finally, I meeting at my office is not the most productive, onsite with up to date maps and DMRs is best.
Qis+d2 C
Environmental Senior Specialist - Asheville Regional Office
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
NCDEQ - Division of Water Resources
828 296 4500 office
828 299 7043 fax
Email: linda.wiggs(g)ncdenr.gov

2090 U.S. Hwy. 70
Swannanoa, N.C. 28778
fc. - Nothing Compares...
Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the
North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
From: Teresa Morris [mailto:[e-mail]]
Sent: Friday, April 14, 2017 11:08 AM
To: Wiggs, Linda <[e-mail]>
Cc: Georgoulias, Bethany<[e-mail]>; Scott, Chris <[e-mail]>;
[e-mail]; James Garofalo<[e-mail]>; Riddle, Shawna
<[e-mail]>; S. Todd Mickleborough <[e-mail]>; Bill Blackmore
<[e-mail]>; Glenn Young<[e-mail]>; Rolf Pippert
<Rolf. Pippert@theq ua rtzcorp.com>
Subject: Re: Approved PAMs List
Ms. Wiggs,
Gorilla Snotis currently applied to one small area at Pine Mountain. All other areas
have been covered with material in preparation for seeding. We are currently working
to seed most of the exposed areas at Pine Mountain and will eliminate the use of dust
suppressing chemicals in most cases. We would still like to be able to use Gorilla Snoton
small, active areas as needed in the future. I have obtained information on the
product Gorilla Snotand how it compares to other products on the current list of
chemical products approved for use for North Carolina. Gorilla Snotis approved for use
by many states for dust suppression. What information would the The Quartz Corp need
to provide NCDEQ in order to get Gorilla Snotapproved and added to the list of
approved products for North Carolina? Also, reguarding sampling data that is required, I
would like to discuss where an appropriate place would be to obtain a water sample
monthly that would be representative of water in contact with Gorilla Snot(dump area
has been covered and no longer has Gorilla Snoton it.) I would be glad to come to your
office to discuss this. In the meantime, we will not apply Gorilla Snot to any new areas
until we have established an appropriate path forward.
Thank You,
Teresa K. Morris
Environmental Manager
The Quartz Corporation
P. 828-765-9621 X 7030
C.828-765-6304
Emai1:[e-mail]
www.thequartzcorp.com
2

From: "Wiggs, Linda" <linda.wiaas0-ncdenr.cgov>
To: "S. Todd Mickleborough"<todd.mickleborouahCa)-theguartzcom.com>, "Teresa Morris" <Teresa. Morris(c)theauartzcora.com>, James Garofalo
<lames.crarofaloCa)the4uartzcom.com>, "gre .taverasO-theouartzcora.com"<areg.taverasCEDthepuartzcoro.com>
Cc: "Riddle, Shawna" <[e-mail]>, "Georgoulias, Bethany"<bethanv.4eorcioulias(cDncdenr.-qov>, "Scott, Chris" <chris.scott(ZDncdenr.gov>
Date: 04/12/201712:26 PM
Subject: Approved PAMs List
Quartz Corp staff,
Chemicals used for erosion control, including dust suppression, are to be approved by
the Division of Water Resources (DWR). Various chemical products have been approved
for use, as long as maximum recommended concentrations are not exceeded, and are
found on the "North Carolina DWR List of Approved PAMS/Flocculants".
Attached is the most current list of chemical
be viewed online at the link below under the
"PAMS/Flocculants List".
products approved for use. This list can also
column Additional Information
https://deg.nc.gov/about/divisions/energy-mineral-land-resources/energy-mineral-land-
permits/stormwater-permits/npdes-industrial-sw#tab-3
A product called Gorilla Snot, which is used by Quartz Corp at Pine Mountain, is not an
approved product for use (NCG020274, Part II #7.). Wastewater sampling is required
quarterly at tailings dump areas, as well as any areas where this product is used. If
quarterly sampling has not been performed in these areas at Pine Mountain, monthly
sampling is to be instituted immediately (NCG020274, Part IV D Page 12 of 12).
Please submit to me all sampling data, to date and throughout 2017, for
outfalls PM-10 and PM-12. PM-10 and PM-12 are the nomenclature used on the site
map/aerial in the Regional Office referencing the two newer outfalls near the tailings
dump at the Southwest area of Pine Mountain mine. All sampling data from these two
outfalls to date is to be submitted to me immediately. Data obtained throughout 2017 is
to be submitted to me by the last day of each month, for the previous months sampling
event.
This is a data evaluation and Permit requirement, it is not a DWR Directive to apply for
an Individual Permit at this time (COC NCG020274, Letter November 16, 2015). This
data submission is in addition too, it is not a substitute for, the Permit submittal
requirements. You can submit this data to me by mail, email or fax, which ever works
best for you.
Thank you,

Environmental Senior Specialist —Asheville Regional Office
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
NCDEQ — Division of Water Resources
828 296 4500 office
828 299 7043 fax
Email: linda.wioos(c ncdenr.cov
2090 U.S. Hwy. 70
Swannanoa, N.C. 28778
wo
Nothing Compares
Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the
North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
[attachment "ApprovedPAMS4_1_2017.pdf deleted by Teresa
Morris/TheQuartzCorp/IMERYS]

7 Energy, Mineral
and Land Resources
f ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
November 16, 2016
CERTIFIED MAIL. 70151520 0003 5462 9282
Gregory Taverns
The Quartz Corp USA
P.O. Box 309
Spruce Pine, NC 28777
SUBJECT: NOTICE OF DEFICIENCY
NOD Number: NOD-2016-PC-0573
Permit No. NCGO20274
Pine Mountain Mine
Mitchell County
Dear Mr. Taverns:
PAT MCCRORY
Governor
DONALD R. VAN DER VAART
Secretory
TRACY DAVIS
Director
A review of the submitted second quarter sample collection period Limit Violation Discharge Monitoring
Report (DMR) for the subject facility revealed the deficiency(s) indicated below:
Limit Exceedance Deficiencv(s):
Sample
Limit
Reported
Location Parameter
Date Value
Value Type of Deficiency
PM #6 Total Suspended
6128/16 10 mg/1
390 mg/1 Effluent Limitation Exceeded
Solids (TSS)
PM #6 Total Suspended
6/28/16 15 mg/1
390 mg/l Effluent Limitation Exceeded
Solids (TSS)
NOV Site Total Suspended 6/28/16 10 mg/1 19 mg/1 Effluent Limitation Exceeded
Solids (TSS)
NOV Site Total Suspended 6/28/16 15 mg/1 19 mg/1 Effluent Limitation Exceeded
Solids (TSS)
State of North Carolina I Environmental Quality I Energy, Mineml and Land Resources
2090 US 70 Highway I Swa inane, NC 28778-8211
$282964500 T

Notice of Deficiency
The Quartz Corp USA
November 16, 2016
Page 2 of 2
Remedial actions, if not already implemented, should be taken to correct the above noncompliance.
Please submit a written response to this Notice of Deficiency. Your response is to be received by the
regional office within 30 business days following receipt of this violation. Please include any additional
documentation about this incident(s) in the response. The submittal will be considered in determining
whether the Division will assess a civil penalty for the cited violations.
Please be aware that non-compliance with your permit could result in enforcement action by the Division
of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources for these and any additional violations of State law. The
Asheville Regional Office encourages you to take all necessary actions to bring your facility into
compliance.
If you should need any assistance or would like to discuss this non-compliance situation, please contact
either Shawna Middle or me at 828-296-4500.
Sincerely,
Stanley E. Aiken PEA
Regional Supervisor
Land Quality Section
ec: Bethany Georgoulias, Environmental Engineer, (Bethany Georgoulias [e-mail])
State of North Carolina ( Environmental Qw ty I Energy, Mineral and Land Reswmw
2090 US 70 Highway I Swannanoa, NC 28VB-8211
929 2%4300 T

Georgoulias, Bethany
From: Georgoulias, Bethany
Sent: Thursday, October 20, 201610:58 AM
To: 'S. Todd Mickleborough'; Bill Blackmore; Rolf Pippert
Cc: Bennett, Bradley; Wiggs, Linda; Riddle, Shawna;
[e-mail];'Hutson, Benne C.'; Vinson, Toby
Subject: RE: Quartz Corp/Request for Modification of Stormwater Permitting Continuous Flow
Monitoring Requirements
Attachments: NCG020256_Flow- Measurement _ Modification.pdf; NCG020257_Flow-
Measurement_Modification.pdf; NCG020274_Flow-Measurement_ Modification.pdf,
NCG020818_Flow-Measurement_Modification.pdf, NCG02_SW-vs-WW_Guidance.pdf
Todd,
Please see the attached letters granting the request to relieve the continuous flow monitoring requirement for specified
outfalls at four mine sites. I have also copied Mr. Benne Hutson of McGuire Woods LLP, who submitted the request on
behalf of Quartz Corp, as well as our staff in the Asheville Regional Office who worked with you through the review
process. We will send out the hard copies to Mr. Taveras today since he is listed as the Owner Affiliation for these
permits, but I wanted you to receive your copies as soon as possible.
Best regards,
Bethany Georgoulias
Environmental Engineer
Stormwater Program, Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources
N.C. Department of Environmental Quality
919 807 6372 office
bethany.geor og [e-mail]
1612 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1612 (mailing)
512 N. Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27604 (location)
Website: hqp://deg.nc.gov/about/divisions/energv-mineral-land-resources/stormwater
w- —"Nothing Compares
Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the
North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
From: S. Todd Mickleborough [mailto:[e-mail]
Sent: Friday, September02, 2016 1:33 PM
To: Georgoulias, Bethany<[e-mail]>; Bill Blackmore <[e-mail]>;
Rolf Pippert <[e-mail]>
Cc: Bennett, Bradley <[e-mail]>; Wiggs, Linda <[e-mail]>; Riddle, Shawna
<[e-mail]>; [e-mail]
Subject: RE: Quartz Corp/Request for Modification of Stormwater Permitting Continuous Flow Monitoring Requirements

Georgoulias, Bethany
From:
Georgoulias, Bethany
Sent:
Thursday, October 20, 2016 12:55 PM
To:
'Tyler, Kip'
Cc:
Jones, Erica; Bennett, Bradley
Subject:
FW: Quartz Corp/Request for Modification of Stormwater Permitting Continuous Flow
Monitoring Requirements
Attachments:
NCG020256_Flow-Measurement_Modification.pdf, NCG020257_Flow-
Measurement_Modification.pdf, NCG020274_Flow-Measurement_Modification.pdf-,
NCG020818_Flow-Measurement_Modification.pdf, NCG02_SW-vs-WW_Guidance.pdf;
Qua rtz-Co rp_Co nt-Flow-Mod-Req u est_26J u l2016. pdf
Hi, Kip,
I hope you are doing well. Attached are the letters we sent to Quartz Corp addressing their request for accommodation
of the continuous flow monitoring requirement for some wastewater discharge outfalls at four mine sites in NC where
appropriate. I've also attached the original request letter for your reference; it included additional questions about
wastewater at mines that we have discussed previously. We worked with staff in the Asheville Regional Office (Linda
Wiggs and Shawna Riddle) in reviewing and granting the request.
Let us know if you have any questions.
Thanks so much,
Bethany
Bethany Georgoulias
Environmental Engineer
Stormwater Program, Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources
N.C. Department of Environmental Quality
919 807 6372 office
bethany. georgoulias(a)ncdenr. gov
1612 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1612 (mailing)
512 N. Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27604 (location)
Website: htto://deg.nc.gov/about/divisions/enera-mineral-land-resources/stormwater
W. :5,"Nothing Compares
Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the
North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
From: Georgoulias, Bethany
Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2016 10:58 AM
To:'S. Todd Mickleborough' <[e-mail]>; Bill Blackmore

<[e-mail]>; Rolf Pippert <[e-mail]>
Cc: Bennett, Bradley <[e-mail]>; Wiggs, Linda <[e-mail]>; Riddle, Shawna
<[e-mail]>; [e-mail];'Hutson, Benne C.'
<[e-mail]>; Vinson, Toby <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: Quartz Corp/Request for Modification of Stormwater Permitting Continuous Flow Monitoring Requirements
Todd,
Please see the attached letters granting the request to relieve the continuous flow monitoring requirement for specified
outfalls at four mine sites. I have also copied Mr. Benne Hutson of McGuire Woods LLP, who submitted the request on
behalf of Quartz Corp, as well as our staff in the Asheville Regional Office who worked with you through the review
process. We will send out the hard copies to Mr. Taveras today since he is listed as the Owner Affiliation for these
permits, but I wanted you to receive your copies as soon as possible.
Best regards,
Bethany Georgoulias
Environmental Engineer
Stormwater Program, Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources
N.C. Department of Environmental Quality
919 807 6372 office
bethanv.geor oug lias(a cl� denr.gov
1612 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1612 (mailing)
512 N. Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27604 (location)
Website: http://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/energy-mineral-land-resources/stormwater
wa.
Nothing Compares
Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the
North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
From: S. Todd Mickleborough [mailto:[e-mail]
Sent: Friday, September 02, 2016 1:33 PM
To: Georgoulias, Bethany<[e-mail]>; Bill Blackmore <[e-mail]>;
Rolf Pippert <[e-mail]>
Cc: Bennett, Bradley <[e-mail]>; Wiggs, Linda <[e-mail]>; Riddle, Shawna
<[e-mail]>; [e-mail]
Subject: RE: Quartz Corp/Request for Modification of Stormwater Permitting Continuous Flow Monitoring Requirements
Ms. Bethany
I will contact Ms. Shawna next week and arrange for a meeting. Thank you for address this issue, I agree we should be
able to sort this out once we all get on the same page.
todd

From: "Georgoulias, Bethany"<bethanv.georgoulias(a)ncdenr.gov>
To: "stodd.mickleboroughO-theguartzcom.com" <stodd.mickleboroughO-theguartzcora.com>,
Cc: 'Bennett, Bradley" <bradlev.bennettA-ncdenr.4ov>, "Riddle, Shawna" <shawna.riddle(aD-ncdenr.go_v>, "Wiggs, Linda" <linda.wiggS(cDncdenr.gov>
Date: 09/02/2016 01:26 PM
Subject: RE: Quartz Corp/Request for Modification of Stormwater Permitting Continuous Flow Monitoring Requirements
Hi, Todd,
We are working on a response to the permit modification request sent to us on your behalf by McGuireWoods,
LLP. After reviewing the letter and talking with the Asheville Regional Office, we don't have a definitive
understanding of what discharge points the request is referencing. For example, Pine Mountain names
discharge points "pm-pst-3, pmt-st 10, pmt-12, west pit, intersect, shop, or warehouse." The Asheville Office is
not certain which outfalls these are, or that this nomenclature matches the outfall nomenclature used previously
or for reporting sampling results. Could you please provide clarification about which outfalls this letter
means? Or arrange to meet with the ARO staff to go over site plans and clear up the confusion? If you prefer,
you may contact Shawna Riddle at ARO directly to arrange this.
We are confident we can make an accommodation for continuous flow monitoring for outfalls where
appropriate at these operations. We just want to be sure to that we can reference the affected outfalls correctly
in our final documentation and response.
Thanks so much,
Bethany
Bethany Georgoulias
Environmental Engineer
Stormwater Program, Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources
N.C. Department of Environmental Quality
919 807 6372 office
bethany_geor og uliasO,ncdenr.gov
1612 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1612 (mailing)

512 N. Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27604 (location)
Website: http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/lr/stormwater
[IMAGE]
Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the
North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
From: Georgoulias, Bethany
Sent: Tuesday, August 02, 2016 9:31 AM
To: 'Hutson, Benne C.' <BHutson@,mcguirewoods.com>
Cc: Bennett, Bradley <bradley.bennett0,ncdenr.gov>
Subject: RE: Quartz Corp/Request for Modification of Stormwater Permitting Continuous Flow Monitoring
Requirements
Mr. Hutson:
Thank you for your correspondence requesting modification to the referenced NCG02 Permit Certificates of
Coverage. Ken mentioned this request would likely be coming in after he left. I just returned to the office this
week after vacation last week, and I will discuss this request with Bradley and confer with the Regional Offices
involved as soon as I'm able to do so.
Best regards,
Bethany
Bethany Georgoulias
Environmental Engineer
4

Stormwater Program, Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources
N.C. Department of Environmental Quality
919 807 6372 office
bethany.geor ouliasa,ncdenr.gov
1612 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1612 (mailing)
512 N. Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27604 (location)
Website: hqp://portal.ncdenr.org/web/lr/stormwater
[IMAGE]
Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the
North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
From: Hutson, Benne C.[mailto:BHutsonamcguirewoods.com]
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2016 2:14 PM
To: Georgoulias, Bethany <bethany. eor ouliasancdenr.gov>
Cc: bill.blackmore@,thequartzcorp.com; todd.mickleborou h a,thequartzcorp.com; Case, Charles D.
<CCase(@,mcQuirewoods. com>
Subject: Quartz Corp/Request for Modification of Stormwater Permitting Continuous Flow Monitoring
Requirements
Ms. Georgoulias:
We represent Quartz Corp regarding various environmental matters. I have attached a letter requesting
modification of our stormwater permits to remove continuous flow monitoring requirements at various
discharge points where there is no continuous flow. I spoke with Ken Pickle a couple of times about this before

his retirement and he instructed that this request should be sent to you.
Thank you in advance for your consideration of it. I look forward to discussing it with you after you have had a
chance to review it.
Benne
Benne C. Hutson
Partner
McGuireWoods LLP
201 North Tryon Street
Suite 3000
Charlotte, NC 28202-2146
T: [phone]
M: [phone]
F: [phone]
bhutson _,mcguirewoods.com
Bio I VCard I www.mcguirewoods.com
This a -mail from McGuire Woods may contain confidential or privileged information. if you are not the intended
recipient, please advise by return e-mail and delete immediately without reading or forwarding to others.
[attachment "image004.png" deleted by S. Todd Mickleborough/TheQuartzCorp/IMERYS] [attachment
"image003.png" deleted by S. Todd Mickleborough/TheQuartzCorp/IMERYS] [attachment "Quartz -Corp Cont-Flow-Mod-
Request_26Ju12016.pdf' deleted by S. Todd Mickleborough[TheQuartzCorp/IMERYS]
6

Energy, Mineral
and Land Resources
ENVIRONMENTAL OUALITY
October 18, 2016
GregoryTaveras
The Quartz Corp USA
P.O. Box 309
Spruce Pine, NC 28777
PAT MCCRORY
GoMnor
DONALD R. VAN DER VAART
secretr ,
TRACY DAVIS
Director
Subject: General Permit No, NCG020000
The Quartz Corp USA— Pine Mountain M&P
COC NCGO20274
Mitchell County
Dear Mr. Taveras:
We received a request to modify the continuous flow measurement requirement (Footnote 7 to
Table 7 in the amended CDC issued in November 2015) from Mr. Berne Hutson of McGuire Woods on
behalf of The Quartz Corp on July 26, 2016. The request asserted that seven wastewater discharge points
at the Pine Mountain operation do not have continuous flow. Consequently, The Quartz Corp is asking
NC DEMLR to remove the continuous flow monitoring requirements at these discharge points.
The DEMLR Stormwater Program hereby approves the modification request to allow an
instantaneous grab sample of flow or alternative estimate of a daily flow rate (for example, using rainfall
amount, percent impervious area, and/or runoff coefficient to calculate a daily flow rate in cis from a
precipitation event) in lieu of a continuous flow measurement reading to fulfill the flow monitoring
requirement for the specified outfalls in the request. Please maintain this letter for your records for the
duration of coverage under this General Permit. If circumstances of the outfalls at this site change in the
future, you must notify the Division. Wastewater outfalls that the company refers to at Pine Mountain as
#6, #S, and NOV do have continuous flow and should be monitoring according to the permit.
In addition, Mr. Hutson's letter asked for clarification about why mining wastes are classified as
wastewater discharges. Any wastes (e.g., mine tailings) from the mining process that contacts stormwater
is considered wastewater. This determination is not U.S. EPA policy but rather is based on the definition
of "process wastewater" in federal regulations in 40 CFR 122.2: "any water which, during manufacturing
or processing, comes into direct contact with or results from the production or use of any raw material,
intermediate product, finished product, byproduct, or waste product."
Mr. Hutson's letter expresses concern about EPA's interpretation being based on data from
western U.S. mines "where mine face is more likely to be reactive and leach metals." Perhaps the
company's concern centers around mine face or mine excavation stormwater drainage instead of "mining
wastes" We know there has been confusion about what stormwater run-off at a mine is considered
wastewater, especially after renewal of the NCG020000 General Permit and EPA's intensified focus on
State orNorth Carolina I Environmental Quality I Energy, Mineral and Land Resources
1612 Mail Service Center i 512 N. Salisbury St. I Raleigh, NC 27699
919 707 9200 T

NCG020274 Modification Request
October 18, 2016
Page 2
industrial mineral mines. In particular, the question about whether mine excavation area rainfall drainage
should always be considered "mine dewatering" (and therefore wastewater) has come up.
In response, DEMLR's Stormwater Program developed a guidance document to assist regional
staff and NCG02 permittees in determining which discharges at a mine operation are stormwater and
which are wastewater (enclosed). This guidance is also available on our website. Note the Division
recognizes there is some ambiguity and debate about what qualifies as "mine dewatering" in the federal
regulations, and that there may be situations where mine excavation run-off does not clearly fit the
definition of mine dewatering in 40 CFR 436, which is specific to the type of mine.
The task is not always straightforward because there are different implementation possibilities
when considering the definition of "process wastewater" in 40 CFR 122,2, the definition of "stormwater
discharge associated with industrial activity" in 40 CFR 122.26 (b)(14), and "mine dewatering" definitions
in various sub -parts of 40 CFR 436. DEMLR must apply a determination that is consistent with federal
requirements and expects the permittee to sample discharges accordingly. We hope this guidance helps
clear up the questions you have and better understand NCs Stormwater Program's rationale. If you have
questions about specific discharge outfalls at your site, please contact the Asheville Regional Office
Stormwater Program staff to arrange a site visit.
This permit modification does not affect the legal requirements to obtain other permits which
may be required by the Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources, or permits required by the
Division of Water Resources (DWR), Coastal Area Management Act, or any other federal or local
governmental permit that may be required. If these monitoring modifications are unacceptable to you,
you may apply sooner for an individual NPDES discharge permit.
If you have any questions concerning this modification, please contact Bradley Bennett at
telephone number [phone], or Bethany Georgoulias at telephone number [phone].
Sincerely,
,P4
forTracy E. Davis, P.E., CPM
cc: Benne C. Hutson, McGuire Woods
Todd Mickleborough, The Quartz Corp
Toby Vinson, DEMLR Land Quality Section
NPDES Wastewater Permitting Files, NC0000400
Shawna Riddle, DEMLR Asheville Regional Office
Linda Wiggs, DWR Asheville Regional Office
Kip Tyler, EPA Region IV NPDES Permitting and Enforcement Branch
Stormwater Program Files
DWR Central Files
State of North Carolina I Environmental Quality i Energy, Mineral and Land Resources
1612 Mail Service Center 1 512 N. Salisbury SG I Raleigh, NC 27699
919 707 9200 T

Guidance for determination of NPDES regulatory status of various discharges on a mine site (Active and Inactive Mines)
Jun 3, 2016; NC DEQ Stormwater Program
Feature contributing
not
Rule or permit citations;
to a discharge
Conditions and comments
sw
ww
regulated
other guidance
1
Undeveloped areas at the site, w/o permitted
Other areas closed out and fully reclaimed, too.
X
Excluded from stormwater def. in
mining activity
40CFR122.26(b)(14)
2
Overburden stockpile
Not mixed with any mined materials or other wastewater
X
overburden' at
drainage. Better when fully stabilized.
40CFR122.26(b)(14)(iii)
3
Soil borrow area drainage
Like a borrow area at a construction site.
X
DEQ BPI interp. of citation above.
4
Vehicle maintenance areas
Additional monitoring, if qualified by motor oil usage. If
X
Consistent w/other regulated activity
commingled with WW, discharge instead subject to
identified at 40CFR122.26(b)(14)(viii);
wastewater sampling; additional O&G sampling could be
DEQ BPJ
recommended but not required (per currentpermit).
5
Equipment boneyards
X
'refuse sites'in122.26(b)(14)
6
AST Secondary containment release
If uncontaminated.
X
'tankfarms'in122.26(b)(14)
7
Access and haul roads, without dust control
Except: roads off -site are not regulated
X
X, ae-:ne
access roads' in sw definition in
maes -;
40CFR122.26(b)(14)
8
Access and haul roads, with dust control, when
If just stormwater runoff from sprayed roads. OK to spray
X
Above citation plus DEQ BPJ for spraying
it's stormwater
with mine pit water as long as no significant or sustained
mine dewatering water for dust control.
flow, or discharge to surface waters results. Any
Inspector BPJ to determine if excessive
chemicals used should be approved and used in proper
flow or potential WQ problem is basis
doses to prevent aquatic toxicity — refer to approved
for wastewater determination.
PAMS list or consult DWRAquatic Toxicology Branch.
9
Access and haul roads, with dust control, when
If recycled or process wastewater sprayed, or if spraying
X
NPDES process ww definition at
it's wastewater
excessive enough to cause sustained flow or discharge to
40CFR122.2 plus DEQ BPJ on prudent
surface waters. Also wastewater if any chemicals applied
'-
protection for NC surface waters.
are not approved by DWR Aquatic Toxicology or are used
Inspector BPJ to determine if spray
in amounts that may cause aquatic toxicity.
excessive.
30
Stormwater-only sediment basins
If no wastewater contribution (mine dewatering, process
X
-
Stormwater in: stormwater out, DEQ BPJ
ww, flow from active mining area.)
11
Stormwater-only sediment basin cleaning spoil
Spoil may not impact wetlands.
X
�-
15A NCAC 28.0231, NC wetlands
drainage
-:
standards
12
Wastewater treatment or recycle basin cleaning
Includes basins that treat wastewater or mine
X
Wastewater in: wastewater out, DEQ
spoil drainage
dewatering water.
-
BPJ
13
Processing plant: recycle water overflow or
Even if caused by rainfall or mixed with stormwater
X
40CFR122.2 def. process ww;
process wastewater
runoff. Except: segregated areas that do not drain
plant yards' in stormwater definition at
wastewater would be stormwater, but these are rare.
X, :ezare.
122.26(b)(14)
14
Final product stockpile drainage, when it's
For most construction materials including sand, gravel,
X
'final products' in stormwater def. at
stormwater
and stone; industrial sand.
40CFR322.26(b)(14)
15
Final product stockpile drainage, when it's
For some mineral mines where final' product is subject
X
'comes into direct contact
wastewater
to further processing; and if final product exposes
with... intermediate product, final
minerals, metals, or chemicals with aquatic toxicity or
product...' 40CFR122.2 Def. of process
other pollutant risk: DEQ may regulate as Wm
wastewater; DEQ BPJ
16
Mine jLit dewatering, pumped or drained by
Including contributions from rainfall and groundwater.
X
40CFR436.21, .31, and .41;
efforts of the operator
DEQ BPJ default for all mines
17
Mine E Lit dewatering, via overflow due only to
DEC. considers these types of discharges, Including those
X
40CFR436.31 Construction sand & gravel
rain or groundwater seepage
from clay pits (not specified in regs), as regulated
have effluent limits and "mine
wastewater. Except: such wet pit overflows from 436.21
X, c",mad
dewatering" includes wet pit overflows;
none wet
rtwerticw
436.41 Industrial sand, same;

Guidance for determination of NPDES regulatory status of various discharges on a mine site (Active and Inactive Mines)
L.n 3 2016 ur ncn c«..,..­.. n...........
Feature contributing
not
Rule or permit citations;
to a discharge
Conditions and comments
sw
ww
regulated
I other guidance
Crushed Stone treated as stormwater, as Iona as not
DEQ BPJ for 436.21 Crushed stone
commingled with process generated wastewater.
narrower mine dewatering definition;
DEQ BPJ for clay.
18
Mine face / Mine excavation area drainage (not a
e.g., mining an area on a mountain side or sand mine
X
DEQ BPJ; Def. of mine dewatering in
pit), when it's stormwater
excavation area(s). When water from the mine area is
40CFR436.21, .31, and .41. Situations
Rot "pumped, drained, or otherwise removed
where stormwater inside a mine is not
from the mine through the efforts of the mine
intentionalhr routed out of the mine by
operator." But often mine excavation area drainage
operator efforts.
will be wastewaterper 19.
19
Mine face / Mine excavation area drainage (not a
e.g., active mining area on a mountain side or sand mine
X
Consistent with mine dewatering
pit), when it's wastewater
excavation area(s). Any "water that is impounded
definition in citations above and 'direct
or that collects in the mine and is pumped,
contact with'40CFR122.2 def. of process
drained, or otherwise removed from the mine
wastewater. Includes grading,
through the efforts of the mine operator is
channeling, ditching, or outlet
subject to effluent limitation guidelines. Also, mines
construction intended to remove/drain
water from the active mining area. If
where mine face exposure results in significant risk to
exposure includes parameters not In
water quality standards (note, an individual permit may
NCG02 (metals, for example), a general
be required to monitor parameters not in NCG02).
permit may not be appropriate.
20
Legacy structures at a closed out and reclaimed
And for closed out and fully reclaimed portions of an
x
Excluded from stormwater def. In
mine: e.g. stabilized overburden stockpiles,
operating site
40CFR122.26(b)(14); not Included in
stormwater basins, and pit/quarry overflows
process wastewater definition at
40CFR122.2
21 1
Deemed permitted discharges
Subject to NC rule, but not this permit. 2T covers
-
-
15A NCAC 2H .0106(f)
discharges to the land surface.
SSA NCAC 2T.0113(a)(15),(16)
Notes.,
• What is covered by NCG02? Stormwater and wastewater discharges from construction materials quarries, mineral mines, and stand-alone processing plants associated with them;
and clay mines. What is not covered by NCG02? Discharges from tourist gem mines; brick manufacturing w/o clay pits (NCG07); coal, peat, oil & gas; metal mining; DOT barrow
areas (110000250); In -stream sand dredging (NCG52); mine operations already covered under an individual discharge permit.
• Wastewater commingled with stormwater is regulated as wastewater. Even if the discharge is rainfall driven.
• Whether regulated with a permit under the NPDES program or not, mining discharges may not cause or contribute to a violation of an in -stream water quality standard. Bring
D WR RO Supervisor into loop If observed site conditions suggest the potential for a Was violation.
• Whether regulated with a permit under the NPDES program or not, mining discharges or operations may not: drain wetlands due to dewatering in the mine; blow out wetlands
due to the volume of discharges; or damage wetlands with pollutants from the mine property. Bring DWR RO Supervisor into the loop if observed site conditions suggest the
potential for wetlands damage whether intentional or incidental/accidental.
• The receiving water classification may determine the numerical value of the stormwater benchmarks or the wastewater limitations. See permit text.
• What if continuous flow measurement of wastewater is impractical or overly burdensome, and discharge Isn't pumped (no pump curves)? EPA has advised (3/24/2016) that
continuous flow meter may not be necessary or practical in all situations, especially where flow discharge is infrequent; DEQ regions can make accommodations to allow permittees
to use an alternative method to estimate discharge flows when appropriate. Consider that discharges to HQWs are subject to flow limits in the permit (based on NC WQS). Permit
footnote language came from NPDES W W permit standard language and has remained in NCG02 for several permit cycles; DEQ will revisit at renewal.
• Limitation of authority: This guidance table is intended as an on -site aid for DEMLR inspectors and for permittees. It does not replace relevant NC law, federal and state rules,
NCG02 permit conditions, DEMLR policy, or DEMLR implementation precedent.

McGuireWoods LLP
Fifth Third Center
201 North Tryon Street
Suite 3000
Charlotte, NC 28202
Tel [phone]
Fax [phone]
www.mcgu irewoods.com
Benue C. Hutson
Direct: 704.343.2060
McGUIREWOODS
July 26, 2016
VIA ELECTRONICAND REGULAR MAIL
Bethany Georgoulias
Environmental Engineer
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Division of Energy, Mineral and Land Resources
512 North Salisbury Street
Raleigh, North Carolina 27604
[e-mail]
Fax: [phone]
RECEIVED
Anf, 04 2016
DENR-LAND QUALITY
STORMWATER PERMITTING
Re: The Quartz Corp/Permits NCG 020256, 020257, 020274 and 020818 -- Request
to Modify Continuous Flow Monitoring Requirements
Dear Ms. Georgoulias:
We represent The Quartz Corp. As explained in greater detail in the remainder of this
letter, we are writing to request modifications to continuous flow requirements at certain
discharge points in these permits. I spoke a couple of time with Ken Pickle regarding this issue
prior to his retirement and he instructed that our formal request for modification be directed to
you.
The permits require continuous flow monitoring at various discharge points. However, at
a number of these points, such monitoring cannot be done as there is no continuous flow. The
specific discharge points where this is the case are:
For permit NCG020256 covering the Sullins Wiseman operation,
there is no continuous flow at discharge points SW-002 and
SW-003. The locations of these discharge points as well as the
discharge point where there is a continuous flow are shown on
Figure 1.
For permit NCG020257 covering the Chalk operation, there is no
continuous flow at discharge points SW-002, SW-003 and SW-
004. The locations of these discharge points as well as the
discharge point where there is a continuous flow are shown on
Figure 2.
Atlanta I Austin I Baltimore I Brussels I Charlotte I Charlottesville I Chicago I Dallas I Houston I Jacksonville I London I Los Angeles - Century City
Los Angeles - Downtown I New York I Norfolk I Pittsburgh I Raleigh I Richmond I San Francisco I Tysons I Washington, D.C. I Wilmington

Bethany Georgoulias
July 26, 2016
Page 2
For permit NCG020274 covering the Pine Mountain operation,
there is no continuous flow at discharge point pm-pst-3,
pmt-st 10, pmt-12, west pit, intersect, shop or warehouse. The
locations of these discharge points as well as the discharge points
where there is a continuous flow are shown on Figure 3.
As to the discharge points in these permits where there is no continuous flow, we ask that
these permits be modified to remove continuous flow monitoring requirements at these discharge
points.
With regard to permit NCG020818 for the Altapass operation, changes to the discharge
points have been made to eliminate the discharges for almost all measurable storm events.
(Photographs of the changes are enclosed.) Indeed, no discharge has been observed this year.
Quartz will continue to maintain the sediment basins under this permit and, if a discharge is
observed during a measurable storm event, sampling and reporting will be done as required.
However, since there is no continuous flow at any discharge point identified in this permit, we
would request that continuous flow monitoring be removed from this permit entirely.
Thank you for your consideration of this request for these modifications. If your staff
would like to visit any of the sites to see the conditions described in this letter, let us know and
we would be happy to set them up.
In addition to these matters, I also discussed with Ken the issue of why mining wastes are
being classified as wastewater discharges. He indicated that there is a U.S. EPA policy on this
issue and that the State has followed that approach for some time. However, it is our
understanding that the EPA interpretation was developed based on data from mines in the
western U.S. where the mine face is more likely to be reactive and leach metals. In contrast, the
mine faces at Quartz's operations have been shown by testing to be neutral and thus not disposed
to leach metals. In light of this difference, we would like to discuss with you and others further
this wastewater classification.
Thank you for your attention to these matters. We look forward to hearing from you
soon.
Sincerely,
Benne C. H#son
Enclosures
cc: Bill Blackmore (w/encls.)
Todd Mickleborough (w/encls.)
Charles Case (w/encls.)

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Georgoulias, Bethany I V ` / 1
From:
Wiggs, Linda
Sent:
Thursday, January 28, 2016 6:14 PM
To:
Georgoulias, Bethany
Cc:
Riddle, Shawna
Subject:
FW: Quartz conf call Monday
Below are questions I have received from Quartz Corp.
Shawna and I also addressed with them the flow meter requirements, but I am sure it will come up also since we
have 3 different site managers with 3 very different sites trying to figure out how to manage that requirement.
Environmental Senior Specialist - Asheville Regional Office
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
NCDEQ- Division of Water Resources
828 296 4500 office
828 299 7043 fax
Email: I i nd a.wiggs(a)ncde n r.gov
2090 U.S. Hwy. 70
Swannanoa, N.C. 28778
!i Nothing Compares
W ®vl,f o r--(�,
Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the
North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
From: Glenn Young [mailto:[e-mail] Ty —
Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2016 6:01 PM
To: Wiggs, Linda <[e-mail]>
Cc: Bill Blackmore <[e-mail]>; Greg Taveras <greg.taveras@t quartzcorp.com>; Jerry
Prosser <[e-mail]>; S. Todd Mickleborough <todd.mickleboro [e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Quartz conf call Monday �(� �1 L OQW r1U
Linda, Here are my questions regarding COCNCG020274 General Permit no... NCG02000. A) considering all outfalls at
the KT Plant that discharge into the N Toe river are wastewater discharges: 1)"rs the TSS limitati n, Table 8, 45 , 30,or 15,
jpily maximum? 2�Nhat are the outfall sampling requireme s for a "controlled" discharge ?1."hat is the correct
gnddress that the yearly DMR report must be mailed to?+4ble of the General Permit please explain the Effluent
'Limitation for daily flow rate "50% of 7Q106", daily maximum Considering all runoff at the plant site to be waste water
what are the stormwater, monitoring r4quirementsJ, }regard , Bud
J v<rve .7A fP 2,'ei 'i ?ni CfcWS!JEI4 2'Fev-
From:
aas. Linda' <linda.v4 s ncdenr. ov>
o:
ungQthequartzcorp.cam" < oun the or .co >, "Pickle, Ken" <ken.olckle(cDncdenr.aov>, "Georgoulias, Bethany"
han . eor oulias ncdenr. ov>, "Riddle, Shama" <sh wa.riddle ncdenr. ov>,
luartz
Date:
7/2016 05:34 PM
Subject:
cant call Monday
v� 9� o� �� l �
t P �re� t,,a,,,,�Y.

Hi Folks,
It looks like everyone is available for conference call on Monday 2/1 between 1-3, so
let's put that on our calendars.
*I need the Quartz folks to get me a list of questions, preferably by the close of business
Thursday 1/28, so I can share those with Raleigh staff in preparation.
*I need the Raleigh folks to set up the conference call. Bethany, we are thinking you did
this before, yes/no? I think the Region and Quartz Corp just gave you phone numbers to
call and that was how we were connected?
*I also need a consensus on a time Monday. I doubt it will take two hours, but we need
to know what time the group wants to start the call?
Environmental Senior Specialist —Asheville Regional Office
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
NCDEQ — Division of Water Resources
828 296 4500 office
828 299 7043 fax
Email: linda.wiggs(dncdenr.gov
2090 U.S. Hwy. 70
Swannanoa, N.C. 28778
!'"Nothing Compares,..
Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the
North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
Y
r
2

Georgoulias, Bethany
From: Wiggs, Linda
Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2016 1:46 PM
To: Georgoulias, Bethany; Riddle, Shawna
Subject: RE: Quartz conf call Monday
Ok, 1:00 on Monday it is. Shawna can come to my office, so call my number 828-296-4653.
Thanks
Environmental Senior Specialist —Asheville Regional Office
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
NCDEQ — Division of Water Resources
828 296 4500 office
828 299 7043 fax
Email: Iindamioos(a ncdenr ciov
2090 U.S. Hwy. 70
Swannanoa, N.C. 28778
Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the
North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
From: Georgoulias, Bethany
Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2016 1:29 PM
To: Glenn Young <[e-mail]>
Cc:'[e-mail]' <[e-mail]>; Pickle, Ken <[e-mail]>; Wiggs, Linda
<[e-mail]>; Riddle, Shawna <[e-mail]>; Jerry Prosser
<[e-mail]>, S. Todd Mickleborough <[e-mail]>; Bill
Blackmore <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: Quartz conf call Monday
Great. Thank you, Glenn.
Bethany Georgoulias
Environmental Engineer
Stormwater Permitting Program, Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources
N.C. Department of Environmental Quality
919 807 6372 office
beth=.geor oug lias(d,)ncdenr.eov
1612 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1612 (mailing)
512 N. Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27604 (location)

Website: hqp://aortal.ncdenr.org/web/lr/stormwater
NC. �'--Nothing Compares.-,
Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the
North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
From: Glenn Young [mailto:[e-mail]]
Sent: Thursday, January 2% 2016 1:26 PM
To: Georgoulias, Bethany<[e-mail]>
Cc: '[e-mail]'<[e-mail]>; Pickle, Ken <ken.pickle @ncdenr.gov>; Wiggs, Linda
<[e-mail]>; Riddle, Shawna <[e-mail]>; Jerry Prosser
<[e-mail]>; S. Todd Mickleborough<[e-mail]>; Bill
Blackmore <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: Quartz conf call Monday
Good Afternoon Bethany, The number you can contact us at The Quartz Corp @ 828-766-2115. This is the KT office
conference room. Those of us at the Quartz Corp can gather there for the call at 1 pm Monday 2/1. Regards, Glenn
Young
From:
'Georgoulias, Bethan "<bethan . eor oulias ncdenr. ov>
o:
'Wiggs, Linda" <linda.Wggsna ncdenr.gov>, "'[e-mail]'" <gvoungAtheguartzcoro.com>, "Pickle, Ken"
ken. fickle ncdenr. ov>, "Riddle, Shama" <shawna.nddle ncdenr. ov>,
Qate:
l/28/2016 10:00 AM
ubecl:
E: Quartz conf call Monday
Hi, Linda,
Yes —we can connect everybody for the call here. We just need the numbers to reach everyone. Last time we simply used the
conference on Ken's office phone, and it worked fine.
Can we make it 1:00 PM? Earlier works best for me.
Thanks,
Bethany
Bethany Georgoulias
Environmental Engineer
Stormwater Permitting Program, Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources
N.C. Department of Environmental Quality
919 807 6372 office
bethanv. georgouh as@.ncdenr. gov
1612 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1612 (mailing)
512 N. Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27604 (location)
Website: hM://aortal.ncdenr.orpJweb/Ir/stormwater

Joleo S%,
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Q'W REGION 4
e ATLANTA FEDERAL CENTER
Y�pryrgc nxotEOt`o= ATLA61 FORSYTH STREET
NTA, GEORGIA 30303-8960
jAH 13 2018
CERTIFIED MAIL 7015 1730 0002 0524 5390 RECEIVED
RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
Mr. John Walker
The Quartz Corporation
100 Mansell Court East, Suite 300
Roswell, Georgia 30076-4860
LAND QUALITY SECTION
Subject: Compliance Evaluation Inspections Reports for the KT Feldspar Plant
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit Nos: NC0000400 and NCG020274
Dear Mr. Walker:
On March 31, 2015 and April 1, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 4 performed
Compliance Evaluation Inspections at the Quartz Corporation's facility referenced above. During June of
2015, the EPA also conducted Compliance Sampling Inspections at this facility. The purpose of these
inspections was to evaluate the facility's compliance with the treatment and disposal of industrial wastewater
and stormwater set out in Sections 301 and 402 of the Clean Water Act (CWA), 33 U.S.C. §§ 1311 and
1342; the regulations promulgated thereunder at 40 Code of Federal Regulations Part 122; and the North
Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
permit numbers NC0000400 and NCG020274. The results of the EPA's Compliance Evaluation Inspections
are summarized in the enclosed reports. The Compliance Sampling Inspection reports and results were
transmitted via email to your staff on December 15, 2015.
On April 23, 2015, the EPA sent a CWA § 308 information request to The Quartz Corporation for the two
NPDES permits referenced above. A response to the CWA § 308 information request was received by the
EPA via email on May 26, 2015. The EPA is continuing to investigate The Quartz Corporation's compliance
with the CWA and its implementing regulations by evaluating your 308 response together with the
information collected during the compliance evaluation and sampling inspections.
Please contact Mr. Kip Tyler, of my staff, at [phone] should you have specific questions or need
additional information. Legal inquiries should be directed to Ms. Carol Baschon, Associate Regional
Counsel, at [phone].
Sincerely, 1
aniel J. O'Lon C, hief
Stormwater and Residuals Enforcement Section
NPDES Permitting and Enforcement Branch
Enclosure
cc: See Attached Mailing List
Internet Address (URL) • http://www.epa.gov
Recycled/Recyclable • Printed with Vegetable Oil Based Inks on Recycled Paper (Minimum 30% Postconsumer)

Mailing List:
Mr. Toby Vinson
Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Mr. Stan Aiken
Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Mr. Landon Davidson
Division of Water Resources
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality

SigT� NPDES Compliance Evaluation Inspection Report
J�(ED
s U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4
Water Protection Division
4F''+i a•o�`r� 61 Forsyth Street SW, Atlanta GA 30303
FACILITY INFORMATION
NPDES ID(s): Permit Effective Date: Permit Expiration Date:
NC0000400
06/O1/2012
02/28/2016
NCG020274
02/02/2015
06/01/2015
Facility Name and Address:
Facility Location (lat/long):
SIC Code:
The Quartz Corporation
1400
787 Altapass Road, Spruce Pine NC 28777
Weather Conditions:
Receiving Water (s):
Other Permits:
Partly cloudy and not raining
North Toe River & tributaries of NTR
None
On -Site Representative(s), Title, Phone Number: Responsible Official, Title, Phone Number, Address:
Glenn Young, Plant Manager, 828.765.9621 Glenn Young, Plant Manager, 828.765.9621
Todd Mickleborough, Lands and Mine Manager, Todd Mickleborough, Lands and Mine Manager, 828.467.6673
828.467.6673 8342 Highway 226 Bypass, Spruce Pine NC 28777
INSPECTIONDATES/ TIMES
Entry Date: 03/31/15 1 Exit Date: 04/01/15
NAMES OF ••
US EPA Region 4: Laurie Ireland, Tara Houda, and Kip Tyler
NCDEQ: Linda Wiggs, Shawna Riddle, and Tim Heim
AREAS EVALUATED DURING •
./ Permit ✓ Self -Compliance Program Pretreatment
Records
Compliance Schedule ✓ Pollution Prevention
d Facility Site Review
Laboratory ✓ Storm Water
Effluent/ Receiving Waters ✓
Operations & Maintenance Combined Sewer Overflow
✓ Wastewater Sludge Handling/ Disposal Sanitary Sewer Overflow
INSPECTIONNOTES
Review the following reportand attached photo log.
EPA SIGNATURES
Inspector Signature/Name Office/Phone Number Date
U.S. EPA Region 4
Water Protection Division
NPDES Permitting & Enforcement Branch
IM-
Municipal & Industrial Enforcement Section
404.562.9249
� `1,t11q
Laurie Ireland, Enforcement Officer
Management Signature/Name
Office/Phone Number
Date
/
U.S. EPA Region 4
Water Protection Division
NPDES Permitting & Enforcement Branch
Municipal & Industrial Enforcement Section
404.562.9434
Daniel J. O'lone, Section Chief

RECORD1. REVIEW
Representative lPermit Section YES NO N/E
Representative on -site? Not applicable ✓
NCG020274 Records Review
Records available on -site?
Part II.B.1
✓
Monthly and semi-annual DMRs and Annual Summary DMRs on-
✓
site?
Part III.B
Records of qualitative monitoring available on -site?
Part IILD
✓
Qualitative monitoring reports complete, adequate, and timely?
Part IILD
✓
Discharge Monitoring Reports on -site (5 years)
Part III.E & Part IV.E.1
✓
Certificate of Coverage on -site?
Part 11.1 -�
✓
Records of employee training per SPPP on -site?
Part 111.6
✓
On -site rain gauge or local precipitation documentation?
Part 111.13
✓
Is facility a closed loop system?
Part III.E.2
✓
NC0000400 Records Review
Records available on -site?
Part II.D.B
✓
Monitoring Requirements (sampling, analyses, results)
Part I.A.1 & Part ILD
✓
Monthly Discharge Monitoring Reports on -site (3 years)?
Part ILD.6
✓
All parameters sampled?
Part I.A.1
✓
Whole Effluent Toxicity Testing conducted?
Part 1.A.2
✓
Flow measurement equipment records?
lPart II.D.3 & D.6
✓
Operator Responsible in Charge records on -site?
Part II.C.1
✓
Inspection Notes
NCG020274 Records Review
- Some records for NCG020274 were not available and were supplied by the permittee in the CWA 308 response.
- The NO1 was not available. The COC was available and dated 2/13/13.
- The DMRs from 2010-2014 were available.
- Personnel stated that emails with precipitation amounts are received daily. Paper copies were not available; however
several emails were shown to EPA inspectors and could have been printed out, if requested. The rain gauge was observed at
the plant; however, it was knocked over.
- For the area surrounding the plant, the permittee was only performing effluent sampling at out -fall SW002. Permittee was
not performing effluent sampling at outfalls SW001 and SW003. A request to perform effluent sampling from a
representative outfall structure is pending review by NCDENR.
- The permittee has an on -site laboratory that conducts sampling and analysis for both NPDES permits. Certain parameters
are sent to an independent laboratory for analysis.
- The incorrect TSS benchmark was being used for stormwater discharges. The TSS benchmark used by the permittee is 100
mg/L. The correct TSS benchmark is 50 mg/L for ORW, HQW, trout, and PNA waters. The North Toe River is designated as a
Trout water.
NC0000400 Records Review
- Some records for NC0000400 were not available and were supplied by the permittee in the CWA 308 response.
- The DMRs from 2010-2014 for were available and reviewed.
- Reviewed ORC notebook that is updated daily.
'� N / E means not evaluated

2. BASIC SPPP INFORMATION
(NCG020274)
Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan TOPICS
Permit Section
YES
NO
N/E
SPPP on site?
Part III
✓
SPPP modified or updated to current conditions?
Part III.A.8
✓
SPPP include narrative description of on Site activities, including
✓
a list of potential pollutants?
Part III.A.1.b
SPPP include a list of significant spills or leaks including
✓
Part III.A.1.d
corrective actions from past 3 years?
SPPP includes stormwater outfall certification?
Part III.A.S.e
✓
SPPP include erosion and sedimentation control measures?
Part III.A.2
✓
SPPP includes implementation and maintenance of stormwater
✓
BMPs?
Part III.A.3.a & Part III.A.9
SPPP includes inspections of BMPs?
Part III.A.3.b
✓
SPPP includes secondary containment measures and
✓
documentation, as necessary?
Part III.A.3.c
SPPP includes Spill Prevention and Response Plan?
Part III.A.4
✓
SPPP includes implementation of a preventative maintenance
✓
and good housekeeping program?
Part III.A.5
SPPP includes employee training?
Part III.A.6
✓
SPPP identifies responsible party?
Part III.A.7
✓
SPPP annually reviewed and updated as needed?
Part III.A.8
✓
Inspection Notes
The SPPP produced by the facility at the time of inspection was not current (circa 1998) and was limited in scope.
Accordingly, most the SPPP elements could not be evaluated.

Pollutant Sources
Note location, quantitative description, design issue, O&M deficiencies (including the nature
and extent), and pollutants off -site
Loading/Unloading Area
NCG020274: Raw material is brought to the facility via truck and stored in designated areas. Final
product leaves via truck.
Recycle Pumps
N/E
Clarifier/thickener
N/E
Processing Operations
N/E
Dust Generating Activities
NCG020274: Water is applied to roads for dust suppression as necessary.
Waste Treatment/Storage/
See notes in section 4 of the inspection report.
Disposal Areas
Chemical and liquid storage,
including within processing
NCG020274: Sodium hydroxide was stored without secondary containment(DSCN0959).
operations
Slurry lines
N/E
Fueling Stations, Vehicle
NCG020274: Vehicle maintenance shop at mine had many chemicals, oils, and liquids that did
Maintenance, & Cleaning
not have secondary containment (see photos DSCN0903, DSCN0904, and DSCN0905).
Sediment & Erosion Controls
NCG020274: Silt fence was damaged and not controlling runoff from site (see photo DSCN0947).
Spills/Leaks Handing
NCG020274: Facility personnel stated that a consultant had been hired to update the SPCC plan
and made several modifications.
Other Pollutant Sources
NCG020274: Uncovered material storage at mine vehicle maintenance shop (see photo
DSCN0907).
Inspection Notes
NCG020274: A discharge was noted between SW002 and SW003 that was discharging at the time of the inspection (see photo
DSCN0951). The permittee does not
monitor this discharge. This may be an unpermitted discharge.
NCG020274: Several outfalls were
observed on the roads at the mine that would discharge water during a rain event (see photos
DSCN0901, 0902, 0918 - 0921). The outfalls are not monitored by the Quartz Corp.

.• OBSERVATIONS
Outfall, Storm Water Discharge &
YES
NO Description
Receiving Water
Number &location of discharge(s) /
NCG020274: Unable to determine outfall consistency and location based on
outfall(s) consistent with the
✓
the SPPP and information that was provided during the inspection.
permit(s)
Evidence of off -site accumulation of
pollutants observed in receiving
✓
See inspection notes below.
water
Other discharges or potential
discharges off -site (not through
✓
See inspection notes below.
permitted outfalls
Non-stormwater discharge
✓
See inspection notes below.
observed
Inspection Notes
The Quartz Corporation's facility mines and processes industrial sand. The mine and processing plant are in two different locations.
The discharges from the mine and processing plant are covered by two NPDES permits: NC0000400 and NCG020274. N00000400
covers the discharge of wastewater at the processing plant from outfall 001. NCG020274 covers the discharge of wastewater and
stormwater from five outfalls at the mine and surrounding the processing plant. There are two outfalls associated with the mine
(outfalls 005 and 006) and three outfalls surrounding the processing plant (outfalls SWO01, SWO02, and SW003).
NCG020274: Two outfalls (005 and 006) are monitored at the mine as stormwater outfalls. Water from a mining area was observed
flowing and routed from the mine area (photo DSCN0912) to outfall 006 (photo 0908). Outfall 006 also received drainage from
adjacent basin (photo 0911) that collected water from another mined area that may contain "mine dewatering."
NCG020274: Another source contributes flow downstream of outfall 005 (see photo DSCN0924). The separate source flows into
the discharge from outfall 005 downstream of the outfall within approximately 30 feet (see photo DSCN0923). The separate source
water was characterized by an intense orange color (see photo DSCN0924). The permittee does not monitor the separate source.
The separate source comes from an area within the mine boundary. The permittee monitors outfall 005 before the confluence
with this other flow source. Outfall 005 receives water that has come into contact with mine overburden, byproduct, and/or raw
material.
NCG020274: There was a discharge at the toe of a unpermitted fill at the time of inspection (see photos DSCN0913 - 0917). The
water discharged at the fill toe comes into contact with mine overburden, byproduct, and/or raw material; and receives water
from a mining area. Water was not observed flowing over the fill at the time of inspection. The discharge is not monitored by the
permittee.
NCG020274: There is an discharge at the plant that is not monitored (see photos DSCN0933 and 0934). The outfall would receive
water from plant haul road during a rain event. A discharge from this outfall flows into small tributary that then flows downhill to
an area near the train tracks and discharges to the North Toe River (see photos DSCN0953 - 0956). This may be an unpermitted
discharge.
NCG020274 & NC0000400: Outfall SWO01 is comingled with process wastewater discharge from N00000400 (see photo
DSCN0946). Compliance with the permit conditions is determined by monitoring after commingling.
NCG020274: SWO02 (see photo DSCN0949 and 0950) is being monitored as a representative outfall for SWO01 and SW003. The
discharge from SWO02 may be appropriately representative for SW003. The discharge from SWO02 is not appropriately
representative for SWO01 because the discharge is comingled with wastewater.

Compliance Evaluation Inspection
Photo Log
NPDES Permits
NC0000400 and NCG020274
Permitee
The Quartz Corporation

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UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
REGION 4
ATLANTA FEDERAL CENTER
61 FORSYTH STREET
ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303-8960
A. 13 201u
CERTIFIED MAIL 7015 1730 0002 24 OS
RETURN RECEIPT RE -QUESTED
Mr. John Walker
The Quartz Corporation
100 Mansell Court East, Suite 300
Roswell, Georgia 30076-4860
JAN 15 2016
Water Quarry Reglatta! operdons
Subject: Compliance Evaluation Inspections Reports for the KT Feldspar Plant
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit Nos: NC0000400 and NCG020274
Dear Mr. Walker:
On March 31, 2015 and April 1, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 4 performed
Compliance Evaluation inspections at the Quartz Corporation's facility referenced above. During June of
2015, the EPA also conducted Compliance Sampling Inspections at this facility. The purpose of these
inspections was to evaluate the facility's compliance with the treatment and disposal of industrial wastewater
and stormwater set out in Sections 301 and 402 of the Clean Water Act (CWA), 33 U.S.C. §§ 1311 and
1342; the regulations promulgated thereunder at 40 Code of Federal Regulations Part 122; and the North
Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
permit numbers NC0000400 and NCG020274. The results of the EPA's Compliance Evaluation Inspections
are summarized in the enclosed reports. The Compliance Sampling inspection reports and results were
transmitted via email to your staff on December 15, 2015.
On April 23, 2015, the EPA sent a CWA § 308 information request to The Quartz Corporation for the two
NPDES permits referenced above. A response to the CWA § 308 information request was received by the
EPA via email on May 26, 2015. The EPA is continuing to investigate The Quartz Corporation's compliance
with the CWA and its implementing regulations by evaluating your 308 response together with the
information collected during the compliance evaluation and sampling inspections.
Please contact Mr. Kip Tyler, of my staff, at [phone] should you have specific questions or need
additional information. Legal inquiries should be directed to Ms. Carol Baschon, Associate Regional
Counsel, at [phone].
Sincerely,
aniel J. O'Lon , Chief
Stormwater and Residuals Enforcement Section
NPDES Permitting and Enforcement Branch
Enclosure
cc: See Attached Mailing List
Intemet Address (URL) ib http://www.epa.gov
Recycle&Recyclable • Printed with Vegetable Oil Based Inks on Recycled Paper (Minimum 30% Postconsumer)

i
Mal 11_o Lisp
• .. +'lJM:w iN•o�YM••�•,�n17on•••. •• ••• v.•vM►r.w..r.• '1 - 1
DivL ion o .— e . neral, end Land Resources
North Carolina Department of -Environmental Quality
Mr. SalkiReh VAL
Division of Energy, Mineral, 4nd Land Resources
Noah Colina.Dppmt of Environmental Quality
Mr. Landon Davidson
Division of Water Resources
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality

NPDES Compliance Evaluation Inspection Report
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4
LWater Protection Division
as 61 Forsyth Street SW, Atlanta GA 30303
FACILITY INFORMATION
NPDES ID(s): Permit Effective Date: Permit Expiration Date:
NC0000400
06/01/2012
02/28/2016
NCGO20274
02/02/2015
06/01/2015
Facility Name and Address:
Facility Location (lat/long):
SiC Code:
The Quartz Corporation
.
1400
787 Altapass Road, Spruce Pine NC 28777
Weather Conditions:
Receiving Water (s):
Other Permits:
Partly cloudy and not raining
North Toe River & tributaries of NTR
None
On -Site Representative(s),-Title, Phone Number.
Responsible Official, Title, Phone Number, Address:
Glenn Young, Plant Manager, 828.765.9621 Glenn Young, Plant Manager, 828.765.9621
Todd Mickleborough, Lands and Mine Manager, Todd Mickieborough, Lands and Mine Manager, 828.467.6673
828.467.6673 8342 Highway 226 Bypass, Spruce Pine NC 28777
INSPECTIONDATES
Entry Date: 03/31/15 Exit Date:04/01/15
NAMES OF
US EPA Region 4: Laurie Ireland, Tara Houda; and Kip Tyler
NCDEQ: Linda Wiggs, Shawna Riddle, and Tim Heim
AREAS LVALOATED DURING •
✓ Permit ✓ Self -Compliance Program Pretreatment
✓ Records
Compliance Schedule ✓ . Pollution Prevention
✓ Facility Site Review
Laboratory ✓ Storm Water
✓ Effluent/ Receiving Waters
✓ Operations & Maintenance Combined Sewer Overflow
✓ Wastewater
Sludge Handling/ Disposal Sanitary Sewer Overflow
INSPECTION NOTES
Review the following report and attached photo
log.
EIIA SIGNATURES
Inspector Signature/Name
Office/Phone Number Date
U.S. EPA Region 4
Water Protection Division
NPDES Permitting & Enforcement Branch
`
Municipal & Industrial Enforcement Section
404.S62.9249
Laurie Ireland, Enforcement Officer
Management Signature/Name
Office/Phone Number
Date
U.S. EPA Region 4
Water Protection Division
NPDES Permitting & Enforcement Branch
Municipal & Industrial Enforcement Section
Daniel J. O'lone, Section Chief
404.562.9434

1. RECORD REVIEW
eWM
Representative on -site?
Not applicable
✓
16 0 Z'
R i
e
Records available on -site?
Part ILEA
✓
Monthly and semi-annual DMRs and Annual Summary DMRs on-
✓
site?
Part IILB
Records of qualitative monitoring available on -site?
Part IILD
✓
Qualitative monitoring reports complete, adequate, and timely?
Part IILD
✓
Discharge Monitoring Reports on -site (5 years)
Part III.E & Part IV.E.1
✓
Certificate of Coverage on -site?
Part 11.1
✓
Records of employee training per SPPP on -site?
Part 111.6
✓
On -site rain gauge or local precipitation documentation?
Part 111.8
✓
Is facility a closed loop system?
Part III.E.2
✓
u' .s e . 3.. e a ffi
a
r-
Records available on -site?
Part II.D.8
✓
Monitoring Requirements (sampling, analyses, results)
Part I.A.1 & Part ILD
✓
Monthly Discharge Monitoring Reports on -site (3 years)?
Part II.D.6
✓
All parameters sampled?
Part I.A.1
✓
Whole Effluent Toxicity Testing conducted?
Part1.A.2
✓
Flow measurement equipment records?
Part II.D.3 & D.6
✓
Operator Responsible in Charge records on -site?
Part II.C.1
✓
t
_ _ ^.-' .vx •.,,:� s:
am. .v ,r,'.:�..
ru'k.. adtx
NC6020274 Records Review
- Some records for NCG020274 were not available and were supplied by the permittee in the CWA 308 response.
- The N01 was not available. The CDC was available and dated 2/13/13.
- The DMRs from 2010-2014 were available.
- Personnel stated that emails with precipitation amounts are received daily. Paper copies were not available; however
several emails were shown to EPA Inspectors and could have been printed out, if requested. The rain gauge was observed at
the plant; however, it was knocked over.
- For the area surrounding the plant, the permittee was only performing effluent sampling at outfall SW002. Permittee was
not performing effluent sampling at outfalis SWO01 and SW003. A request to perform effluent sampling from a
representative outfall structure is pending review by NCDENR.
- The permittee has an on -site laboratory that conducts sampling and analysis for both NPDES permits. Certain parameters
are sent to an independent laboratory for analysis.
- The incorrect TSS benchmark was being used for stormwater discharges. The TSS benchmark used by the permittee Is 100
mg/L. The correct TSS benchmark is 50 mg/L for ORW, HQW, trout, and PNA waters. The North Toe River is designated as a
Trout water.
NC0000400 Records Review
- Some records for NC0000400 were not available and were supplied by the permittee in the CWA 308 response.
- The DMRs from 2010-2014 for were available and reviewed.
- Reviewed ORC notebook that is updated daily.
'" N / E means not evaluated

2. BASIC SPPP INFORMATION
(1 1
P
E
SPPP on site?
Part III
✓
SPPP modified or updated to current conditions?
Part III.A.8
✓
SPPP include narrative description of on Site activities, including
✓
a list of potential pollutants?
Part III.A.1.b
SPPP include a list of significant spills or leaks including
✓
corrective actions from past 3 years?
Part III.A.1.d
SPPP includes stormwater outfall certification?
Part III.A.1.e
✓
SPPP include erosion and sedimentation control measures?
Part III.A.2
✓
SPPP Includes implementation and maintenance of stormwater
✓
BMPs?
Part III.A.3.a & Part III.A.9
SPPP includes inspections of BMPs?
Part III.A.3.b
✓
SPPP includes secondary containment measures and
✓
documentation, as necessary?
Part III.A.3.c
SPPP includes Spill Prevention and Response Plan?
Part III.A.4
✓
SPPP includes implementation of a preventative maintenance
✓
and good housekeeping program?
Part III.A.5
SPPP includes employee training?
Part III.A.6
✓
SPPP identifies responsible party?
Part III.A.7
✓
SPPP annually reviewed and updated as needed?
Part III.A.8
✓
lmwll�'}.
yy
p1"iY1 �1
W09*4610'1
} dl
I
The SPPP produced by the facility at the time of inspection was not current (circa 1998) and was limited in scope.
Accordingly, most the SPPP elements could not be evaluated.

q
e c fiR
NCG020274: Raw material Is brought to the facility via truck and stored in designated areas. Final
Loading/Unloading Area
induct leaves via truck.
Recycle Pumps
N/E
Clarifier/thickener
N/E
Processing Operations
N/E
Dust Generating Activities
NCG020274: Water is applied to roads for dust suppression as necessary.
Waste Treatment/Storage/
See notes in section 4 of the inspection report.
Disposal Areas
Chemical and liquid storage,
including within processing
NCG020274: Sodium hydroxide was stored without secondary containment (DSCN09S9).
operations
Slurry lines
N/E
Fueling Stations, Vehicle
NCG020274: Vehicle maintenance shop at mine had many chemicals, oils, and liquids that did
Maintenance, & Cleaning
not have secondary containment (see photos DSCN0903, DSCN0904, and DSCN0905).
Sediment & Erosion Controls
NCG020274: Silt fence was damaged and not controlling runoff from site (see photo DSCN0947).
NCG020274: Facility personnel stated that a consultant had been hired to update the SPCC plan
Spills/Leaks Handing
and made several modifications.
NCG020274; Uncovered material storage at mine vehicle maintenance shop (see photo
Other Pollutant Sources
DSCN0907).
A ap�r
NCG020274: A discharge was noted between SW002 and SW003 that. was discharging at the time of the inspection (see photo
DSCN0951). The permittee does not monitor this discharge. This may be an unpermltted discharge.
NCG020274: Several outfalls were observed on the roads at the mine that would discharge water during a rain event (see photos
DSCN0901, 0902, 0918 - 09Z3). The outfalls are not monitored by the Quartz Corp.

.• OBSERVATIONS
gee-
Des" i o
Number & location of discharge(s)outfal/
✓
NCG020274: Unable to determine outfall consistency and location based on
consistent with the
the SPPP and information that was provided during the Inspection.
pel(s)
permit(s) s
rmi
Evidence of off -site accumulation of
pollutants observed In receiving
✓
See inspection notes below.
water
Other discharges or potential
discharges off -site (not through
✓
See inspection notes below. .
permitted outfalls
Non-stormwater discharge
✓
See Inspection notes below.
observedIMAMMI
MP
,qqS NOW g
The Quartz Corporation's facility mines and processes Industrial sand. The mine and processing plant are in two different locations.
The discharges from the mine and processing plant are covered by two NPDES permits: NC0000400 and NCG020274. NC0000400
covers the discharge of wastewater at the processing plant from outfall 001. NCG020274 covers the discharge of wastewater and
stormwater from five outfalls at the mine and surrounding the processing plant. There are two outfalls associated with the mine
(outfalls DOS and 006) and three outfalls surrounding the processing plant (outfalls SW001, SW002, and SWO03).
NCG020274: Two outfalls (005 and 006) are monitored at the mine as stormwater outfalls. Water from a mining area was observed
flowing and routed from the mine area (photo DSCN0912) to outfall 006 (photo 0908). Outfall 006 also received drainage from
adjacent basin (photo 0911) that collected water from another mined area that may contain "mine dewatering."
NCG020274: Another source contributes flow downstream of outfall 005 (see photo DSCN0924). The separate source flows into
the discharge from outfall 005 downstream of the outfall within approximately 30 feet (see photo DSCN0923). The separate source
water was characterized by an intense orange color (see photo DSCN0924). The permittee does not monitor the separate source.
The separate source comes from an area within the mine boundary. The permittee monitors outfall 005 before the confluence
with this other flow source. Outfall 005 receives water that has come Into contact with mine overburden, byproduct, and/or raw
material.
NCG020274: There was a discharge at the toe of a unpermitted fill at the time of inspection (see photos DSCN0913 - 0917). The
water discharged at the fill toe comes Into contact with mine overburden, byproduct, and/or raw material; and receives water
from a mining area. Water was not observed flowing over the fill at the time of inspection. The discharge Is not monitored by the
permittee.
NCG020274: There is an discharge at the plant that is not monitored (see photos DSCN0933 and 0934). The outfall would receive
water from plant haul road during a rain event. A discharge from this outfall flows Into small tributary that then flows downhill to
an area near the train tracks and discharges to the North Toe River (see photos DSCN0953 - 0956). This may be an unpermitted
discharge.
NCGO20274 & NC0000400: Outfall SW001 is comingled with process wastewater discharge from N00000400 (see photo
DSCN0946). Compliance with the permit conditions is determined by monitoring after commingling.
NCG020274: SWO02 (see photo DSCN0949 and 0950) is being monitored as a representative outfall for SWO01 and SW003. The
discharge from SWOD2 may be appropriately representative for SW003. The discharge from SWO02 is not appropriately
representative for SW001 because the discharge is comingled with wastewater.

CompliariceEvaluation Inspection
PhotD Log
NODES Permits
NC0000400 and NCG020274
Perm itee
The Quartz Corporation

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North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Pat McCrory
Governor
Gregory Taveras
The Quartz Corp USA
P.O. Box 309
Spruce Pine, NC 28777
Dear Mr. Taveras:
Donald R. van der Vaart
Secretary
November 16, 2015
Subject: General Permit No. NCG020000
The Quartz Corp USA- Pine Mountain M&P
COC NCGO20274
Mitchell County
In accordance with your request for a discharge permit received on June 30, 2014, we are
forwarding herewith the subject certificate of coverage to discharge under the subject state - NPDES general
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 October 15, 2007 (or as subsequently amended).
Please take notice that this certificate of coverage is not transferable except after notice to the
Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources. The Division may require modification or revocation and
reissuance of the certificate of coverage (COC).
Coverage under this General Permit for this particular facility is granted with the condition that the
permittee performs additional sampling requirements as outlined in the amended conditions to the COC.
These special provisions were prompted by results of sampling at this facility during the week of June 8,
2015, as requested by EPA Region 4 staff who performed a Compliance Sampling Inspection (CSI) at the end
Of March 2015. Sample concentrations raised concerns about metals levels in the discharges. The DEQ
concluded that more data was needed to evaluate these discharges and potential water quality impacts. The
additional provisions for this COC include:
1) In addition to the parameters in NCG020000, sample each stormwater discharge outfall (SDO)
quarterly for five metals, fluoride, chloride, and total hardness listed in Table 1 as amended on page 2
of the COC. Benchmark values apply for many of these added parameters, and the permittee must
follow tiered responses as outlined in the permit.
2) In addition to the parameters in NCG020000, sample each wastewater discharge quarterly for five
metals, fluoride, chloride, and total hardness listed in Table 7 as amended on page 3 of the COC.
Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources
Energy Section • Geological Survey Section • Land Quality Section
512 North Salisbury Street, Raleigh, North Carolina 27604 • Internet: http://portal.ncdenr.o[g/web/ir/
Mailing Address:1612 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1612.919-707-9200 / FAX: [phone]
An Equal Opportunity 1 Affirmative Action Employer - 50% Recycled 110%a Post Consumer Paper

NCG020274 Renewal COC
November 16, 2015
Page 2
These additional parameters include metals and other constituents which may be present or will
help us interpret the measurements (such as estimating the amounts of metals that are in dissolved form).
The Division will consider the data upon submittal to determine the most appropriate permitting actions. It
is possible that this facility will be directed to apply to the Division of Water Resources (DWR) for an
individual NPDES discharge permit (or modification of its existing wastewater individual permit) prior to the
expiration of this General Permit in 2020.
This permit does not affect the legal requirements to obtain other permits which may be required by the
Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources, or permits required by the Division of Water Resources
(DWR), Coastal Area Management Act, or any other federal or local governmental permit that may be
required. If the conditions as stipulated in the CDC are unacceptable to you, you may apply sooner for an
individual NPDES discharge permit.
If you have any questions concerning this permit, please contact Bradley Bennett at telephone number
[phone], or Bethany Georgoulias at telephone number [phone].
Sincerely,
for Tracy E. Davis, P.E., CPM
cc: Toby Vinson, DEMLR Land Quality Section
Tom Belnick, DWR Water Quality Permitting Section
NPDES Wastewater Permitting Files, NC0000400
Stan Aiken, DEMLR Asheville Regional Office RE
Linda Wiggs, DWR Asheville Regional Office
Kip Tyler, EPA Region IV NPDES Permitting and Enforcement Branch
Stormwater Permitting Program Files
DWR Central Files

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
DIVISION OF ENERGY, MINERAL, AND LAND RESOURCES
STORMWATER AND WASTEWATER DISCHARGES
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, and the North
Carolina Administrative Code in NCAC 15A 02H .0114(b)(1), as amended,
The Quartz Corp USA
is hereby authorized to discharge stormwater and wastewater from a facility located at
Pine Mountain M&P
Hwy 226 N
Spruce Pine
Mitchell County
to receiving waters designated as North Toe River, a class C;Tr water in the French Broad
River Basin, in accordance with the effluent limitations, monitoring requirements, and
other conditions set forth in Parts I, II, III, and IV of General Permit No. NCG020000 as
attached, and as amended in pages 2-3 of this Certificate of Coverage.
Amended conditions
1. This Certificate of Coverage (pp.1-4) is an enforceable part of the permit.
2. In accordance with 15A NCAC 02H .0114(b)(1), the monitoring program in Part IV
Section A, Table 1 Analytical Monitoring Requirements for Stormwater from
Mining Activities, and Section D, Table 7 Monitoring Requirements for
Wastewater Discharges of this permit are amended as follows:

Table 1 Analytical Monitoring Requirements for Stormwater Discharges from Mining
Activities
Discharge
Characteristics
Units
Measurement
Fre uenc 1
Sample
Type2
Sample
Location3
Benchmark
Settleable Solids
ml 1
Quarterly
Grab
SDO
0.1 ml I
Total Suspended Solids
mQuarterly
Grab
SDO
50 m I
Turbidity4
NTU
Quarterly
Grab
SDO, U & D4
10 NTU
Aluminum, Total Recoverable5
m I
Quarterly
Grab
SDO
0.75 m I
Copper, Total Recoverable5
mg/1
Quarterly
Grab
SDO
0.010 mg/1
Lead, Total Recoverable5
mg/1
Quarterly
Grab
SDO
0.075 mg/1
Nickel, Total Recoverable5
mg/1
Quarterly
Grab
SDO
0.335 mg/1
Zinc, Total Recoverable5
mg/1
Quarterly
Grab
SDO
0.126 mg/1
Total Chlorides
mg/1
Quarterly
Grab
SDO
860 m
Total Fluoride5
mg/1
Quarterly
Grab
SDO
6 m
Total Harness as CaCO3 5
mg/1
Quarterly
Grab
SDO
N A
Total Rainfa116
inches
QuarterlyN/A
1. Measurement Frequency: Quarterly (unless other provisions of this permit require monthly sampling)
during a measureable storm event, until either another permit is issued for this facility or until this
permit is revoked or rescinded. If the facility is monitoring monthly because of Tier Two or Three
response actions under the previous General Permit, the facility shall continue a monthly monitoring and
reporting schedule in Tier Two or Tier Three status until relieved by the provisions of this permit or the
Division.
2. Grab samples shall be collected within the first 30 minutes of discharge. Where physical separation
between outfalls prevents collecting all samples within the first 30 minutes, the permittee shall begin
sampling within the first 30 minutes, and shall continue until completed.
3. Sample Location: Samples shall be collected at each stormwater discharge outfall (SDO) unless
representative outfall status (ROS) has been granted. A copy of the Division's letter granting ROS shall be
kept on site with the SPPP.
4. Turbidity must be monitored at the stormwater discharge outfall (SDO). In addition to the SDO, the
permittee may elect to also monitor turbidity in the receiving water, directly upstream (U) and
downstream (D) of the stormwater discharge outfall or group of outfalls to demonstrate the discharge
has not caused a water quality standard violation of turbidity. If SDO turbidity level exceeds the
benchmark, and the permittee cannot demonstrate the discharge has not caused a violation of the
instream water quality standard, the Division may require the permittee to monitor turbidity up -
and downstream as part of a Tier 2 or 3 response.
S. Benchmark values apply for these parameters and prompt Tier responses as outlined in the General
Permit Benchmark values for metals are based on one half the Final Acute Value (1h FAV), a threshold
used to protect against acute impacts to aquatic life.
6. For each sampled measureable storm event the total precipitation must be recorded. An on -site rain
gauge or local rain gauge reading must be recorded.
2 I COC No. NCG020274
effective November 16, 2015

Table 7 Monitorine Requirements for Wastewater Discharges in Section D - 1., 2., 3., & 4.
Discharge
Characteristics
Units
Measurement
Fre uenc 1
Sample
Type
Sample
Location3
Receiving
Waters
HZ
Standard
Quarterlyl
Grab
E
All
Total Suspended Solids2.4
mg I
Quarterlyl
Grab
E
All
Turbidity2,3
NTU
Quarterlyl
Grab
E, U & D3
All
Settleable Solids2, 5
ml/I
Quarterlyl
Grab
E
HQW, CRW, SA, SB,
PNA, Tr
Aluminum, Total Recoverable6
mg/1
Quarterlyl
Grab
E
All
Copper, Total Recoverable6
mg/1
Quarterlyl
Grab
E
All
Lead, Total Recoverable6
m I
Quarterlyl
Grab
E
All
Nickel, Total Recoverable6
mg/1
Quarterlyl
Grab
E
All
Zinc, Total Recoverable6
mg/1
Quarterlyl
Grab
E
All
Total Chloride6
mg/1
Ouarterlyl
I Grab
E
All
Total Fluoride6
mg/1
Quarterlyl
Grab
E
All
Total Harness as CaCO3 6
mg/1
Quarterlyl
Grab
E
All
Daily Flow Rate7
cfs
Quarterlyl
E
All
Footnotes:
1. The monitoring frequency is quarterly.
2. Except for mine dewatering of clay pits, a grab sample is not required for these parameters from a
basin/pond designed to contain or treat mine dewatering wastewater that only discharges in
response to rainfall in excess of the 10-yr, 24-hr storm.
3. Sample Location: E - Effluent, U - Upstream, D - Downstream. Turbidity must be monitored at the
effluent (E). If effluent levels exceed the Water Quality Standard of the receiving water, the permittee
must begin sampling turbidity directly upstream (U) and downstream (D) of the effluent outfall or group
of outfalls, in addition to the effluent, upon the next monitoring period. The permittee may contact the
DEMLR Regional Office for assistance in determining the best instream sample points. The RO may also
advise the permittee to relocate self -established instream sample points if appropriate.
4. All facilities that are mining Industrial Sand are required to monitor TSS and are subject to the TSS
limits in Table 8. All other types of mines covered by this permit are also required to monitor TSS, but
are not necessarily subject to the TSS limits in Table 8, unless discharge is to HQW, ORW, or PNA waters.
5. Only facilities discharging to waters classified as HQW, ORW, SA, SB, Tr, or PNA are required to monitor
for settleable solids.
6. No effluent limitation applies to these parameters.
7. Daily flow rate shall be recorded by a continuous flow measurement instrument Alternatively, pump
curves and pump logs may be used as a means to calculate the daily flow rate.
3 I COC No. NCG020274
effective November 16, 2015

This Certificate of Coverage shall become effective November 16, 2015.
This Certificate of Coverage shall remain in effect for the duration of the General Permit.
Signed this day, November 16, 2015.
for Tracy E. Davis, P.E., Director
Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources
By the Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
COC No. NCG020274
effective November 16, 2015

Georgoulias, Bethany
From: Georgoulias, Bethany
Sent: Monday, November 16, 2015 2:15 PM
To: 'Tyler, Kip'
Cc: Bennett, Bradley, Davis, Molly, Belnick, Tom
Subject: Special COCs for Unimin and Quartz Corp. Issued
Attachments: NCG020274_Quartz-Corp_COC.pdf,* NCG020274_Quartz-Corp_Coverletter.pdf,,
NCG020793_Unimin COC.pdf, NCG020793_Unimin_Coverletter.pdf, NCG020818
_Quartz-Corp_COC.pdf; NCG020818_Quartz-Corp_Coverletter.pdf
Good afternoon, Kip,
The special COCs for these three mine sites were signed today. Copies of those COCs and cover letters are attached. I
have already emailed the permit contacts copies of these, and hard copy packages will go out to them this week with
revised monitoring forms to include the additional metals, etc.
We will be working with our counterparts in the Division of Water Resources' NPDES Wastewater Permitting program on
future permitting actions for these sites over the next 1-2 years. Please let us know if you have any questions.
Best regards,
Bethany
Bethany Georgoulias
Environmental Engineer
Stormwater Permitting Program, Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources
N.C. Department of Environmental Quality
919 807 6372 office
bethany.Qeoreoulias@ncdenn eov
1612 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1612 (mailing)
512 N. Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27604 (location)
Website: htto://nortal.ncdenr.orpJweb/lr/stormwater
0- --�` Nothing Compares�
Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the
North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.

Georgoulias, Bethany
From: Georgoulias, Bethany
Sent: Monday, November 16, 2015 1:49 PM
To: '[e-mail]'
Cc: Bennett, Bradley
Subject: RE: NPDES Permit Renewal NCG020274 for Mining Operation at Pine Mountain M&P
Attachments: NCG02 Permit Print Package 9 Oct 2015.pdf; NCG020274_Quartz-Corp_COC.pdf;
NCG020274_Qua rtz-Co rp_Cove rl etter. pdf
Mr. Mickelborough:
Attached is the Certificate of Coverage (COC) for this facility that was issued today. This COC contains additional
monitoring provisions as a condition of continued coverage underthe General Permit for the Pine Mountain
M&P. Please review the cover letter for more information. The attached permit package includes the General Permit
itself, the Technical Bulletin, and monitoring forms.
The paper package will be mailed out to Mr. Taveras this week. We need to revise the DMR forms in the standard
package for that mail -out because they don't include the extra parameters. I will email you those forms directly when
they are ready.
If you have any questions, please let us know.
Regards,
The Stormwater Permitting Program
Bethany Georgoulias
Environmental Engineer
Stormwater Permitting Program, Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources
N.C. Department of Environmental Quality
919 807 6372 office
bethany.aeoreouliasCa.ncdenr.gov
1612 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1612 (mailing)
512 N. Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27604 (location)
Website: ham://yortal.ncdenr.orft/web/Ir/stormwater
Nothing Compares
Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the
North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
From: Georgoulias, Bethany
Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 2015 1:30 PM
To: '[e-mail]' <[e-mail]>

Cc: Bennett, Bradley <brad ley. [e-mail]>; Wiggs, Linda <[e-mail]>; Aiken, Stan E
<[e-mail]>; Vinson, Toby <[e-mail]>
Subject: NPDES Permit Renewal NCG020274 for Mining Operation at Pine Mountain M&P
Importance: High
Mr. Mickelborough,
As you may know, the U.S. EPA Region 4 personnel from Atlanta, GA conducted a Compliance Evaluation Inspection at
this site the week of March 30, 2015. Subsequent sampling was conducted in June as a follow-up to that inspection. NC
DEQ has discussed with EPA the concerns raised by those sample results, and we have determined that permit renewal
for this facility should be handled differently than in past years.
The Quartz Corp requested renewal coverage under the NPDES General Permit NCG020000 for this facility in Spruce
Pine, NC, and indicated electronic COC renewal as the preferred option. However, NC DEQ will issue this facility a
special Certificate of Coverage under NCG02 that will require additional discharge parameters be measured. We will be
sending you a paper renewal package with a cover letter explaining the basis for revised monitoring requirements in lieu
of an email with instructions for on-line COC renewal. The conditional COC will allow continued coverage under the
General Permit for the time being.
Please be on the lookout for this important correspondence in the coming weeks.
Regards,
The Stormwater Permitting Program
Bethany GeorgouGas
Environmental Engineer
Stormwater Permitting Program, Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources
N.C. Department of Environmental Quality
919 807 6372 office
bethany.georeouliasna ncdenr.gov
1612 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1612 (mailing)
512 N. Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27604 (location)
Website: http://portal.ncdenr.oroJweb/Ir/stormwater
-->'"NotMng Compares
Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the
North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.

Georgoulias, Bethany
From: Georgoulias, Bethany
Sent: Monday, November 16, 2015 1:49 PM
To: [e-mail]'
Cc: Bennett, Bradley
Subject: RE: NPDES Permit Renewal NCG020274 for Mining Operation at Pine Mountain M&P
Attachments: NCG02 Permit Print Package 9 Oct 2015.pdf; NCG020274_Quartz-Corp_COC.pdf,-
N CG020274_Quartz-Corp_Coverletter. pdf
Mr. Mickelborough:
Attached is the Certificate of Coverage (COC) for this facility that was issued today. This COC contains additional
monitoring provisions as a condition of continued coverage under the General Permit for the Pine Mountain
M&P. Please review the cover letter for more information. The attached permit package includes the General Permit
itself, the Technical Bulletin, and monitoring forms.
The paper package will be mailed out to Mr. Taveras this week. We need to revise the DMR forms in the standard
package for that mail -out because they don't include the extra parameters. I will email you those forms directly when
they are ready.
If you have any questions, please let us know.
Regards,
The Stormwater Permitting Program
Bethany Georgoulias
Environmental Engineer
Stormwater Permitting Program, Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources
N.C. Department of Environmental Quality
919 807 6372 office
bethanygeorgoulias(a ncdenr.gov
1612 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1612 (mailing)
512 N. Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27604 (location)
Website: http://portal.nedenr.org/web/Ir/stormwater
W. !''Nothing Compares
Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the
North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
From: Georgoulias, Bethany
Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 2015 1:30 PM
To:'[e-mail]' <[e-mail]>

Cc: Bennett, Bradley <[e-mail]>; Wiggs, Linda <[e-mail]>; Aiken, Stan E
<[e-mail]>; Vinson, Toby <[e-mail]>
Subject: NPDES Permit Renewal NCG020274 for Mining Operation at Pine Mountain M&P
Importance: High
Mr. Mickelborough,
As you may know, the U.S. EPA Region 4 personnel from Atlanta, GA conducted a Compliance Evaluation Inspection at
this site the week of March 30, 2015. Subsequent sampling was conducted in June as a follow-up to that inspection. NC
DEQ has discussed with EPA the concerns raised by those sample results, and we have determined that permit renewal
for this facility should be handled differently than in past years.
The Quartz Corp requested renewal coverage under the NPDES General Permit NCG020000 for this facility in Spruce
Pine, NC, and indicated electronic COC renewal as the preferred option. However, NC DEQ will issue this facility a
special Certificate of Coverage under NCG02 that will require additional discharge parameters be measured. We will be
sending you a paper renewal package with a cover letter explaining the basis for revised monitoring requirements in lieu
of an email with instructions for on-line COC renewal. The conditional COC will allow continued coverage under the
General Permit for the time being.
Please be on the lookout for this important correspondence in the coming weeks.
Regards,
The Stormwater Permitting Program
Bethany Georgoulias
Environmental Engineer
Stormwater Permitting Program, Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources
N.C. Department of Environmental Quality
919 807 6372 office
bethany.geor og uliasna,ncdenr.gov
1612 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1612 (mailing)
512 N. Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27604 (location)
Website: http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/lr/stormwater
!'!'Nothing Compares_.`
Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the
North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.

Georgoulias, Bethany
From: Georgoulias, Bethany
Sent: Monday, November 16, 2015 1:37 PM
To: Aiken, Stan E
Cc: Vinson, Toby; Belnick, Tom; Bennett, Bradley; Pickle, Ken; Davidson, Landon; Wiggs,
Linda
Subject: Special Certificates of Coverage for Unimin and Quartz Corp Mines - Mitchell County
Attachments: NCG020274_Quartz-Corp_COC.pdf; NCG020274_Quartz-Corp_Coverletter.pdf,,
NCG020793_Unimin_COC.pdf, NCG020793_Unimin_Coverietter.pdf, NCG020818
_Quartz-Corp_COC.pdf; NCG020818_Quartz-Corp_Coverletter.pdf
Stan,
After a protracted discussion with EPA prior to the renewal of the NCG020000 General Permit for Mining Activities, we
have issued special Certificates of Coverage that are "augmented" with additional monitoring for stormwater and
wastewater discharged by these three mine/processing operations. Please see the attached cover letters and
COCs. We will coordinate with DWR on future permitting steps in the next 1-2 years. It is likely these sites will transition
into individual NPDES wastewater permits under DWR after more data are collected and sooner than the GP expiration
in five years. For now, they continue to be covered under the NCG02 permit with more monitoring and a base quarterly
frequency.
The additional parameters include ones that Tom Belnick recommended based on other similar mines permitted
through their program and metals that raised concern for EPA during their sampling visits in June. Linda Wiggs with
DWR has also been instrumental in helping us through this process. She was present for some of the sampling during
EPA's visit, and she has a valuable perspective from both a wastewater sampling background and previous Stormwater
Permitting Program experience. Although we have concerns about EPA's sampling approach and some results, the
added monitoring under the General Permit will allow DEQ to obtain more data and evaluate a different permitting
strategy for these facilities.
Everyone - these attachments serve as the CC's indicated in the letter to the other DEQ Central Office and ARO
staff. Please include them in the permit files there. (I have additional hard copies for two of the NPDES wastewater
permit files here in Central Office that I'll get to Tom Belnick.)
If you all have any questions, please let us know.
Thanks,
Bethany Georgoulias
Bethany Georgoulias
Environmental Engineer
Stormwater Permitting Program, Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources
N.C. Department of Environmental Quality
919 807 6372 office
bethanv.eeorgouliasna ncdenr.gov
1612 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1612 (mailing)
512 N. Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27604 (location)
Website: http://oortal.ncdenr.oro/web/Ir/stormwater

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Georgoulias, Bethany
From: Georgoulias, Bethany
Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 2015 1:30 PM
To:'[e-mail]'
Cc: Bennett, Bradley; Wiggs, Linda; Aiken, Stan E; Vinson, Toby
Subject: NPDES Permit Renewal NCG020274 for Mining Operation at Pine Mountain M&P
Importance: High
Mr. Mickelborough,
As you may know, the U.S. EPA Region 4 personnel from Atlanta, GA conducted a Compliance Evaluation Inspection at
this site the week of March 30, 2015. Subsequent sampling was conducted in June as a follow-up to that inspection. NC
DEQ has discussed with EPA the concerns raised by those sample results, and we have determined that permit renewal
for this facility should be handled differently than in past years.
The Quartz Corp requested renewal coverage under the NPDES General Permit NCG020000 for this facility in Spruce
Pine, NC, and indicated electronic COC renewal as the preferred option. However, NC DEQ will issue this facility a
special Certificate of Coverage under NCG02 that will require additional discharge parameters be measured. We will be
sending you a paper renewal package with a cover letter explaining the basis for revised monitoring requirements in lieu
of an email with instructions for on-line COC renewal. The conditional COC will allow continued coverage under the
General Permit for the time being.
Please be on the lookout for this important correspondence in the coming weeks.
Regards,
The Stormwater Permitting Program
Bethany Georgoulias
Environmental Engineer
Stormwater Permitting Program, Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources
N.C. Department of Environmental Quality
919 807 6372 office
bethany.georgoulias(a),ncdenr.gov
1612 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1612 (mailing)
512 N. Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27604 (location)
Website: http://nortal.ncdenr.ore/web/Ir/stonnwater
W.
Nothing Compares -
Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the
North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.

Georgoulias, Bethany
From: Belnick, Tom
Sent: Thursday, November 05, 2015 2:46 PM
To: Georgoulias, Bethany
Cc: Bennett, Bradley
Subject: RE: NPDES Permit Renewal NCG020274 for Mining Operation at Pine Mountain M&P
Forgot to mention. In the EPA letter dated 9/30/2015 for their recommendations for NPDES Permit NCG020000, they
incorrectly stated in Recommendation 2, bullet 2, a minimum of monthly monitoring for toxics and toxicity (citing our
2B.0500 monitoring requirements). In truth, toxics/toxicity are separated out from other parameters subject to Monthly
Monitoring.
Tom Belnick
Supervisor
NPDES Complex Permitting Unit, DWR
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
919-807-6390 office
[e-mail]
512 North Salisbury Street
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27669
W. ^� Nothing Compares -
Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the
North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
From: Belnick, Tom
Sent: Thursday, November 05, 2015 2:19 PM
To: Georgoulias, Bethany <[e-mail]>
Cc: Bennett, Bradley <bradley.ben [e-mail]>
Subject: RE: NPDES Permit Renewal NCG020274 for Mining Operation at Pine Mountain M&P
Bethany- I took a look at our 6 existing Individual Unimin/Feldspar NPDES permits and offer the following comments
with regard to your draft Table 7 Monitoring Requirements for Wastewater Discharges:
1. All our permits have fluoride limits, since fluoride is used in the extraction process.
2. All our permits have chloride monitoring, which is also used in the process.
3. 1 would add monitoring for aluminum, since alum is used sometimes.
4. 1 would add monitoring for nickel and zinc, which was checked as "Believed Present" in some applications, and
there are current water quality standards/criteria to run an RPA.

S. I'm not sure of value of monitoring for antimony, arsenic, chromium, copper, iron, lead, magnesium,
manganese, strontium, titanium, vanadium, since I'm not clear on what the source of these toxicants would be,
some lack water quality standards/criteria to run RPA, etc.
6. If these permits came to NPDES wastewater, we would include a quarterly toxicity test limit which would cover
the potential impact of all toxicants present (even if we didn't monitor for all of the above).
7. 1 don't see the basis for the fecal coliform limit to SA water- what would be the source of fecal from a mining
operation?
8. All our permits have pH limits without exemption.
Effluent Guideline based.
In this case it would be water quality -based rather than
Overall, the historical issues in North Toe River have been fluoride (used in the process) and instream impairment due to
turbidity. Hope this helps, let me know if any questions.
Tom Belnick
Supervisor
NPDES Complex Permitting Unit, DWR
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
919-807-6390 office
tom.belnick(a)ncdenr.gov
512 North Salisbury Street
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27669
fc. - ^i Nothing Compares .�
Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the
North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
From: Georgoulias, Bethany
Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2015 11:22 AM
To: Belnick, Tom <[e-mail]>
Cc: Bennett, Bradley <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: NPDES Permit Renewal NCG020274 for Mining Operation at Pine Mountain M&P
Sounds good. Thanks!
Bg
Bethany Georgoulias
Environmental Engineer
Stonnwater Permitting Program, Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources
N.C. Department of Environmental Quality
919 807 6372 office
bethany.ReorgouliasAncdenr.gov

1612 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1612 (mailing)
512 N. Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27604 (location)
Website: bgp://Portal.ncdenr.orgiweb/ir/stormwater
wo. Nothing Compares
Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the
North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
From: Belnick, Tom
Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2015 11:10 AM
To: Georgoulias, Bethany<[e-mail]>
Cc: Bennett, Bradley <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: NPDES Permit Renewal NCG020274 for Mining Operation at Pine Mountain M&P
I'll complete by Friday.
Tom Belnick
Supervisor
NPDES Complex Permitting Unit, DWR
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
919-807-6390 office
tom.belnick(a)ncdenr.aov
512 North Salisbury Street
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27669
1C. !'"Nothing Compares -
Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the
North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
From: Georgoulias, Bethany
Sent: Tuesday, November 03, 2015 2:39 PM
To: Belnick, Tom <[e-mail]>
Cc: Bennett, Bradley <[e-mail]>
Subject: FW: NPDES Permit Renewal NCG020274 for Mining Operation at Pine Mountain M&P
Importance: High
Hi Tom,

Have you all made any headway on what preferred parameter list we should include in our "special" COCs for Unimin
and Quartz Corp sites in Mitchell County? We will need to issue them coverage as soon as we can since the general
permit became effective at the beginning of October.
Thanks!
Bg
Bethany Georgoulias
Environmental Engineer
Stormwater Permitting Program, Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources
N.C. Department of Environmental Quality
919 807 6372 office
bethanv.georgouliasna,ncdenr.gov
1612 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1612 (mailing)
512 N. Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27604 (location)
Website: http://yortal.ncdenr.org/web/Ir/stormwater
0. Nothing Compares,,.
Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the
North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
From: Georgoulias, Bethany
Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 2015 1:30 PM
To: '[e-mail]'<stodd.mickleborough @theguartzcoro.com>
Cc: Bennett, Bradley <bradlev.bennett@ncdenr.¢ov>; Wiggs, Linda <[e-mail]>; Aiken, Stan E
<[e-mail]>; Vinson, Toby <[e-mail]>
Subject: NPDES Permit Renewal NCG020274 for Mining Operation at Pine Mountain M&P
Importance: High
Mr. Mickelborough,
As you may know, the U.S. EPA Region 4 personnel from Atlanta, GA conducted a Compliance Evaluation Inspection at
this site the week of March 30, 2015. Subsequent sampling was conducted in June as a follow-up to that inspection. NC
DEQ has discussed with EPA the concerns raised by those sample results, and we have determined that permit renewal
for this facility should be handled differently than in past years.
The Quartz Corp requested renewal coverage under the NPDES General Permit NCG020000 for this facility in Spruce
Pine, NC, and indicated electronic COC renewal as the preferred option. However, NC DEQ will issue this facility a
special Certificate of Coverage under NCG02 that will require additional discharge parameters be measured. We will be
sending you a paper renewal package with a cover letter explaining the basis for revised monitoring requirements in lieu
of an email with instructions for on-line COC renewal. The conditional COC will allow continued coverage under the
General Permit for the time being.
Please be on the lookout for this important correspondence in the coming weeks.

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
REGION 4
Science and Ecosystem Support Division
Field Services Branch
980 College Station Road
Athens, Georgia 30605-2720
October 8, 2015
4FSB
MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT: Quartz Corp USA
Spruce Pine, NC 28777
SESD Project ID: 15-0337
FROM: Cornell Gayle, PE )D.4,ls
Enforcement Section
THRU: Mike Bowden, Chief f
Enforcement Section
TO: Kip Tyler
Environmental Engineer & Enforcement Officer
NPDES Permitting and Enforcement Branch
Water Protection Division
Attached is a copy of the NPDES Compliance Sampling Inspection Report for the Quartz Corp
USA *ICG020818, IC0000400, and NC0000353) in Spruce Pine, North
Carolina. This report has not been distributed. Please forward copies of the report to the
appropriate parties. If you have any questions, please contact me at [phone], or email me
at GAYLE.CORNELLOEPA.GOV.
Attachment

���ZS A I"IVNOILN9,I NI IDVd SIHZ

United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region 4
Science and Ecosystem Support Division
980 College Station Road
Athens, Georgia 30605-2720
,,,,0,D S r4,,,
s
u
The Quartz Corp USA NC0000400, NC0000353,
NCG020818, and NCG020274
Compliance Sampling Inspection Report
Spruce Pine, NC
Inspection Date: June 11, 2015
SESD Project Identification Number: 15-0337
Requestor: Kip Tyler
Environmental Engineer & Enforcement Officer
NPDES Permitting and Enforcement Branch
Water Protection Division
USEPA — Region 4
61 Forsyth St. SW
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960
Project Leader: Cornell Gayle, PE
Enforcement Section
Field Services Branch
Science & Ecosystem Support Division
USEPA — Region 4
980 College Station Road
Athens, Georgia 30605-2720
SESD Project Identification Number: 15-0337 Page 1 of 98

Title and Approval Sheet
Title: Quartz Corporation
Compliance Sampling Inspection Report
Approving Official:
Mike Bowden, Chief
Enforcement Section
Field Services Branch
SESD Project Leader:
&,A�=
Cornell ? Gay e, PE
Enforcement Se 'on
Field Services Branch
i
/S
Date
/0' ?- - 1
Date
SESD Project Identification Number: 15-0337 Page 2 of 98

COMPLIANCE SAMPLING INVESTIGATION REPORT
THE QUARTZ CORP USA NC0000400, NC0000353, NCG020818, and NCG020274
SPRUCE PINE, NORTH CAROLINA
I. INTRODUCTION
The week of June 8, 2015, representatives of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Science
and Ecosystem Support Division (USEPA- SESD), conducted a Compliance Sampling
Inspection (CSI) at the The Quartz Corp USA (NC0000400, NC0000353, NCG020818, and
NCG020274) in Spruce Pine, North Carolina. The CSI was performed at the request of the Water
Protection Division, EPA Region 4.
The CSI was conducted to support a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
Compliance Evaluation Inspection, which was conducted the week of March 30th, 2015 by the
EPA Water Protection Division (WPD) personnel from Atlanta, Georgia. The primary focus of
this investigation was to sample all outfalls that were discharging.
Personnel who participated in the Diagnostic Evaluation:
Name _ Organization- T,
Cornell Gayle
Louis Salguero
Nathan Mangle
Linda Wiggs
II. SUMMARY
USEPA
--l-USEPA
USEPA
- NCDNR -
706-355-8643
il 706-355-8732
706-355-8642
828-296-4500
SESD sampled 14 locations across the facility. This included upstream (US) and downstream
(DS) samples for NPDES outfalls identified in permits NC0000400 and NC0000353. In -situ
measurements included temperature, pH, turbidity, and dissolved oxygen which are included in
Table 3. Samples were analyzed for Total Recoverable Metals, Total Suspended Solids (TSS),
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), and hardness (as CaCO3).
III. DISSCUSSION OF FIELD ACTIVITIES
The objective of the SESD investigation was to collect samples corresponding with NPDES
permits NC0000400, NC0000353, NCG020818 and NCG020274. As required under permits
NCG020818 and NCG020274 sampling began within 30 minutes of a rainfall event. Rainfall
data from the site is included in Table 2. Based on an authoritative sampling design, SESD
sampled 14 locations across two sites. These locations had sufficient flow to collect
representative samples. Figures 1-3 display the locations. GPS coordinates and sample
identification information is included in Table 1.
SESD Project Identification Number: 15-0337 Page 3 of 98

All samples for permits NCGO20818 and NCG020274 were collected as grab samples. Samples
were collected at the NPDES discharge locations directly into 1 L wide mouth polyethylene
bottles. Samples for permits NC0000400 and NC0000353, were collected as grab samples or
composite samples based on permit requirements.
hi -situ measurements were taken via data sonde submerged directly into a pool below the
effluent discharge location or in a 1L wide mouth polyethylene container adapted for collecting a
sample and measuring parameters on site. All samples and measurements were collected and
preserved using the appropriate SESD procedures.
Figure 1: Entire Sampling Area.
SESD Project Identification Number: 15-0337 Page 4 of 98

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IV. RESULTS OF ANALYSES
Samples were collected using wide mouth plastic 1 L bottles. Table 1 contains sample
identifications and descriptions. SESD Sample IDs designated with a US are samples collected
upstream of the facility discharge location. SESD Sample IDs designated with a DS are samples
collected, downstream of the facility discharge location.
Table 1 lists the identification methods of the samples collected.
Table 1: Sample Identification
l
Map
ID*
Latitude Longitude
SESD Sample
ID
NPDES Permit
Outfall
2
35.90526-82.0638
818 06A
NCG020818
AL-06
3
35.90391-82.0574
818 01
NCG020818
AL- 1-4t
4
35.90444-82.0591
No Sample Taken
NCG020818
AL-08
5
35.90487 j-82.0613
81805
NCG020818
AL-05
--------- ------
6
---------- --- --- - -
35.90477-82.0611
353 US
NC0000353
NA
7
35.9272-82.095
27401
NCG020274 -
PM-001
8
35.92664-82.0947
27402
NCG020274
PM-002
9
35.92616-82.0936
27403
NCG020274
PM-003
10
35.92631 !-82.0942
0400 US
NC0000400
NA
24
35.9362-82.0962
274 05_
_
NCG020274
_
25
35.93904-82.0898
27406
_
NCG020274
_PM-05
PM-06A
26
35.91181-82.0671
353 DS
400 DS
NC0000353
NC0000400
NA
NA
27
35.92838
-82.0966
28
35.90509 I - 82.0631
353 EFF
NC0000353
NA
- -- ---
29
. -- . _. - --- - -
35.92805-82.0949
- . -- --- --
400 EFF
- -
NC0000400
_ ---
NA
Locations 11-23 were erratic measurements not applicable to this study
t AL 1-4 were combined by the facility into one discharge to simplify and make sampling safer for employees.
SESD Project Identification Number: 15-0337 Page 6 of 98

Table 2 lists the daily rainfall totals during the inspection period. The daily totals are taken from
the facility rain gauges from midnight to midnight. The yellow markers in Figure 1 indicate the
location of the rain gauges with respect to the sampling locations (blue markers).
Table 2: Rainfall data for the June 7-12, 2015. All measurements taken in inches.
Date Pine Mountain Mine K-T Feldspar Altapass Plant
6/7/2015
0.11
0.117
0.14
6/8/2015
0.3
0.654_
1.01
6/9/2015
0.02
0
0.01
6/10/2015
1.07
0.004
0
6/11/2015
0.01
0
0
6/12/2015
0.02
0
0
Table 3 lists the in -situ measured parameters.
Table 3: In -situ Measurements.
SESD
Sample ID
pH
S.U.
Conductivity
AS/cm
Temp
°C
Turbidity
NTU
Dissolved
Oxygen
mg/L
818 06A
8.13
37
24.01
299
7.46
81801
7.7
30
24.4
78.5
7.38
81805
7.73
79
22.26
33.5
8.02
353 US
7.22
82
19.72
12.6
9.2
353 EFF
7.22
417
22.1
322.7
8.19
353 DS
7.32
105
18.82
11.1
8.93
27401
7.1
481
22.69
275.5
6.2
27402
7.27
460
21.3
121.2
3.97
27403
7.1
480
21.92
289.3
6.2
27405
7.84
469
22.37
38
7.43
27406
7.98
122
19.61
6.1
8.09
0400 US
7.12
90
19.51
616.9
8.9
400 EFF
6.86
686
26.69
19.1
7.45
400 DS
7.38
84
19.75
10.7
9.92
SESD Project Identification Number: 15-0337 Page 7 of 98

Table 4: Summary of SESD Results. For complete analytical results see Appendix B.
Table 4A — Analytical results for permits NC00004000 and NCG020274
-
SESD
400 US
400 EFF F
400 DS
274 01
274 02
274 03
27405
27406
Sample ID
_
Chloride
mg/L
_
6.2
15
_
6.2
-
-
-
-
-
Fluoride
mg/L
0.37
54
0.44
-
-
-
-
Hardness (as CaCO3)
mg/L
27
230
28
170
160
120
160
44
Total Dissolved Solids
mg/L
72
440
73
300
310
220
310
94
Total Suspended Solids
mg/L
8.1 J,QR 1
32
8.1 J,QR 1
56
98
210
13 J,QR-1
4.0 U,J,QR 1
Table 4B — Analytical results for permits NC0000353 and NCG020818
-
SESD
353 US
353 EFF F
353 DS
818 01
818 05 818 06A
Sample ID
_
Chloride
mg/L
5.3
6.8
5.4
-
-- -
Fluoride
mg/L
0.14
5.4
0.42
-
- -
Hardness (as CaCO3)
m g/L
25
200
31 -
15
28 41
Total Dissolved Solids
mg/L
69
330
79
41
63 64
Total Suspended Solids
mg/L
8.2 J,QR-1
35
8.0 J,QR-1
100
56 470
A summary of the metals analytical data, and total dissolved metals calculations, are included in Appendix A of this report.
SESD Project Identification Number: 15-0337 Page 8 of 98

V. RESULTS OF QUALITY CONTROL SAMPLES
Field quality control samples for this investigation consisted of -
Equipment rinse blanks on automatic samplers.
• Sample 274 01 D was used as the source for a field duplicate for the metals, hardness, and
solids.
• Results of quality control analyses are contained in the Laboratory Analytical Reports in
Appendix C, and are acceptable for the purposes of this investigation.
VI. METHODOLOGY
Field activities were conducted in accordance with the Region 4, SESD Field Branches Quality
System and Technical Procedures. Specific field procedures applicable to this investigation
included the following:
Global Positioning System, SESDPROC-110-R4
Logbooks, SESDPROC-010-R4
Field pH, SESDPROC-100-R3
Field Specific Conductance, SESDPROC- 10 1 -R5
Field Temperature, SESDPROC-102-R4
Field Equipment Cleaning and Decontamination, SESDPROC-205-R2
Field DO Measurement, SESDPROC- 106-R3
Surface Water Sampling, SESDPROC-201-R3
The SESD laboratory is accredited by the ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board/ACLASS
for ISO/IEC 17025. The SESD Field Branches are accredited by the ANSI-ASQ National
Accreditation Board/ACLASS for ISO/IEC 17025 for Forensic Testing.
SESD Project Identification Number: 15-0337 Page 9 of 98

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Table B.1- Total Recoverable Metals Analytical data summary for permit NC0000400 and NCG020274. Summary of analytical
data for metals which were detected above the minimum reporting limit. For a complete listing of analytical data see Appendix C.
Flags are explained in the footnote below. t
_ Sample 27401 27402 27403 27405 27406 400 US 400 EFF 400 DS
ID
Hardness (as
mg/L
CaCO3)
Aluminum
ug/L
Barium
ug/L
Calcium
ug/L
Chromium
ug/L
Cobalt
ug/L
Copper
ug/L
Iron
ug/L
Lead
ug/L
Magnesium
ug/L
Manganese
ug/L
Molybdenum_
ug/L
Nickel
ug/L
Potassium
ug/L
Sodium
ug/L
Strontium_
ug/L
Titanium
ug/L
Vanadium
ug/L
Yttrium
ug/L
Zinc
ug/L
170
160
120
160
44
27
230
28
4000
7800
14000
590
220
450
6500
480
84
68
150
65
18
24
47
23
49000
50000
35000
43000
10000
7900
84000
8000
5.0 U
5.0 U
8.7
5.0 U
5.0 U
5.0 U
5.0 U
5.0 U
5.O U
5.O U
6.9
5.O U
5.O U
5.O U
5.O U
5.O U
IOU
IOU
18
IOU
IOU
IOU
IOU
IOU
1800
2500
7800
2900
320
650
3100
660
6.0
7.3
26
_
1.3
1.0 U
1.0 U
2.2
1.0 U
12000
8400
7100
13000
4600
1800
4000
1800
830
290
2800
1700
160
51
1500
54
10U
IOU
10U
1 0 U
IOU
10U
13
IOU
l0U
IOU
IOU
IOU
IOU
l0U
20
IOU
6800
10000
7500
11000
1700
1100
16000
1100
J,QC-S- -
J,QC-S-
-- J,QC-5 -
-J,QC-5 .
J,QC-5
-J,QC-5
J,QC-5
J,QC-5 -
26000
28000
15000
32000
4600
4500
26000
4500
130
140
120
170
56
32
220
32
57
21
290
14
11
20
9.5
20
5.0 U
5.0 U
9.9
5.0 U
5.0 U
5.0 U
5.0 U
5.0 U
3.0 U
3.0 U
8.4
3.0 U
3.0 U
3.0 U
3.0 U
3.0 U
41
IOU
58
IOU
IOU
IOU
IOU
IOU
t U - The analyte was not detected at or above the reporting limit:
J - The identification of the analyte is acceptable; the reported value is an estimate.
QC-5 - Calibration check standard less than method control limits.
SESD Project Identification Number: 15-0337 Page 12 of 98

Table B.2 - Total Recoverable Metals Analytical data summary for permit NC0000353 and NCG020818. Summary of analytical
data for metals which were detected above the minimum reporting limit. For a complete listing of analytical data see Appendix C.
Flags are explained in the footnote below.§
Sample ID 353 US 353 EFF F 353 DS 81801 81805 818 06A
Hardness (as CaCO3)
mg/L
25
200
31
15
28
41
Aluminum
ug/L
680
600
540
5100
7400
12000
Antimony
ug/L
1.0 U
1.0 U
1.0 U
1.0 U
1.0 U
1.3
Arsenic
ug/L
1.0 U
1.0 U
1.0 U
1.0 U
1.0 U
1.3
Barium
ug/L
26
32
24
40
58
140
Calcium
ug/L
7000
76000
9400
3900
7500
9800
Chromium
ug/L
5.0 U
5.0 U
5.0 U
5.3
5.0 U
12
Copper
ug/L
IOU
IOU
IOU
10
IOU
25
Iron
ug/L
930
1400
680
3600
27000
9800
Lead
ug/L
1.0 U
1.0 U
1.0 U
8.2
8.2
21
Magnesium
ug/L
1800
2800
1800
1300
2100
4000
Manganese
ug/L
47
270
46
99
270
190
Nickel
ug/L
10 U
29
IOU
IOU
IOU
IOU
Potassium
ug/L
1000 U
3700 J,QC-5
100.0 J,QC-5
1900 J,QC-5
1700 J,QC-5
4100 J,QC-5
Sodium
'
u
4200
�, 7800
4500 .
1600
4300
3600
Strontium
ug/L
31
85
- -
32
18
41
44
Titanium
ug/L
34
5.0 U
23
180
48
310
Vanadium
ug/L
5.0 U
5.0 U
5.0 U
6.2
5.0 U
14
Yttrium
ug/L
3.0 U
_
3.0 U
3.0 U
5.6
3.1
_
5.4
Zinc
ug/L
10
IOU
IOU
67
60
120
§ U - The analyte was not detected at or above the reporting limit.
J - The identification of the analyte is acceptable; the reported value is an estimate.
QC-5 - Calibration check standard less than method control limits.
SESD Project Identification Number: 15-0337 Page 13 of 98

Table B.3 - Total Dissolved Metals calculation from Total Recoverable Metals analytical data for permit NC0000400 and
NCG020274. The following table summarizes the total dissolved portion of the total recoverable results. These values were solely
calculated using the US EPA Office of Water's The Metals Translator: Guidance for Calculating a Total Recoverable Permit Limit
from a Dissolved Criterion report. The data is calculated using the information on pages 3 and 4 of The Metals Translator report. This
method is not included in the SESD Laboratory Operations and Quality Assurance Manual (LOQAM), or Standard Methods 22nd Ed.
and therefore is not included under the ISO 17025 accreditation that SESD holds. Symbols are explained in the footnote below."
Sample ID 274 01 274 02 274 03 274 05 274 06 400 US 400 EFF F 400 DS
Hardness (as CaCO3)
mg/L
170.00
160
120
160
44
Copper (Acute/ Chronic)tt
ug/L
<9.60
<9.60
17.28
<9.60
<9.60
Lead (Acute/ Chronic)tt
ug/L
4.28
5.27
19.88
0.94
<0.91
Nickel (Acute)
ug/L
<9.98
<9.98
<9.98
<9.98
<9.98
Nickel (Chronic)
ug/L
<9.97
<9.97
<9.97
<9.97
<9.97
Zinc (Acute)
ug/L
40.10
<9.78
56.72
<9.78
<9.78
Zinc (Chronic)
ug/L
40.43
<9.86
57.19
<9.86
<9.86
" < - The total recoverable portion was not detected at or above the reporting limit.
" The conversion factors for acute and chronic are the same.
27
-
230
28
<9.60
<_9.60
<9.60
- <0.98
---1.47
<0.98
<9.98
19.96
<9.98
<9.97
19.94
<9.97
<9.78
<9.78
<9.78
<9.86
<9.86
<9.86
SESD Project Identification Number: 15-0337 Page 14 of 98

Table BA - Total Dissolved Metals calculation from Total Recoverable Metals analytical data for permit NC0000353 and
NCG020818. The following table summarizes the total dissolved portion of the total recoverable results. These values were solely
calculated using the US EPA Office of Water's The Metals Translator: Guidance for Calculating a Total Recoverable Permit Limit
from a Dissolved Criterion report. The data is calculated using the information on pages 3 and 4 of The Metals Translator report. This
method is not included in the SESD Laboratory Operations and Quality Assurance Manual (LOQAM), or Standard Methods 22"d Ed.
and therefore is not included under the ISO 17025 accreditation that SESD holds. Symbols are explained in the footnote below.$$
-
Sample ID
353 US
353 EFF F
353 DS
818 01
818 05
818 06A
Hardness (as CaCO3)
mg/L
25
200
31
15
28
41
Copper (Acute/ Chronic)tt
ug/L
<9.60
<9.60
<9.60
9.60
<9.60
24.00
Lead (Acute/ Chronic)tt
ug/L
<0.99
<0.69
<0.96
8.75
8.01
19.34
Nickel (Acute)
ug/L
<9.98
28.94
<9.98
<9.98
<9.98
<9.98
Nickel (Chronic)
ug/L
<9.97
28.91
_
<9.97
<9.97
<9.97
<9.97
Zinc (Acute)
ug/L
9.78
<9.78
<9.78
65.53
58.68
117.36
Zinc (Chronic)
ug/L
9.86
<9.86
<9.86
66.06
59.16
118.32
:: < - The total recoverable portion was not detected at or above the reporting limit.
tt The conversion factors for acute and chronic are the same.
SESD Project Identification Number: 15-0337
Page 15 of 98

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Picture Name
DSCN1028.JPG
Latitude
35.904030' N
Longitude
82.0575000 W
Comments
Final discharge is from far pond on
other side of rip rap dam.
Picture Name
DSCN]033.JPG
Latitude
35.903803° N
Longitude
82.058942' W
Comments
Flow from previous discharges 818-03
and 818-04 were combined and piped
to discharge 818-01 pictured above.
Picture Name
DSCN 1035.JPG
Latitude
35.9044530 N
Longitude
82.0591320 W
Comments
Insufficient flow from discharge 818
-08 to sample.
SESD Project Identification Number: 15-0337

Picture Name
DSCN1041.JPG
Latitude
35.904722° N
Longitude
82.061452' W
Comments
Discharge 818-05
Picture Name DSCNI044.JPG
Latitude 35.904803° N
Longitude 82.0612180 W
Comments Discharge 353. The discharge pipe is
below the photo location. The picture
is looking upstream at the upstream
sampling location.
Picture Name
DSCN1046.JPG
Latitude
35.9273970 N
Longitude
82.095150' W
Comments
Discharge 274-01
SESD Project Identification Number: 15-0337

Picture Name
DSCN1049.JPG
Latitude
35.9268630 N
Longitude
82.0946730 W
Comments
Discharge 274-02. The discharge is
controlled by a manual valve. The
valve is located on the other side of
the dam.
Picture Name
DSCN1054.JPG
Latitude
35.9261530 N
Longitude
82.093578' W
Comments
Discharge 274-03
Picture Name
DSCN1063.JPG
Latitude
35.905053' N
Longitude
82.062958' W
Comments
Discharge 353-Eff. Automatic
samplers and flow meter were setup
on the far side of yellow bridge
pictured.
SESD Project Identification Number: 15-0337

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'040 �A�
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
REGION 4
s; ��� t
�
ATLANTA FEDERAL CENTER
It PA00 �
61 FORSYTH STREET
ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303-8960
'SEP 0 3 2015
Mr. Toby Vinson
Chief, Land Quality Section
Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
1612 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1612
Subject: Review of Draft National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System General Permit for Non -
Metallic Mineral Mines, NCGO20000
Dear Mr. Vinson:
On June 5, 2015, the above referenced National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) draft
general permit (GP) and supporting documents were received by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency Region 4 from the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(NCDENR). We have completed our review of the draft GP and supporting documents and are
providing comments in accordance with Section IV.B.3 of the North Carolina/EPA Memorandum of
Agreement (MOA) and 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 123.44(a).
The EPA and NCDENR have worked together to resolve many issues in the draft GP. The NCDENR
has committed to: revise the notice of intent to be more consistent with NC's antidegration policy, add
questions to the notice of intent that will more clearly identify the outfalls and receiving streams; include
conditions in the GP to protect sensitive streams, and clarify definitions for wastewater and stormwater.
These are significant improvements and we commend NCDENR's efforts to provide further additions
and water quality protections to the GP. It is in this context that we recommend additional measures (see
enclosure) for your consideration.
The EPA remains concerned that discharges from facilities covered by this GP may cause environmental
impacts. The EPA's recommendations relate to this draft GP, which covers 424 raining facilities, are
described in detail in the enclosed attachment. We recommend the GP contain effluent limits and
monitoring frequencies as stringent as necessary to ensure that the proposed discharges will not cause or
contribute to a violation of numeric or narrative water quality standards (WQS), as required by the Clean
Water Act § 301(b)(1)(C), 40 CFR § 122.46) and (d)), and 40 CFR § 122.44(d)(1). Additionally, our
recommendations take into consideration the effluent and in -stream data collected by the EPA from
three facilities currently covered under this GP.
We request that the NCDENR consider these recommendations and revise the draft GP and fact sheets
to address them before issuing the final GP. In accordance with our MOA, we also request that you
provide a response to our comments and to any public comments you receive. If substantial changes to
the GP are made beyond our recommendations, we ask that you provide the proposed GP to us prior to
final issuance for our review. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. If you have any
Intemet Address (URL) • http:/AwAv.epa.gov
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questions, please call me at [phone] or have your staff contact Mr. Kip Tyler of the NPDES
Permitting and Enforcement Branch at [phone].
Sincerely,
Q
Denisse D. Diaz, Chief
NPDES Permitting and Enforcement Branch
Water Protection Division
Enclosure

Recommendations for NPDES permit NCG020000
1. The EPA collected effluent and in -stream data from three facilities (NCG020274, NCG020818, and
NCG020793) covered under this GP in June of 2015. The water quality data revealed concentrations
of copper, lead, and zinc that may cause or contribute to exceedances of NC current WQS. The data
also shows that certain metals concentrations may cause or contribute to violations of NC's proposed
WQS (that are more stringent than the current WQS for certain pollutants) or EPA's recommended
criteria. The EPA believes that a reasonable potential analysis should be conducted using this data
and other relevant information to properly assess the risk of exceeding NC WQS for metals at these
facility's outfalls. If reasonable potential exists for these facility's discharges to cause or contribute
to an exceedance of any WQS, the EPA would expect these facilities be covered under individual
NPDES permits.
The presence of metals in this effluent data may be indicative of a problem industry -wide or a
problem within an industry subcategory. In order to fully understand the potential concentrations of
metals present in this industry's discharges, the EPA and NCDENR recognize the need for
additional testing of effluent and receiving streams for metals from facilities covered under this GP.
The EPA and NCDENR will work together to determine how to obtain more industry -specific water
quality data for metals. A reasonable potential analysis is required after the collection of more water
quality data from the industry in accordance with 40 CFR § 122.44(d)(1). If reasonable potential is
found for the discharges to cause or contribute to WQS exceedances in the results of the additional
data collected, the EPA encourages the NCDENR to include water quality -based effluent limits
applicable to the industry or industry subcategory as required by 40 CFR § 122.28(ax3).
2. The monitoring frequency for all wastewater parameters is twice per year. The monitoring frequency
for all stormwater parameters is semi-annually until a tier two action is required. The EPA is
concerned that this draft GP may not include monitoring frequencies necessary to capture an
accurate scope of pollutant concentrations in the effluent pursuant to 40 CFR § 122.48. Additionally,
the EPA is concerned that the information in the fact sheet does not support a semi-annual
monitoring frequency. For the reasons described below the EPA recommends that the final GP
contain monthly monitoring frequencies for all stormwater and wastewater parameters.
• The quarterly monitoring effluent data reported for some facilities are exceeding multiple
pollutant benchmarks and limitations. Facilities with problems achieving compliance should
generally be required to perform more frequent monitoring, not less frequent monitoring, to
assess noncompliance.
• The minimum monitoring frequency for mining discharges is provided in North Carolina's
WQS. These regulations specify a minimum monitoring frequency of monthly for turbidity,
seattleable matter, total suspended solids (TSS), pH, toxics, and toxicity for mining facilities that
are within standard industrial classification 1400-1499 (15A NCAC 0213.050B). The GP covers
mining facilities that are in standard industrial classification 1400-1499.
• Semi-annual monitoring frequencies would make it difficult to apply and enforce the maximum
daily and monthly average limits.
3. The North Carolina WQS for TSS limits wastewater discharges to 10 mg/L in trout waters (TR) and
20 mg/L for High Quality Waters (HQW). The draft GP has a benchmark value of 50 mg/L TSS for
stormwater outfalls that discharge to TR and HQW. While the WQS for TSS is applicable to

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wastewater, it does not preclude the NCDENR from using best professional judgment to apply a
more protective benchmark for stormwater discharges. The EPA suggests that the GP include
stonnwater•benchmark levels of 10 mg/L and 20 mg/L to waters classified as TR to HQW,
respectively.
4. The North Carolina WQS for turbidity is connected to the background condition in the stream (15A
NCAC 02B .0221(21)). The draft GP requires turbidity monitoring at the stormwater discharge
outfall or directly upstream and downstream. The EPA is concerned that without the mandatory
collection of both effluent and in -stream turbidity concentrations, it cannot be known if a violation of
the benchmark criteria is occurring. The EPA suggests that final GP contain turbidity monitoring in
the effluent and in -stream samples for wastewater and stormwater discharges.
5. The currently effective GP requires settleable solids benchmarks for stormwater and limits for
wastewater. The seattleable solids limits for wastewater are being removed from the draft GP. North
Carolina's WQS support seattleable solids limits on certain sensitive waters (15A NCAC 02B .0221
and .0222). The EPA recommends that seattleable solids limits apply to wastewater discharges to
sensitive waters.

ft
Jas�v srq�s.
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
a
w REGION 4
$ e ATLANTA FEDERAL CENTER
4,<Prt:7/ ATLANTA GEORGIA30303-8960
APR 232015 ��C��Veo
�1AY 12 ?015
CERTIFIEDRECEIPT IL 71703 8457 SrORwq ERFjRETTURN REQUESTED PRiIrNO
Mr. John Walker
The Quartz Corporation
100 Mansell Court East, Suite 300
Roswell, Georgia 30076-4860
Re: Clean Water Act § 308 Information Request
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit Nos: NC0000400 and NCG020274
Dear Mr. Walker:
On March 31, 2015, and April 1, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 4 conducted
compliance evaluation inspections at the facilities covered by the above referenced National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits. In order to further evaluate if the facilities are
complying with the terms and conditions of the Clean Water Act (CWA) and the NPDES permit, the
EPA is requesting that The Quartz Corporation provide the information described in Enclosure A.
pursuant to CWA § 308, 33 United States Code (USC) § 1318. Failure to provide a full and complete
response to this information request or to adequately justify a failure to respond within the time frame
specified above may result in an EPA enforcement action pursuant to federal law, including, but not
limited to CWA § 309. 33 USC § 1319. and 18 USC § 1001. In accordance with 40 Code of Federal
Regulations § 122.22, your response to this information request must be accompanied by a certitication.f
The response should be provided within 30 days of receipt of this letter and should be submitted to:
Mr. Kip Tyler
U.S. EPA Region 4. Water Protection Division
NPDES Permitting and Enforcement Branch
Atlanta Federal Center, 61 Forsyth Street. SW
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960
The Quartz Corporation shall preserve until further notice all records (either written or electronic) that
exist at the time of receipt of this letter that relate to any of the matters set forth in this letter. The term
"records" shall be interpreted in the broadest sense to include information of every sort. The response to
this Information Request shall include assurance that these record protection provisions were put in
place, as required.
' Your response to this information request must be signed by a responsible company official and must include the following certification: -I certify
under penalty of la%% that this document and all attachments here prepared under mN direction or super imon in accordance hh ith it s.% stem designed
to assure that qualified personnel propsh gather and evaluate the information submitted Based on nhl inquir of the person or peran> %rho
manage the system. or those persons direct]% responsible for gathering the inlimmuion. I certif% that the inibrunation submitted is. to the hest of my
knov, ledge and belief: true, accurate and complete. I am aoare that there are significant penalties fix submitting false infimnalion. including the
possibility of line and imprisonment fix knowing violations"
Internet Address (URL) • http://www.epa.gov
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r
If The Quartz Corporation believes that any of the requested information constitutes confidential
business information, it may assert a confidentiality claim with respect to such information except for
effluent data. Further details, including how to make a business confidentiality claim, are found in
Enclosure B.
Also enclosed is a document entitled U.S. EPA Small Business Resources-Iglbrmation Sheet to assist
The Quartz Corporation in understanding the compliance assistance resources available to you. Any
decision to seek compliance assistance at this time, however, does not relieve The Quartz Corporation of
its obligation to the EPA nor does it create any new rights or defenses and will not affect the EPA's
decision to pursue enforcement action. In addition, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
requires its registrants to periodically disclose environmental legal proceedings in statements filed with
the SEC. To assist The Quartz Corporation, the EPA has also enclosed a document entitled Notice of
Securities and Exchange Commission Registrants' Duty to Disclose Environmental Legal Proceedings.
If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Tyler at [phone] or via email at [e-mail].
Sincerely,
Denisse D. Diaz, Chief
NPDES Permitting and Enforcement Branch
Water Protection Division
Enclosures
cc: Ms. Linda Wiggs
NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Ms. Shawna Riddle
NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Mr. Jonathan Risgaard
NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Mr. Bradley Bennett
NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources

ENCLOSURE A
INFORMATION REQUEST PURSUANT TO CWA § 308
Instructions
1. Identify the person(s) responding to the Information Request.
2. Provide a separate narrative response to each and every question and subpart of a question set forth
in this Information Request.
3. Precede each answer with the text and the number of the question and its subpart to which the
answer corresponds.
4. All documents submitted must contain a notation indicating the question and subpart of the
question to which they are responsive.
5. In answering each Information Request Question and subpart thereto, identify all documents and
persons consulted, examined, or referred to in the preparation of each response and provide true
and accurate copies of all such documents.
6. If information not known or not available to you as of the date of submission of a response to this
Information Request should later become known or available to you, you must supplement your
response to the EPA. Moreover, should you find at any time after the submission of its response
that any portion of the submitted information is false or misrepresents the truth; you must notify
the EPA thereof as soon as possible.
7. Where specific information has not been memorialized in a document, but is nonetheless
responsive to a Request, you must respond to the Request with a written response.
8. If information responsive to this Information Request is not in your possession, custody or control,
then identify, if known, the person from whom such information may be obtained.
9. If you have reason to believe that there may be persons able to provide a more detailed or complete
response to any Information Request or who may be able to provide additional responsive
documents, identify such persons and the additional information or documents that they may have.
10. Information shall be provided for all companies, all subsidiaries, or other corporate affiliates under
common control that also participate in the ownership or operation of a Facility. Thus, the response
to each question concerning the company's activities should reflect information regarding each and
every such entity.
11. All documents should be provided in an electronic format using the following, as appropriate: MS
Word, MS Excel, MS Access, Geographic Information System (GIS) data, Adobe Acrobat PDF
format, or images in JPEG format. The data shall be accumulated and organized into a clearly
labeled and annotated format.

� o �
Definitions
1. The term "Document" includes any writings, drawings, graphs, charters, photographs, phone
records, field records, operation logs or notes, field round sheets, electronic mail, facsimile,
supervisory control, and data acquisition information, and other data compilations from which
information can be obtained, translated, if necessary, through detection devices into reasonably
useable form. Documents should be produced as they are kept in the usual course of business.
2. All terms not defined herein shall have their ordinary meanings, unless such terms are defined in
the Clean Water Act or its implementing regulations, in which case the statutory or regulatory
definitions shall control.
3. Words in the masculine may be construed in the feminine if appropriate, and vice versa, and words
in the singular may be construed in the plural if appropriate, and vice versa, in the context of a
particular question or questions.
4. The terms "And" and "Or" shall be construed either disjunctively or conjunctively as necessary to
bring within the scope of this Information Request any information which might otherwise be
construed outside it scope.
5. The term "Identify" means, with respect to a natural person, to set forth the person's name, present
or last known business address and business telephone number, present or last known home
address and home telephone- number, and present or last known job title, position or business.
6. The term "Identify" means, with respect to a document, to provide its customary business
description; its date; its number, if any (invoice or purchase order number); the identity of the
author, addressee and/or recipient; and substance of the subject matter.
7. The term "Identify" means, with respect to a corporation, partnership, business trust or other
association or business entity (including a sole proprietorship), to set forth its full name, address,
legal form (e.g., corporation, partnership, etc.), organization, if any, and a brief description of its
business.
8. The term "NPDES" or "NPDES Permit" shall mean National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System permit or any state permit (i.e., NPDES), issued pursuant to the Clean Water Act.
9. The term "NCDENR" shall mean North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural
Resources.
10. The term "Discharge" shall mean the addition of any pollutant to waters of the United States, as
that term is applied under the Clean Water Act.
11. The term "Facility" shall mean any surface and underground mines, processing and preparation
plants, transportation facilities, and all associated operations owned or operated by You and
operating under NPDES Permits NC0000400 and NCG020274.
12. The term "You" and "Your" shall mean The Quartz Corporation and any parent corporation,
subsidiary or affiliate of Your Company, or other entity under common control, that also
participates in the ownership or operation of a Facility.

uestions
1. Specify the full legal name of Your Company, describe its legal form (corporation, partnership,
etc.) and state of incorporation if applicable. Please identify any parent corporation, subsidiary or
affiliate of Your Company, or other entity, that participates in the ownership or operation of a
Facility. With respect to any such entity, list its name and address, legal form, and (if applicable)
the state of incorporation, the principal place of business and provide the name and mailing
address of the registered agent for this facility.
2. Provide a list of all Facilities owned or operated by Your Company in the State of North Carolina,
including the name, address, and contact information for each Facility, NPDES permit number,
and NCDENR permit number.
3. Provide the following information for NC0000400 and NCG020274:
a. the NPDES permit, the application, and all supporting application documents; and
b. all effluent and in -stream monitoring information conducted during the last 3 years including
discharge monitoring reports and whole effluent toxicity results; and
c. the location (latitude and longitude) of the upstream and downstream sampling points.
4. Provide the following information for NC0000400:
a. a description of all products produced at the facility, a description of the treatment processes, a
list of chemicals used in each treatment process, the mass and concentrations of each chemical
used in each treatment process, and the influent and effluent flow rates (maximum and
average) for each product produced; and
b. all water withdrawal records including the water withdrawal permit for the last 3 years.
5. Provide the following information for NCG020274:
a. all correspondence between Your Company and NCDENR regarding representative outfall
sampling for the last 3 years; and
b. all correspondence and documents between Your company and NCDENR regarding the
unpermitted fill; and
c. all required elements of the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SPPP) in accordance with
Part III Section A of the permit for the last 3 years; 2 and
d. all required analytical monitoring in accordance with Part III section B of the permit for the
last 3 years; and
e. all required on -site vehicle maintenance monitoring requirements in accordance with Part III
2 If a SPPP was not developed, provide a detailed explanation of your reason(s) for not developing a SPPP.

s ti
section C of the permit for the last 3 years; and
f. all required qualitative monitoring requirements in accordance with Part III section D of the
permit for the last 3 years; and
g. all required wastewater information in accordance with Part III section E of the permit for the
last 3 years.

ENCLOSURE B
RIGHT TO ASSERT BUSINESS CONFIDENTIALITY CLAIMS
Except for effluent and biological data, you may, if you desire, assert a business confidentiality claim as
to any or all of the information that EPA is requesting from you. The EPA regulation relating to business
confidentiality claims is found at 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 2.40 CFR § 2.203 (b)
states that "A business which is submitting information to EPA may assert a business confidentiality
claim covering the information by placing on (or attaching to) the information, at the time it is submitted
to EPA, a cover sheet, stamped or typed legend, or other suitable form of notice employing language
such as "trade secret," "proprietary," or "company confidential." Allegedly confidential portions of
otherwise non -confidential documents should be clearly identified by the business, and may be
submitted separately to facilitate identification and handling by EPA. If the business desires confidential
treatment only until a certain date or until the occurrence of a certain event, the notice should so state."
If you assert such a claim for the requested information, the EPA will only disclose the information to
the extent and under the procedures set out in the cited regulations. If no business confidentiality claim
accompanies the information, the EPA may make the information available to the public without any
further notice to you.

,a\SED STq�s.
A UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
o e
:
REGION 4
ATLANTA FEDERAL CENTER
���4t
61 FORSYTH STREET
PR rrvo
ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303-8960
APR 2 31015
RECEIVED
CERTIFIED MAIL 7010 1060 0002
1703 8457
MAY 12 2015
RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
DENR•LAND QUALITY
STORMWATER PERMITTING
Mr. John Walker
The Quartz Corporation
100 Mansell Court East, Suite 300
Roswell, Georgia 30076-4860
Re: Clean Water Act § 308 Information Request
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit Nos: NC0000400 and NCG020274
Dear Mr. Walker:
On March 31, 2015, and April 1, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 4 conducted
compliance evaluation inspections at the facilities covered by the above referenced National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits. In order to further evaluate if the facilities are
complying with the terms and conditions of the Clean Water Act (CWA) and the NPDES permit, the
EPA is requesting that The Quartz Corporation provide the information described in Enclosure A,
pursuant to CWA § 308, 33 United States Code (USC) § 1318. Failure to provide a full and complete
response to this information request or to adequately justify a failure to respond within the time frame
specified above may result in an EPA enforcement action pursuant to federal law, including, but not
limited to CWA § 309, 33 USC § 1319. and 18 USC § 1001. In accordance with 40 Code of Federal
Regulations § 122.22, your response to this information request must be accompanied by a certification.
The response should be provided within 30 days of receipt of this letter and should be submitted to:
Mr. Kip Tyler
U.S. EPA Region 4. Water Protection Division
NPDES Permitting and Enforcement Branch
Atlanta Federal Center, 61 Forsyth Street. SW
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960
The Quartz Corporation shall preserve until further notice all records (either written or electronic) that
exist at the time of receipt of this letter that relate to any of the matters set forth in this letter. The term
"records" shall be interpreted in the broadest sense to include information of every sort. The response to
this Information Request shall include assurance that these record protection provisions were put in
place, as required.
Your response to this in lot ilia tion request must be signed by a responsible coinpam official and muss include the follomng certification: -I cenifi
under penalty of lac that this document and at attachments \\ere prepared under my direction or super\ision in accordance kith a system designed
to assure that quai lied personnel properh gather and eyaI Flaw the in Ionnalion submitted. Based on im inquiry of the person or persons \\ho
manage the system. or those persons directh responsible lit gathering the in Ibmination. I ccrti lj ilia the information submitted is. to the best of my
kno\eiedge and belief� true. accurate and complete. I am ataare that [here are significant penalties fix submitting false infimnation. including the
possibility of tine and imprisonment fix kno\yin- violations."
Internet Address (URL) • http://www.epa.gov
Recycled/Recyclable • Printed with Vegetable Oil Based Inks on Recycled Paper (Minimum 30 % Postconsumer)

ax
10
If The Quartz Corporation believes that any of the requested information constitutes confidential
business information, it may assert a confidentiality claim with respect to such information except for
effluent data. Further details, including how to make a business confidentiality claim, are found in
Enclosure B.
Also enclosed is a document entitled U.S. EPA Small Business Resources-1n1ormation Sheet to assist
The Quartz Corporation in understanding the compliance assistance resources available to you. Any
decision to seek compliance assistance at this time, however, does not relieve The Quartz Corporation of
its obligation to the EPA nor does it create any new rights or defenses and will not affect the EPA's
decision to pursue enforcement action. In addition, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
requires its registrants to periodically disclose environmental legal proceedings in statements filed with
the SEC. To assist The Quartz Corporation, the EPA has also enclosed a document entitled Notice of
Securities and Exchange Commission Registrants' Duty to Disclose Environmental Legal Proceedings.
If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Tyler at [phone] or via email at t ly er.kipawepa.gov.
Sincerely,
A
�yk-
L�
Denisse D. Diaz, Chief
NPDES Permitting and Enforcement Branch
Water Protection Division
Enclosures
cc: Ms. Linda Wiggs
NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Ms. Shawna Riddle
NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Mr. Jonathan Risgaard
NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Mr. Bradley Bennett
NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources

ENCLOSURE A
INFORMATION REQUEST PURSUANT TO CWA § 308
Instructions
1. Identify the person(s) responding to the Information Request.
2. Provide a separate narrative response to each and every question and subpart of a question set forth
in this Information Request.
3. Precede each answer with the text and the number of the question and its subpart to which the
answer corresponds.
4. All documents submitted must contain a notation indicating the question and subpart of the
question to which they are responsive.
5. In answering each Information Request Question and subpart thereto, identify all documents and
persons consulted, examined, or referred to in the preparation of each response and provide true
and accurate copies of all such documents.
6. If information not known or not available to you as of the date of submission of a response to this
Information Request should later become known or available to you, you must supplement your
response to the EPA. Moreover, should you find at any time after the submission of its response
that any portion of the submitted information is false or misrepresents the truth; you must notify
the EPA thereof as soon as possible.
7. Where specific information has not been memorialized in a document, but is nonetheless
responsive to a Request, you must respond to the Request with a written response.
8. If information responsive to this Information Request is not in your possession, custody or control,
then identify, if known, the person from whom such information may be obtained.
9. If you have reason to believe that there may be persons able to provide a more detailed or complete
response to any Information Request or who may be able to provide additional responsive
documents, identify such persons and the additional information or documents that they may have.
10. Information shall be provided for all companies, all subsidiaries, or other corporate affiliates under
common control that also participate in the ownership or operation of a Facility. Thus, the response
to each question concerning the company's activities should reflect information regarding each and
every such entity.
11. All documents should be provided in an electronic format using the following, as appropriate: MS
Word, MS Excel, MS Access, Geographic Information System (GIS) data, Adobe Acrobat PDF
format, or images in JPEG format. The data shall be accumulated and organized into a clearly
labeled and annotated format.

Definitions
1. The term "Document" includes any writings, drawings, graphs, charters, photographs, phone
records, field records, operation logs or notes, field round sheets, electronic mail, facsimile,
supervisory control, and data acquisition information, and other data compilations from which
information can be obtained, translated, if necessary, through detection devices into reasonably
useable form. Documents should be produced as they are kept in the usual course of business.
2. All terms not defined herein shall have their ordinary meanings, unless such terms are defined in
the Clean Water Act or its implementing regulations, in which case the statutory or regulatory
definitions shall control.
3. Words in the masculine may be construed in the feminine if appropriate, and vice versa, and words
in the singular may be construed in the plural if appropriate, and vice versa, in the context of a
particular question or questions.
4. The terms "And" and "Or" shall be construed either disjunctively or conjunctively as necessary to
bring within the scope of this Information Request any information which might otherwise be
construed outside it scope.
5. The term "Identify" means, with respect to a natural person, to set forth the person's name, present
or last known business address and business telephone number, present or last known home
address and home telephone- number, and present or last known job title, position or business.
6. The term "Identify" means, with respect to a document, to provide its customary business
description; its date; its number, if any (invoice or purchase order number); the identity of the
author, addressee and/or recipient; and substance of the subject matter.
7. The term "Identify" means, with respect to a corporation, partnership, business trust or other
association or business entity (including a sole proprietorship), to set forth its full name, address,
legal form (e.g., corporation, partnership, etc.), organization, if any, and a brief description of its
business.
8. The term "NPDES" or "NPDES Permit" shall mean National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System permit or any state permit (i.e., NPDES), issued pursuant to the Clean Water Act.
9. The term "NCDENR" shall mean North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural
Resources.
10. The term "Discharge" shall mean the addition of any pollutant to waters of the United States, as
that term is applied under the Clean Water Act.
11. The term "Facility" shall mean any surface and underground mines, processing and preparation
plants, transportation facilities, and all associated operations owned or operated by You and
operating under NPDES Permits NC0000400 and NCG020274.
12. The term "You" and "Your" shall mean The Quartz Corporation and any parent corporation,
subsidiary or affiliate of Your Company, or other entity under common control, that also
participates in the ownership or operation of a Facility.

Questions
l . Specify the full legal name of Your Company, describe its legal form (corporation, partnership,
etc.) and state of incorporation if applicable. Please identify any parent corporation, subsidiary or
affiliate of Your Company, or other entity, that participates in the ownership or operation of a
Facility. With respect to any such entity, list its name and address, legal form, and (if applicable)
the state of incorporation, the principal place of business and provide the name and mailing
address of the registered agent for this facility.
2. Provide a list of all Facilities owned or operated by Your Company in the State of North Carolina,
including the name, address, and contact information for each Facility, NPDES permit number,
and NCDENR permit number.
3. Provide the following information for NC0000400 and NCG020274:
a. the NPDES permit, the application, and all supporting application documents; and
b. all effluent and in -stream monitoring information conducted during the last 3 years including
discharge monitoring reports and whole effluent toxicity results; and
c. the location (latitude and longitude) of the upstream and downstream sampling points.
4. Provide the following information for NC0000400:
a. a description of all products produced at the facility, a description of the treatment processes, a
list of chemicals used in each treatment process, the mass and concentrations of each chemical
used in each treatment process, and the influent and effluent flow rates (maximum and
average) for each product produced; and
b. all water withdrawal records including the water withdrawal permit for the last 3 years.
5. Provide the following information for NCG020274:
a. all correspondence between Your Company and NCDENR regarding representative outfall
sampling for the last 3 years; and
b. all correspondence and documents between Your company and NCDENR regarding the
unpermitted fill; and
c. all required elements of the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SPPP) in accordance with
Part III Section A of the permit for the last 3 years; 2 and
d. all required analytical monitoring in accordance with Part III section B of the permit for the
last 3 years; and
e. all required on -site vehicle maintenance monitoring requirements in accordance with Part III
2
If a SPPP was not developed, provide a detailed explanation of your reason(s) for not developing a SPPP.

4
section C of the permit for the last 3 years; and
f. all required qualitative monitoring requirements in accordance with Part III section D of the
permit for the last 3 years; and
g. all required wastewater information in accordance with Part III section E of the permit for the
last 3 years.

AV
ENCLOSURE B
RIGHT TO ASSERT BUSINESS CONFIDENTIALITY CLAIMS
Except for effluent and biological data, you may, if you desire, assert a business confidentiality claim as
to any or all of the information that EPA is requesting from you. The EPA regulation relating to business
confidentiality claims is found at 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 2.40 CFR § 2.203(b)
states that "A business which is submitting information to EPA may assert a business confidentiality
claim covering the information by placing on (or attaching to) the information, at the time it is submitted
to EPA, a cover sheet, stamped or typed legend, or other suitable form of notice employing language
such as "trade secret," "proprietary," or "company confidential." Allegedly confidential portions of
otherwise non -confidential documents should be clearly identified by the business, and may be
submitted separately to facilitate identification and handling by EPA. If the business desires confidential
treatment only until a certain date or until the occurrence of a certain event, the notice should so state."
If you assert such a claim for the requested information, the EPA will only disclose the information to
the extent and under the procedures set out in the cited regulations. If no business confidentiality claim
accompanies the information, the EPA may make the information available to the public without any
further notice to you.

1
Ja��ED STq�s
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
REGION 4
o ATLANTA FEDERAL CENTER
Z;F 61 FORSYTH STREET
q4 PR ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303-8960
APR 2 3 2015
CERTIFIED MAIL 7010 1060 0002 1703 8464
RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
Mr. John Walker
The Quartz Corporation
100 Mansell Court East, Suite 300
Roswell, Georgia 30076-4860
Re: Clean Water Act § 308 Information Request
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit Nos: NC0000353 and NCG020818
Dear Mr. Walker:
On March 31, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 4 conducted compliance
evaluation inspections at the facilities covered by the above referenced National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES) permits. In order to further evaluate if the facilities are complying with
the terms and conditions of the Clean Water Act (CWA) and the NPDES permit, the EPA is requesting
that The Quartz Corporation provide the information described in Enclosure A, pursuant to
CWA § 308, 33 United States Code (USC) § 1318. Failure to provide a frill and complete response to
this information request or to adequately justify a failure to respond within the time frame specified
above may result in an EPA enforcement action pursuant to federal law, including, but not limited to
CWA § 309, 33 USC § 1319, and 18 USC § 1001. In accordance with 40 Code of Federal Regulations
§ 122.22, your response to this information request must be accompanied by a certification.' The
response should be provided within 30 days of receipt of this letter and should be submitted to:
Mr. Kip Tyler
U.S. EPA Region 4. Water Protection Division
NPDES Permitting and Enforcement Branch
Atlanta Federal Center, 61 Forsyth Street. SW
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960
The Quartz Corporation shall preserve until further notice all records (either written or electronic) that
exist at the time of receipt of this letter that relate to any of the matters set forth in this letter. The term
"records" shall be interpreted in the broadest sense to include information of every sort. The response to
this Information Request shall include assurance that these record protection provisions were put in
place, as required.
' Your response to this information request must be signed by a responsible company official and must include the following certification: "I certify
under penalty of law that this document and all attachments were prepared under my direction or supervision in accordance with a system designed
to assure that qualified personnel properly gather and evaluate the information submitted. Based on my inquiry of the person or persons who
manage the system. or those persons directly responsiblc for gathering the information. I certify that the information submitted is. to the best of my
knowledge and belief. true. accurate and complete. I am aware that there are significant penalties for submitting false information. including the
possibility of fine and imprisonment for knowing violations."
Internet Address (URL) • http://www.epa.gov
Recycled/Recyclable • Printed with Vegetable Oil Based Inks on Recycled Paper (Minimum 30% Postconsumer)

If The Quartz Corporation believes that any of the requested information constitutes confidential
business information, it may assert a confidentiality claim with respect to such information except for
effluent data. Further details, including how to make a business confidentiality claim, are found in
Enclosure B.
Also enclosed is a document entitled U.S. EPA Small Business Resources -Information Sheet to assist
The Quartz Corporation in understanding the compliance assistance resources available to you. Any
decision to seek compliance assistance at this time, however, does not relieve The Quartz Corporation of
its obligation to the EPA nor does it create any new rights or defenses and will not affect the EPA's
decision to pursue enforcement action. In addition, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
requires its registrants to periodically disclose environmental legal proceedings in statements filed with
the SEC. To assist The Quartz Corporation, the EPA has also enclosed a document entitled Notice of
Securities and Exchange Commission Registrants' Duty to Disclose Environmental Legal Proceedings.
If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Tyler at [phone] or via email at [e-mail].
Sincerely,
Denisse D. Diaz, Chief
NPDES Permitting and Enforcement Branch
Water Protection Division
Enclosures
cc: Ms. Linda Wiggs
NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Ms. Shawna Riddle
NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Mr. Jonathan Risgaard
NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Mr. Bradley Bennett
NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources

ENCLOSURE A
INFORMATION REQUEST PURSUANT TO CWA § 308
Instructions
1. Identify the person(s) responding to the Information Request.
2. Provide a separate narrative response to each and every question and subpart of a question set forth
in this Information Request.
3. Precede each answer with the text and the number of the question and its subpart to which the answer
corresponds.
4. All documents submitted must contain a notation indicating the question and subpart of the question
to which they are responsive.
5. In answering each Information Request Question and subpart thereto, identify all documents and
persons consulted, examined, or referred to in the preparation of each response and provide true and
accurate copies of all such documents.
6. If information not known or not available to you as of the date of submission of a response to this
Information Request should later become known or available to you, you must supplement your
response to the EPA. Moreover, should you find at any time after the submission of its response that
any portion of the submitted information is false or misrepresents the truth; you must notify the EPA
thereof as soon as possible.
7. Where specific information has not been memorialized in a document, but is nonetheless responsive
to a Request, you must respond to the Request with a written response.
8. If information responsive to this Information Request is not in your possession, custody or control,
then identify, if known, the person from whom such information may be obtained.
9. If you have reason to believe that there may be persons able to provide a more detailed or complete
response to any Information Request or who may be able to provide additional responsive
documents, identify such persons and the additional information or documents that they may have.
10. Information shall be provided for all companies, all subsidiaries, or other corporate affiliates under
common control that also participate in the ownership or operation of a Facility. Thus, the response
to each question concerning the company's activities should reflect information regarding each and
every such entity.
11. All documents should be provided in an electronic format using the following, as appropriate: MS
Word, MS Excel, MS Access, Geographic Information System (GIS) data, Adobe Acrobat PDF
format, or images in JPEG format. The data shall be accumulated and organized into a clearly
labeled and annotated format.

Definitions
1. The term "Document" includes any writings, drawings, graphs, charters, photographs, phone records,
field records, operation logs or notes, field round sheets, electronic mail, facsimile, supervisory
control, and data acquisition information, and other data compilations from which information can be
obtained, translated, if necessary, through detection devices into reasonably useable form.
Documents should be produced as they are kept in the usual course of business.
2. All terms not defined herein shall have their ordinary meanings, unless such terms are defined in the
Clean Water Act or its implementing regulations, in which case the statutory or regulatory definitions
shall control.
3. Words in the masculine may be construed in the feminine if appropriate, and vice versa, and words in
the singular may be construed in the plural if appropriate, and vice versa, in the context of a
particular question or questions.
4. The terms "And" and "Or" shall be construed either disjunctively or conjunctively as necessary to
bring within the scope of this Information Request any information which might otherwise be
construed outside it scope.
5. The term "Identify" means, with respect to a natural person, to set forth the person's name, present or
last known business address and business telephone number, present or last known home address and
home telephone number, and present or last known job title, position or business.
6. The term "Identify" means, with respect to a document, to provide its customary business
description; its date; its number, if any (invoice or purchase order number); the identity of the author,
addressee and/or recipient; and substance of the subject matter.
7. The term "Identify" means, with respect to a corporation, partnership, business trust or other
association or business entity (including a sole proprietorship), to set forth its full name, address,
legal form (e.g., corporation, partnership, etc.), organization, if any, and a brief description of its
business.
8. The term "NPDES" or "NPDES Permit" shall mean National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System permit or any state permit (i.e., NPDES), issued pursuant to the Clean Water Act.
9. The term "NCDENR" shall mean North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural
Resources.
10. The term "Discharge" shall mean the addition of any pollutant to waters of the United States, as that
term is applied under the Clean Water Act.
11. The term "Facility" shall mean any surface and underground mines, processing and preparation
plants, transportation facilities, and all associated operations owned or operated by You and
operating under NPDES Permits NC0000353 and NCG020818.
12. The term "You" and "Your" shall mean The Quartz Corporation and any parent corporation,
subsidiary or affiliate of Your Company, or other entity under common control, that also participates
in the ownership or operation of a Facility.

uestions
l . Specify the full legal name of Your Company, describe its legal form (corporation, partnership, etc.)
and state of incorporation if applicable. Please identify any parent corporation, subsidiary or affiliate
of Your Company, or other entity, that participates in the ownership or operation of a Facility. With
respect to any such entity, list its name and address, legal form, and (if applicable) the state of
incorporation, the principal place of business and provide the name and mailing address of the
registered agent for this facility.
2. Provide a list of all Facilities owned or operated by Your Company in the State of North Carolina,
including the name, address, and contact information for each Facility, NPDES permit number, and
NCDENR permit number.
3. Provide the following information for NC0000353 and NCG020818:
a. the NPDES permit, the application, and all supporting application documents; and
b. all effluent and in -stream monitoring information conducted during the last 3 years including
discharge monitoring reports and whole effluent toxicity results; and
c. the location (latitude and longitude) of the upstream and downstream sampling points.
4. Provide the following information for NC0000353:
a. a description of all products produced at the facility, a description of the treatment processes, a
list of chemicals used in each treatment process, the mass and concentrations of each chemical
used in each treatment process, and the influent and effluent flow rates (maximum and average)
for each product produced; and
b. all water withdrawal records including the water withdrawal permit for the last 3 years.
5. Provide the following information for NCG020818 for the last 3 years:
a. all correspondence between Your Company and NCDENR regarding representative outfall
sampling; and
b. all required elements of the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SPPP) in accordance with
Part III Section A of the permit; 2 and
c. all required analytical monitoring in accordance with Part III section B of the permit; and
d. all required on -site vehicle maintenance monitoring requirements in accordance with Part III
section C of the permit; and
e. all required qualitative monitoring requirements in accordance with Part III section D of the
permit; and
f. all required wastewater information in accordance with Part III section E of the permit.
2 If a SPPP was not developed, provide a detailed explanation of your reason(s) for not developing a SPPP.

ENCLOSURE B
RIGHT TO ASSERT BUSINESS CONFIDENTIALITY CLAIMS
Except for effluent and biological data, you may, if you desire, assert a business confidentiality claim as to
any or all of the information that EPA is requesting from you. The EPA regulation relating to business
confidentiality claims is found at 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 2.40 CFR § 2.203(b) states
that "A business which is submitting information to EPA may assert a business confidentiality claim
covering the information by placing on (or attaching to) the information, at the time it is submitted to EPA,
a cover sheet, stamped or typed legend, or other suitable form of notice employing language such as "trade
secret," "proprietary," or "company confidential." Allegedly confidential portions of otherwise
non -confidential documents should be clearly identified by the business, and may be submitted separately
to facilitate identification and handling by EPA. If the business desires confidential treatment only until a
certain date or until the occurrence of a certain event, the notice should so state."
If you assert such a claim for the requested information, the EPA will only disclose the information to the
extent and under the procedures set out in the cited regulations. If no business confidentiality claim
accompanies the information, the EPA may make the information available to the public without any
further notice to you.

North Carolina
Pat McCrory
Governor
Gregory Taveras
The Quartz Corp, USA
PO Box 309
Spruce Pine, NC 28777
Dear Mr. Taveras:
NCDEE R
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
Charles Wakild, P. E. John Skvada
Director Secretary
February 13, 2013
Subject: NPDES General Permit NCG020000
Certificate of Coverage NCG020274
Pine Mountain M&P
Mitchell County
Division personnel received your request to revise your stormwater permit Certificate of Coverage to
accurately reflect your new company and/or facility name.
Please find enclosed the revised Certificate of Coverage. The terms and conditions contained in the
General Permit remain unchanged and in full effect. This revised Certificate of Coverage is issued under
the requirements of North Carolina General Statutes 143-215.1 and the Memorandum of Agreement
between North Carolina and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
If you have any questions, please contact the Stormwater Permitting Unit at 919-807-6300.
Sincerely,
ORIGINAL SIGNED 61
KEN PICKI.I°
for Charles Wakild, P.E.
cc: Asheville Regional Office
Central Files
Stormwater Permitting Unit
Wetlands and Stormwater Branch
1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
Location: 512 N. Salisbury St. Raleigh, North Carolina 27604
Phone: [phone] FAX: 91M07-64941 Customer Service: 1-877-623-6748
Internet: www.nmaterquality.org
NoAhCarolina
Naturally
An Equal Opportunity \ AKrmalive Action Employer

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
DIVISION OF WATER QUALITY
GENERAL PERMIT NO. NCG020000
CERTIFICATE OF COVERAGE No. NCG020274
STORMWATER AND PROCESS WASTEWATER DISCHARGES
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 Quartz Corp, USA
is hereby authorized to discharge stormwater and to operate treatment systems and discharges associated
with mine dewatering wastewater and process wastewater from a facility located at
Pine Mountain M&P
8342 South 226 Bypass
Spruce Pine
Asheville County
to receiving waters designated as the North Toe River, a class C TR, waters in the French Broad River
Basin in accordance with the effluent limitations, monitoring requirements, and other conditions set forth
in Parts I, II, III, IV, V and VI of General Permit No. NCG020000 as attached.
This certificate of coverage shall become effective February 13, 2013.
This Certificate of Coverage shall remain in effect for the duration of the General Permit.
Signed this day February 13, 2013.
ORIGINAL SIGNED B)
KEN PICKI.I°
for Charles Wakild, P.E., Director
Division of Water Quality
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission

ADivision of Water Quality / Surface Water Protection
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
NCDENR
PERMIT NAME/OWNERSHIP CHANGE FORM
FOR AGENCY USE ONLY
Date Received
Year I Month
I Da
I. Please enter the permit number for which the change is requested.
NPDES Permit (or) Certificate of Coverage
N I C I S 10 N I C I G 10 12 1 0 12 17 14
II. Permit status prior to requested change.
a. Permit issued to (company. name): THE FELDSPAR CORPORATION
b. Person legally responsible for permit: GREGORY TAVERAS
c. Facility name (discharge):
d. Facility address:
First MI Last
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
Title
P.O. BOX 309
Permit Holder Mailing Address
SPRUCE PINE NC 28777
City State Zip
[phone] [phone]
Phone Fax
PINE MOUNTAIN M&P
8342 SOUTH 226 BYPASS
Address
SPRUCE PINE NC 28777
City State Zip
e. Facility contact person: PEGGY DORTCH ( 828 ) 765-8956
First / MI / Last Phone
III. Please provide the following for the requested change (revised permit).
a. Request for change is a result of: ❑ Change in ownership of the facility
® Name change of the facility or owner
If other please explain:
b. Permit issued to (company name): THE QUARTZ CORP., USA
c. Person legally responsible for permit: GREGORY TAVERAS
First MI Last
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
Title
P.O. BOX 309
Permit Holder Mailing Address
SPRUCE PINE NC 28777
City State Zip
[phone] x7012
Phone E-mail Address
d. Facility name (discharge): PINE MOUNTAIN M&P
e. Facility address: 8342 SOUTH 226 BYPASS
Address
SPRUCE PINE NC 28777
^� City State Zip
f. Facility p V GLENN YOUNG
First MI Last
FEg M�.� 0 1 2013 (828 ) 765-9621 X7025
Phone E-mail Address
Revised 2012Apr23

NPDES PERMIT NAME/OWNERSHIP CHANGE FORM
Page 2 of 2
W. Permit contact information (if different from the person legally responsible for the permit)
Permit contact: PEGGY A DORTCH
First MI Last
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGER
Title
P.O. BOX 309
Mailing Address
SPRUCE PINE NC 28777
City State Zip
(828 )765-8956 peggy.dortch®thequartzcorp.com
Phone E-mail Address
V. Will the permitted facility continue to conduct the same industrial activities conducted prior
to this ownership or name change?
F Yes
❑ No (please explain)
VI. Required Items: THIS APPLICATION WILL BE RETURNED UNPROCESSED IF ITEMS
ARE INCOMPLETE OR MISSING:
0 This completed application is required for both name change and/or ownership change
requests.
❑ Legal documentation of the transfer of ownership (such as relevant pages of a contract deed,
or a bill of sale) is required for an ownership change request. Articles of incorporation are
not sufficient for an ownership change.
......................................................................................................................
The certifications below must be completed and signed by both the permit holder prior to the change, and
the new applicant in the case of an ownership change request. For a name change request, the signed
Applicant's Certification is sufficient.
PERMITTEE CERTIFICATION (Permit holder prior to ownership change):
I, , attest that this application for a name/ownership change has been reviewed and is accurate and
complete to the best of my knowledge. I understand that if all required parts of this application are not
completed and that if all required supporting information is not included, this application package will be
returned as incomplete.
Signature Date
APPLICANT CERTIFICATION
1, GREG attest that this lication for a name/ownership change has been reviewed and is accurate and
complete to the best y knowledge. I understand that if all required parts of this application are not
completed and that 1 requ' supporting information is not included, this application package will be
returned as incomp e.
/bg/�s
Si anve Date
PLEASE SEND THE COMPLETE APPLICATION PACKAGE TO:
Division of Water Quality
Surface Water Protection Section
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
Revised 7/2008

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C201234802198
,• SOSiD: 0073741
Date Filed:12/13/2012 4:39:00 PM
Effective: 12/31/2012
Elaine F. Marshall
North Carolina Secretary of State
C201234802198
ARTICLES OF MERGER
OF
THE FELDSPAR CORPORATION
(a North Carolina corporation)
WITH AND INTO
K-T FELDSPAR CORPORATION
(a North Carolina corporation)
Pursuant to Section 55-11-05 of the North Carolina Business Corporation Act,
K T Feldspar Corporation, a North Carolina corporation, as the surviving corporation,
hereby submits the following Articles of Merger.
1. The name of the merging corporation is The Feldspar Corporation, a corporation
organized under the laws of the State of North Carolina.
2. The name of the surviving corporation is K-T Feldspar Corporation, a corporation
organized under the laws of the State of North Carolina,
3. An Agreement and Plan of Merger has been approved by each merging
corporation in the manner required by law.
4. These Articles of Merger and the merger contemplated hereby shall be effective at
11:58 p.m. local time on December 31, 2012.
[Signature on following page]
LBOALo2/334955170

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SOSID: 0073741
Date Filed:1VI312012 4:45:00 PM
Effective: 12/31/2011
Elaine F. Marshall
North Carolina Secretary of State
C201234802199
ARTICLES OF MERGER
OF
THE QUARTZ CORP USA
(Parent Corporation)
WITH AND INTO
K-T FELDSPAR CORPORATION
(Subsidiary Corporation)
KCIiA1.MS& W 10GGUVii JJ-11-VJ W Wro 11VIMI %aU&V1111t2 &JuvuaGas vviyumuvu rLut,
K-T Feldspar Corporation, a North Carolina corporation, as the surviving corporation,
hereby submits the following Articles of Merger.
1. The name of the merging corporation is The Quartz Corp USA, a corporation
organized under the laws of the State of Delaware.
2. The name of the surviving corporation is K-T Feldspar Corporation, a corporation
organized under the laws of the State of North Carolina.
3. An Agreement and Plan of Merger has been approved by each merging
corporation in the manner required by law.
4. The Agreement and Plan of Merger provides that the surviving corporation will
amend its Articles of incorporation to change the name of the surviving
corporation to "The Quartz Corp USA"
5. These Articles of Merger and the merger contemplated hereby shall be effective at
11:59 p.m. local time on December 31, 2012.
[Signature on following page)
LEGAL02/3349130M

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\o��F W ATF9oG Beverly Eaves Perdue, Governor
y Dee Freeman, Secretary
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
O 'C
Coleen H. Sullins, Director
Division of Water Quality
SURFACE WATER PROTECTION SECTION
PERMIT NAME/OWNERSHIP CHANGE FORM
I. Please enter the permit number for which the change is requested.
NPDES Permit
(or) Certificate of Coverage
N I C 10 10 1 77=771
IN I C
I G 1 0 1 2
0
2
7
4
II. Permit status prior to requested change.
a. Permit issued to (company name):
K-T Feldspar Corporation
b. Person legally responsible for permit:
Gregory Taverns
First MI Last
Operations Manager
Title
8342 South 226 Bypass, P.O. Box 309
Permit Holder Mailing Address
Spruce Pine NC 28777
City State Zip
[phone] [phone]
Phone Fax
c. Facility name (discharge):
Pine Mountain M&P
d. Facility address:
Hwy 226 North
Address
Spruce Pine NC 28777
City State Zip
e. Facility contact person:
Greg Taveras [phone]
First / MI / Last Phone
III. Please provide the following for the requested change (revised permit).
a. Request for change is a result of:
X Change in ownership of the facility
❑ Name change of the facility or owner
If other please explain: Change Owner from Imerys USA, Inc to The Quartz Corp USA
b. Permit issued to (company name):
K-T Feldspar Corporation
c. Person legally responsible for permit:
Gregory Taverns
In
I 71m� P
0 4 2011 1FMA�
I i
POINT L'P.ANCH
d. Facility name (discharge):
e. Facility address:
f. Facility contact person:
First MI Last
US Operations Director
Title
8342 South 226 Bypass, P.O. Box 309
Permit Holder Mailing Address
Spruce Pine NC 28777
City State Zip
[phone] [e-mail]
Phone E-mail Address
Pine Mountain M&P
Hwv 226 North
Address
Spruce Pine NC 28777
City State Zip
Todd Mickleborough
First MI Last
[phone] [e-mail]
Phone E-mail Address
Revised 8/2008

PERMIT NAME/OWNERSHIP CHANGE FORM
Page 2 of 2
IV. Permit contact information (if different from the person legally responsible for the permit)
Permit contact: Peggy A Dortch
First MI Last
Environmental Manager
Title
P.O. Box 309
Mailing Address
Spruce Pine NC 28777
City State Zip
[phone] Peggy.dortch(a),thequartzcorp.com
Phone E-mail Address
V. Will the permitted facility continue to conduct the same industrial activities conducted prior to
this ownership or name change?
X Yes
❑ No (please explain)
VI. Required Items: THIS APPLICATION WILL BE RETURNED UNPROCESSED IF ITEMS
ARE INCOMPLETE OR MISSING:
X This completed application is required for both name change and/or ownership change requests.
X Legal documentation of the transfer of ownership (such as relevant pages of a contract deed, or a
bill of sale) is required for an ownership change request. Articles of incorporation are not
sufficient for an ownership change.
.....................................................................................................................
The certifications below must be completed and signed by both the permit holder prior to the change, and the
new applicant in the case of an ownership change request. For a name change request, the signed Applicant's
Certification is sufficient.
PERMITTEE CERTIFICATION (Permit holder prior to ownership change):
I, Gregory TaverK
est that this application for a name/ownership change has been reviewed and is accurate
and complete to st of knowledge. I understand that if all required parts of this application are not
completed and tll r uired supporting information is not included, this application package will be
returned as inc. %
Date
I, Gregory Taveras, attes at this application for a name/ownership change has been reviewed and is accurate
and complete to the be of my knowledge. I understand that if all required parts of this application are not
completed and that i requi? supporting information is not included, this application package will be
returned as incomo e%
Date
PLEASE SEND THE COMPLETE APPLICATION PACKAGE TO:
Division of Water Quality
Surface Water Protection Section
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
Revised 712008

THEIWQUARTZ'-
CORP
Spruce Pine Operations
The Feldspar Corporation & K-T Feldspar Corporation
DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY
April 1, 2011
Signature Authorization For National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Discharge
Monitoring Reports (DMR's), Permit Applications And Related Documents; For All Mine Permit
Applications and Related Documents, And All Other Permits and Licenses Associated With Spruce
Pine Feldspar Operations
Whereas our NPDES permits, Radioactive Materials Licenses and our Land Quality permit requirements have
become more involved, and to better manage these requirements, as of the signature date below, the following
employees, or employees who may subsequently hold the same positions, are authorized agents of the principle
executive officer to sign the NPDES and Land Quality mine permit renewal and modification applications and
related documents. Employees registered as the Operator in Responsible Charge (ORC) pursuant to North Carolina
State Regulations (15a NCAC 8g) are specifically authorized by rule to sign NPDES Discharge Monitoring Reports
(DMR's). This delegation of authority applies to The Feldspar Corporation and K-T Feldspar Corporation
miningand nd pro
duction operations in and. related to Spruce Pine, NC.
Permit Authority
for in sponsible C ORC Authority
Greg Taveras — U.S. Operations Manager
Eddie Duncan — ORC for KT Feldspar
S. Todd Mickleborough —Mining Engineer, Spruce
Danny Thomas — Backup ORC for KT Feldspar
Pine Operations
Glenn Young — Feldspar Production Manager, K-T
Tim Calloway — ORC for The Feldspar Corporation
Feldspar
Jerry Prosser — Feldspar Production Manager, The
Joe Pittman — Backup ORC for The Feldspar
Feldspar Corporation
Corporation
Peggv Dortch — Environmental Manager, Spruce Pine
Operations
Jeff Stoll — Health & Safety Manager
RSO Authority for KT Feldspar and The Feldspar
Cor oratio
4•i'il
Date
Datd

STOCK.PURCHASE AGENT
THIS STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT (thus "Agreement! ) is dated as of March 3 i.
2011, by and between Imerys USA, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Seller"), and The Quartz
Corp USA, a Delaware corporation ("Purchaser").
WHEREAS, Seller and Mircal S.A. ("1VI ) are related entities within the larger
Imerys group of companies;
WHEREAS, Seller owns 100% of the shares (the "Shares") of both The Feldspar
Corporation, a North Carolina corporation ('ITC"), and K-T Feldspar Corporation, a North
Carolina corporation ("K-r") (collectively, the "Purchased Entities I both of which are a part of
the Imerys quartz business;
WHEREAS, Mircal has entered into that certain Master Agent dated December 23,
2010 (the "Master Agreement") with Norsk Mineral A.S. ("Norsk"), pursuant to which (a)
Mircal's affiliate hnerys USA, Inc. has agreed to transfer the shares of the Purchased Entities to
The Quartz Corp USA, a company owned by The Quartz Corp SAS and (b) Norsk has agreed to
transfer the shares of certain subsidiaries to The Quartz Corp SAS;
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Master Agreement and, in order to consummate the
transactions contemplated thereby, Seller desires to sell to Purchaser, and Purchaser desires to
purchase from Seller, the Shares; and
WHEREAS, capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined herein shall have the
meaning ascribed to such terms in the Master Agreement.
NOW THEREFORE, pursuant to the Master Agreement and in consideration of the
purchase price, mutual agreements set forth below and other good and valuable consideration,
the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties -agree as follows:
1. Sale of Shares.
(a) Transfer of Shares. Seller agrees to sell, transfer, assign and deliver the
Shares to Purchaser on the Closing Date.
(b) Consideration. Upon the execution of this Agreement and as the sole and
exclusive consideration for the sale of the Shares, Purchaser agrees to pay to Seller
$12,000,000.00 for the shares of K-T and $18,000,000.00 for the shares of TFC, for an aggregate
purchase price of $30,000,000.00, by wire transfer of immediately available U.S. Dollars on the
Closing Date.
2. The Closing.
(a) Closing. Date. The purchase and sale of the Shares shall take place on the
Closing Date.
LEGALOW2"2351v8

(b) Deliveries. 4n the Closing Date, Seller shall deliver to Purchaser, or shall
caused to be delivered to Purchaser, the following:
(i) original stockcertificates representing the Shares executed for
transfer or accompanied by executed stock powers;
(ii) all company books, stock transfer records, corporate seals,
certificate of incorporation and other corporate and shareholder records (all of which shall be up-
to-date) of both of the Purchased Entities;
(iii) unconditional resignation letters, effective on the Closing Date,
from all the directors of the Purchased Entities;
(iv) evidence with regard to the transactions contemplated by the
Master Agreement that, in accordance with applicable labor laws, all required consultation
Procedures have been duly carried out at the local level;
(v) a list of all bank accounts and names of all persons having
signature authority over any such account and a list of the names of each person or entity holding
a proxy, general or special power of attorney, or other similar instrument from the Purchased
Entities; and
(vi) an assignment document assigning the Imerys Excluded Quartz
Assets and Liabilities from the Purchased Entities to Seller.
(c) Excluded Assets and Liabilities. Pursuant to the Master Agreement, Seller
shall not sell and Purchaser shall not purchase or acquire and Purchaser shall not assume or
become liable for any assets or liabilities, as the case may be, contained in the fraMs Excluded
Quartz Assets and Liabilities.
3. R_ ue resentations and Warranties.
(a) By Seller. Seller hereby represents and warrants to Purchaser as follows:
0) Seller is the record and beneficial owner of the Shares. The Shares
represent 100% of the outstanding capital stock of the Purchased Entities, and represent all of
Seller's right, title and interest in the Purchased Entities. Seller has good and marketable title to
the Shares and the absolute right to transfer the Shares to Purchaser and such Shares, upon
transfer to Purchaser, will be free and clear of all claims, liens, pledges, restrictions or
encumbrances of any nature whatsoever.
0i) Seller has the power and authority to execute and deliver this
Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and this
Agreement is valid and binding upon and enforceable against Seller in accordance with its terms.
LF.GAM32"2357v8 2

follows: (b) $y„_Purchaser. Purchaser hereby represents and warrants to Seller as
(i) Purchaser has the power and authority to execute and deliver this
Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and this
Agreement is valid and binding upon and enforceable against Purchaser in accordance with its
terms.
(ii) Purchaser is acquiring the Shares for its own account, with the
intention of holding the Shares for investment and with no present intention of dividing or
allowing others to participate in this investment or of reselling or otherwise participating,
directly or indirectly, in a distribution of the Shares; and it will not make any We., transfer or
other disposition of the Shares without registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Securities Act"), and any state securities laws unless an exemption from
registration is available under the Securities Act and any state securities- laws.
4. Good Faith Efforts; Further Assurances; Coo ration. Seller and Purchaser shall
in hood faith undertake to perform their obligations in this Agreement and cause the transactions
contemplated in this Agreement to be carried out promptly in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement. Upon the execution of this Agreement and thereafter, each party shall promptly
execute such documents and other instruments and take such further actions as may be
reasonably requested by the other party in order more effectively to consummate or to document
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
5. Miscellaneous.
(a) Effective Date. Notwithstanding the date first above written, Mircal and
Norsk have agreed, pursuant to Section 3.1 of the Master Agreement, that for accounting and
financial purposes, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be deemed to be
effective as of January 1, 2011.
(b) Master Agreement. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed
to supersede, diminish, enlarge on or modify any provision or any obligations, agreements,
covenants or representations and warranties of Mircal or Norsk contained in the Master
Agreement (all of which survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement as provided, and
subject to the limitations set forth, in the Master Agreement). If any conflict. exists between the
terms of this Agreement and the Master Agreement, then the terms of the Master Agreement
shall govern and control.
(c) Survival, All the covenants, provisions, agreements, representations and
warranties provided by this Agreement shall survive the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and all of the transactions contemplated hereby.
(d) As—signment. This Agreement may not be assigned or delegated by any
party without the prior written consent of the other.
-3-
LEGALM2442357v8

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Michael F. Easley, Governor
William G. Ross Jr., Secretary
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Alan W. Klimek, P.E. Director
Division of Water Quality
February 7, 2005
Dennis M Buchanan
K-T Feldspar Corporation
PO Box 309
Spruce Pine, NC 28777
Subject: NPDES Stormwater Permit Coverage Renewal
K-T Feldspar Corp -Pine Mount M&P
COC Number NCG020274
Mitchell County
Dear Permittee:
In response to your renewal application for continued coverage under general permit NCG020000 the Division of Water
Quality (DWQ) is forwarding herewith the reissued stormwater general permit. Please review the new permit to familiarize
yourself with the changes in the reissued permit. The general permit authorizes discharges of stormwater and some types of
wastewater. You must meet the provisions of the permit for the types of discharges present at your facility. This permit is
reissued pursuant to the requirements of North Carolina General Statute 143-215.1 and the Memorandum of Agreement
between the state of North Carolina and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, dated December 6, 1983.
The following information is included with your permit package:
• A new Certificate of Coverage
• A copy of General Stormwater Permit NCG020000
• A copy of a Technical Bulletin for the general permit
• Five copies of Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR) Forms - wastewater and stormwater
• Five copies of Qualitative Monitoring Report Form
Your coverage under this general permit is not transferable except after notice to DWQ. The Division may require modification
or revocation and reissuance of the Certificate of Coverage. This permit does not affect the legal requirements to obtain other
permits which may be required by DENR or relieve the permittee from responsibility for compliance with any other applicable
federal, state, or local law, rule, standard, ordinance, order, judgment, or decree.
If you have any questions regarding this permit package please contact Bethany Georgoulias of the Central Office Stormwater
Permitting Unit at [phone], ext.529.
Sincerely,
for Alan W. Klimek, P.E.
cc: Central Files
Stormwater & General Permits Unit Files
Asheville Regional Office
°cCarolina
AaWrally
North Carolina Division of Water Quality 1617 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1617 Phone [phone] Customer Service
Internet: h2o.enr.state.nc.uslsulstormwater.html 512 N. Salisbury St. Raleigh, NC 27604 FAX [phone]
An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer — 50% Recycled110% Post Consumer Paper

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
DIVISION OF WATER QUALITY
GENERAL PERMIT NO. NCG020000
CERTIFICATE OF COVERAGE No. NCG020274
STORMWATER AND PROCESS WASTEWATER DISCHARGES
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,
K-T Feldspar Corporation
is hereby authorized to discharge stormwater and to operate treatment systems and discharges associated
with mine dewatering wastewater and process wastewater from a facility located at
K-T Feldspar Corp -Pine Mount M&P
Hwy. 226 North
Spruce Pine
Mitchell County
to receiving waters designated as the North Toe River, a class C TR stream in the French Broad River
Basin in accordance with the effluent limitations, monitoring requirements, and other conditions set forth in
Parts I, II, III, IV, V, and VI of General Permit No. NCG020000 as attached.
This certificate of coverage shall become effective February 7, 2005.
This Certificate of Coverage shall remain in effect for the duration of the General Permit.
Signed this day February 7, 2005
for Alan W. Klimek, P.E., Director
Division of Water Quality
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission

State of North Carolina
Department of Environment
and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
James B. Hunt, Jr., Governor
Bill Holman, Secretary
Kerr T. Stevens, Director
December 17, 1999
DENNIS M. BUCHANAN
K-T FELDSPAR CORP. - PINE MOUNTAIN MINE & PLANT
PO BOX 309
SPRUCE PINE, NC 28777
Dear Permittee:
1••
%MOW
NCDENR
NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Subject: Reissue - NPDES Stormwater Permit
K-T Feldspar Corp. - Pine Mountain Mine & Plant
COC Number NCG020274
Mitchell County
In response to your renewal application for continued coverage under general permit NCG020000, the Division of
Water Quality (DWQ) is forwarding herewith the reissued stormwater general permit. This permit is reissued
pursuant to the requirements of North Carolina General Statute 143-215.1 and the Memorandum of Agreement
between the state of North Carolina and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, dated December 6, 1983.
The following information is included with your permit package:
* A copy of general stormwater permit NCG020000
* Five copies of the Analytical Monitoring form and five copies of the Qualitative Monitoring form
* A copy of a Technical Bulletin on this permit which outlines permit components and
addresses frequently asked questions
* A Certificate of Coverage for your facility
* DWQ fee schedule
Your coverage under this general permit is not transferable except after notice to DWQ. The Division may require
modification or revocation and reissuance of the Certificate of Coverage. This permit does not affect the legal
requirements to obtain other permits which may be required by DENR or relieve the permittee from responsibility
for compliance with any other applicable federal, state, or local law rule, standard, ordinance, order, judgment, or
decree.
Please note that in 1998 Senate Bill 1366 established changes to the permit fee structure for DWQ permits effective
January 1, 1999. This change requires that you pay an annual fee to assure continued coverage under this permit.
You will be invoiced for this fee beginning next year. A copy of the current fee schedule is included with this letter.
If you have any questions regarding this permit package please contact Tony Evans of the Central Office Stormwater
and General Permits Unit at [phone], ext. 584
Sincerely,
for Kerr T. Stevens
Director, Division of Water Quality
cc: Central Files
Asheville Regional Office
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

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIR014NMNT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
DIVISION OF WATER QUALITY
GENERAL PERMIT NO. NCG020000
CERTIFICATE OF COVERAGE No. NCG020274
STORMWATER AND PROCESS WASTEWATER DISCHARGES
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,
K-T FELDSPAR CORP.
is hereby authorized to discharge stormwater and to operate or continue operation of treatment systems and
discharges associated with mine dewatering and process wastewater from a facility located at
K-T FELDSPAR CORP. - PINE MOUNTAIN MINE & PLANT
HIGHWAY 226 NORTH
SPRUCE PINE
MITCHELL COUNTY
to receiving waters designated as the North Toe River in the French Broad River Basin in accordance with the
effluent limitations, monitoring requirements, and other conditions set forth in Parts I, II, III, IV, V, and VI of
General Permit No. NCG020000 as attached.
This certificate of coverage shall become effective December 17, 1999.
This Certificate of Coverage shall remain in effect for the duration of the General Permit.
Signed this day December 17, 1999.
B"n
for Kerr T. Stevens, Director
Division of Water Quality
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission

ANTWA
, NORTH CAROLINA DIVISION OF WATER QUALITY
��- WATER QUALITY SECTION
NCDENR
��STORMWATER AND GENERAL PERMITS UNIT
May 3, 1999
1 T•
TO: Mr. B. Thomas
K-T Feldspar Corporation
FROM: Darren England
SUBJECT: NOI return
Pine Mountain Mine (NCG020274)
Mitchell county
As per our conversation on Friday, April 30`", I am returning the NOI form and $400.00 check
(#034354) that you submitted on behalf of the K-T Feldspar Corporations Pine Mountain Mine.
A certificate of coverage (COC) had previously been issued for the mine, therefore a new NOI
was not required at this time. Enclosed you will find copies of the COC's for the Pine Mountain
Mine and the Buna Mine. If you have any questions, please contact me at 919-733-5083, ext.
545

Late of North Carolina
Department of Environment,
Health and Natural Resources
Division of Environmental Management
James B. Hunt, Jr., Governor
Jonathan B. Howes, Secretary
A. Preston Howard, Jr., P.E., Director
August 26, 1994
Mr. Dennis M. Buchanan
K-T Feldspar Corporation
P.O. Box 309
Spruce Pine, NC 28777
A��
�EHNR
Subject: General Permit No. NCG020000
K-T Feldspar Corporation
COC NCG020274
Mitchell County
Dear Mr. Buchanan:
In accordance with your application for discharge permit received on July 6, 1994, we are forwarding
herewith the subject certificate of coverage to discharge under the subject state - NPDES general 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 request an individual permit by submitting an individual permit
application. Unless such demand is made, this certificate of coverage shall be final and binding.
Please take notice that this certificate of coverage is not transferable except after notice to the Division
of Environmental Management. The Division of Environmental Management may require modification or
revocation and reissuance of the certificate of coverage.
This permit does not affect the legal requirements to obtain other permits which may be required by the
Division of Environmental Management 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 Steve Ulmer at telephone number 919/733-
5083.
Sincerely, ,na, Sior..ed By
Gngeen Ws6i"s
Cb
A. Preston Howard, Jr., P. E.
cc: Asheville Regional Office
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

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH, AND NATURAL RESOURCES
DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
GENERAL PERMIT NO, NCG020000
-CER-TTFUCATE OF COVERAGE NO, NCG020274
STORMWATER, MINE DEWATERING, AND/OR OVERFLOW FROM
PROCESS WATER RECYCLE SYSTEMS DISCHARGES
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,
K-T Feldspar Corporation
is hereby authorized to operate or continue operation of a treatment system for mine dewatering and/or recycle
systems process wastewater overflow with the discharges of treated wastewater and discharge stormwater from a
facility located at
K-T Feldspar Corporation (Pine Mountain Mine)
NC Highway 226 North
Spruce Pine
Mitchell County
to receiving waters designated as North Toe River in the French Broad River Basin
in accordance with the effluent limitations, monitoring requirements, and other conditions set forth in Parts I, H, III
and IV of General Permit No. NCGO20000 as attached
This Certificate of Coverage shall become effective August 26,1994.
This Certificate of Coverage shall remain in effect for the duration of the General Permit.
Signed this day August 26, 1994.
rA
��aleer. -
A. Preston Howard, Jr., P.E., Director
Division of Environmental Management
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission

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