NC0036935_Fact Sheet_20200918

DENR/DWQ
EXPEDITED FACT SHEET - NPDES PERMIT DEVELOPMENT
NPDES Permit: NCO036935
2020 Renewal
This form must be completed by Permit Writers for all expedited permits which do not require full Fact Sheets.
Expedited permits are generally simple 100% domestics (e.g., schools, mobile home parks, etc.) that can be
administratively renewed with minor changes, but can include facilities with more complex issues (Special
Conditions, 303(d) listed water, toxicity testing, instream monitoring, compliance concerns).
Facility and Stream Information
Applicant/Facility Name:
Pine Mountain POA Pine Mountain Lakes WWTP
Applicant Address:
2885 Pine Mountain Drive; Connelly Springs, NC 28612
Facility Address:
Off Wards Gap Road NCSR 1901 ; Connelly Springs, NC
Facility Class Permit Status:
Grade II Biolo
ical WPCS Renewal
Permitted Flow (as -built)
0.0696 MGD 0.020
Type of Waste
100% Domestic
Receiving Stream
Jacob Fork
Stream Class ID
ws-III,ORW / [11-129-2-(4)]
7Q10 Sum Win cfs
6.5 9.5
30Q2 cfs
10.9
Avg. Stream Flow (cfs)
32.4
IWC (%)
1.6 % (based on permit flow)
0.47 % (based on as -built flow)
Subbasin
03-08-35
USGS Too
E12SE Casar, NC
County
Burke
Regional Office
ARO
Basic Information for
Expedited Permit Renewal
Permit Writer Date
Bradley Bennett July 1, 2020 - Updated Sept. 14, 2020
Does permit need daily max NH3 limits?
Already included in existing permit - Monitoring
only
Does permit need TRC limits/language?
Already included in existing permit
Does permit have toxicity testing?
No
Does permit have Special Conditions?
Not in draft but added after notice
Does permit have instream monitoring?
Not in drat but added after notice
Stream on 303 d List? For w arameter?
No; other than statewide mercury
Any compliance concerns?
See compliance discussion below
Any modifications since lastpermit?
None noted in application
New expiration date:
July 31, 2025
Any Changes to permit after public notice
I Yes - explained through Fact Sheet & in Addendum
FACILITY OVERVIEW:
This facility is 100% domestic waste. The current treatment system has an as -built capacity of 0.020 MGD. The
facility is permitted for a discharge of up to 0.0696 MGD with appropriate treatment system modifications
under an approved authorization to construct. The treatment system consists of the following wastewater
treatment components:
♦ Influent pump station
♦ Manual bar screen
♦ Equalization tank w/airlift geyser pump
♦ Flow control box
♦ Aeration basin
♦ Dual hoppered clarifiers
♦ Aerobic digester
♦ Tablet chlorinator
♦ Chlorine contact tank
♦ Concrete junction box
♦ Polishing pond
No modifications were noted or proposed in the current application.

Update after notice of draft: Comments provided during the public notice process expressed concerns about a
potential increase in flow to the treatment system due to a restart in use of a hotel that is within the
development and connected to the treatment system. The permit has discharge and flow limits that must be
met and that will continue to govern the operation of the system. In addition, the regional office has been
working with the owner and operator to update the flow measurement device for the treatment system to
assure accurate characterization of the system's flow. The permit has been adjusted with the addition of a
footnote in the effluent tables that requires collection of effluent discharge samples at times that will best
assess the potential impact of onsite events that may increase flow to the system.
The most recent facility inspection (01/08/2020) noted recent effluent violation and notices of violation. The
inspection noted that staff had observed erosion issues that could impact the polishing pond and the effluent
line and stated that the erosion issues needed to be addressed. The report also noted issues with duckweed
growth on the finishing pond and surface of the aeration basin. Discussions with Regional Office staff indicate
that this facility has ongoing operation issues that the regional staff will continue to work with the permittee
on.
Other Facility Items:
• Facility discharges to a WS-III ORW water body. A request will be made for review by the Public Water
Supply staff in the Asheville Regional Office. Update: PWS staff approved of the permit renewal.
Documentation is included in the Fact Sheet attachments.
The facility was previously permitted to discharge at a flow of 0.0696 MGD prior to designation as an
ORW watershed. The second effluent limits page allows for discharge to this level again with an ATC to
bring the treatment system back to that capacity. Update: During the public notice process one
commenter requested that this second tier discharge be removed from the permit due to the surface
water classification as ORW waters. While the ORW rules do prohibit expansion of discharges to ORW
waters, this facility was previously permitted at the 0.0696 MGD level prior to the waters being
classified as ORW. The 0.0696MGD discharge is still considered to be the discharge limit for this facility
so this would not be considered an expansion of their discharge.
Sample types in 0.02MGD effluent page impacted by rule 213.0505 (c)(3)(B) for facilities < 0.03 MGD.
Update: After review of public comments the Division has adjusted the monitoring frequencies in the
final permit to require more frequent monitoring for BOD, TSS and Fecal Coliform. This will provide
additional data to assess the treatment system and its operation.
The current outfall location in BIMS is showing up in Virginia so this location has been updated in the
database and on the permit map.
COMPLIANCE:
The permittee has had three civil penalty assessment actions, all in 2020. These cases stem from limits
violations that occurred in late 2019 for Coliform, BOD and TSS. The total assessed amount for these three
cases is $3,009.35 ($2,600 in penalties). The permittee has also had eight (8) NOV's and one (1) NOD over the
permit term for limit and frequency violations for TSS, Flow, TN, TP, BOD and Fecal Coliform. Half of these
violations have been in 2019 and 2020 indicating that the operational issues that the regional office has
highlighted should be closely watched.
Pine Mountain Lakes WWTP Fact Sheet
NPDES Renewal 2020
Page 2

MONITORING DATA REVIEW:
Parameter Units
Avg.
High
Low
Permit Limit
Comments
Flow (MGD)
0.01
0.20
0.001
0.02 MA
Avg. flow 50% of as -built flow
BOD (mg/L)
10.22
93
<2
30 MA
A few exceedances, see Compliance
45 DM
30 MA
TSS (mg/L)
17.02
1770
<1
A few exceedances, see Compliance
45 DM
Temp (C)
16.79
30
1.2
N/A
Values in line w seasonal variation
Fecal (#/100m1)
26.34
1990
<1
200 MA
A few exceedances, see Compliance
400 WA
pH (SU)
N/A
9
5.9
6 to 9
All values except one (5.9) within range
NH3-N (mg/L)
2.21
19.8
<0.1
N/A
No limit in the permit just monitoring
All values below 50 threshold; Almost
TRC (µg/L)
7.53
<45
<15
28 DM
all values <15
Total N (mg/L)
12.49
28.5
<0.5
N/A
Total P (mg/L)
2.39
13.2
0.6
N/A
MA - Monthly Average DM - Daily Max WA - Weekly Average
The data reviewed for the renewal is from September 2015 through May 2020. Less than values evaluated
in the data review at Y2 the reported value.
PERMIT CHANGES - UPDATED AFTER NOTICE:
Comments received during notice of the draft permit expressed concerns about the operation of the treatment
system and impacts to the receiving waters. Some commenters expressed concerns that untreated
wastewaters were being discharged from the system to surface waters. Staff from the Division's regional office
has been to the site since the comments were received and have not found any evidence of untreated
wastewater being discharged from the system at this time. There is currently no documented occurrence of an
instream water quality issue; however, given the ongoing operational issues for the facility the Division agrees
that additional requirements are necessary in the permit to achieve long term compliance.
The final permit has added instream water quality monitoring requirements. This requires monitoring in the
receiving stream above and below the discharge location for Fecal Coliform. This will allow assessment of
potential impacts of the treatment system discharge directly in the stream segment. In response to concerns
about operational issues with the treatment system the final permit has also incorporated a special condition
requiring the permittee to complete an assessment of the treatment system and collection system. The
assessment must be performed by appropriate professionals and produce a final report outlining needed
treatment system and operation changes. The permittee is required to implement these changes in a specified
timeframe.
Summary of Changes:
• Updated eDMR requirements.
• Added regulatory citations throughout permit.
• Updated parameter codes as needed.
• Corrected outfall location coordinates.
• Increased monitoring frequency for BOD, TSS and Fecal Coliform.
• Added instream monitoring above and below the outfall location for Fecal Coliform.
• Require an assessment of the treatment system and collection system for needed changes to operations
and treatment components.
• Added a permit reopener clause that may be used by the Division to reopen the permit based on instream
water quality or macroinvertebrate assessments in surrounding surface waters.
See the Fact Sheet Addendum for additional discussion of public comments and responses.
Pine Mountain Lakes WWTP Fact Sheet
NPDES Renewal 2020
Page 3

PROPOSED SCHEDULE FOR PERMIT ISSUANCE:
Draft Permit to Public Notice:
Permit Scheduled Effective Date:
STATE CONTACT:
July 10, 2020
November 1, 2020 (updated after notice)
If you have questions concerning the above or the attached documents, please contact Bradley Bennett at (919)
707-3629.
FACT SHEET ADDENDUM — RESPONSE TO PUBLIC COMMENTS:
During the public notice time -frame thirty-four (34) individual comments were received with thirty (30) sending
written comments. Two of the public comments were from River Keepers (Catawba and Broad). Thirty (30) of the
commenters were opposed to the permit renewal. The four that supported the renewal were all residents in the Pine
Mountain Property Owners Association (POA) and commented that the permit was necessary for the community. Of
the thirty negative comments thirteen (13) specifically requested a public hearing be held. Two petitions were also
received. One had 210 signatures from the local community against the permit. They also included a petition
generated through change.org with over 1,000 signatures. This particular petition includes lots of people from other
states and counties through the online process.
Summary of Major Public Comments and DWR responses:
As noted, a number of commenters specifically requested that a public hearing be held on this permit
renewal. The Division has reviewed the comments provided and the situation with this facility and has
determined that a public hearing for this renewal is not necessary. The Division Director has determined
that the comments received, along with information already available for this facility and surrounding
water bodies provides enough information to move forward with a final permit. It is not anticipated that
additional information gathered in a hearing process would be substantially different from the comments
already received during the previous notice process. In moving forward with the final permit, the Division
has considered the comments received and made a number of changes to the final permit in response to
these comments. These changes are described in this summary, however the reader should refer to the
permit language for the specific permit requirements.
A number of commenters noted that the receiving waters were classified as ORW and need to be protected
at these designated uses. The Pine Mountain Lakes system has been in place since the 1970's, prior to the
designation of the water body as ORW in the 1980's. So, the facility can reasonably operate in a manner
that protects these waters. One commenter requested that the second tier discharge of 0.0696MGD be
removed due to the ORW classification. While the ORW rules do prohibit expansion of discharges to ORW
waters, because this facility was previously permitted at the 0.0696 MGD level prior to the waters being
classified as ORW, the 0.0696MGD discharge is considered to be the discharge limit for this facility so this
would not be considered an expansion of their discharge.
A number of commenters indicated that they felt that untreated wastewater (sewage) was being discharged
from the facility to surface waters. The Division's regional office staff have not found evidence that
untreated water is being discharged from any location in the collection system or from the treatment
system. The final permit has been modified to add a requirement for the permittee to undertake an
assessment of their collection system and treatment system to evaluate any problem areas and the
operation of the systems. This assessment will produce a report that outlines any needed changes, repairs
or updates to the collection system and treatment system. This report is due within 12 months of the
effective date of the permit. The permittee will then be responsible for addressing these needed changes
and updates as established in the permit within12 months of the finalization of the report [See Section A.
(3.) of the permit]
Most commenters noted their use of the waters and their desire to assure that the waters were safe for
their use and use by their families for fishing and swimming. Some comments mentioned recent medical
issues and were concerned that the discharge from this facility may be contributing to these issues. The
Division understands and appreciates the public concerns for clean waters for public use. At the current
Pine Mountain Lakes WWTP Fact Sheet
NPDES Renewal 2020
Page 4

time the Division does not have any verifiable information that this facility is impacting surface water
quality. There is a downstream ambient monitoring location that the Division monitors and that has shown
no water quality issues. The Division agrees that additional information will be helpful in ongoing
assessment of this treatment system so changes have been made in the final permit with these concerns in
mind. Monitoring frequencies in the final permit for BOD, TSS and Fecal Coliform have been increased to
twice per week to gather additional information on the discharge. The final permit has also added instream
water quality monitoring above and below the discharge point to provide direct instream characterization
of the discharge to gauge its potential impact.
A few commenters pointed to violations and enforcement actions against the permittee over the last year or
so. These commenters questioned the facility's ability to stay in compliance and also raised questions
about oversight of the facility to assure compliance. The Pine Mountain Lakes treatment facility has had
some recent violations of discharge limitations. The recent enforcement actions are for violations from the
end of 2019. More recently the facility has had improved compliance records. The Division is certainly
concerned about the violations and continues to work with the permittee to move them back into
consistent compliance. As noted above, the final permit acknowledges these concerns by adding
monitoring requirements and implementing the system evaluation designed to make appropriate
adjustments to the collection and treatment systems.
A few commenters noted that the hotel within the Pine Mountain Lakes development had recently become
active again with a religious group starting to meet there regularly. These commenters questioned whether
this change had led to increased flows that the treatment system was unable to handle. Regardless of
increased production of wastewaters, the permittee continues to have the same flow and parameter limits
in their permit and they are expected to meet these requirements and make appropriate adjustments. The
Division has recently worked with the permittee to move them toward an adjustment in their flow
monitoring equipment to better manage flow numbers. In addition, the final permit has been modified to
require that if events are occurring that could increase flows to the treatment system, then the permittee is
required to perform their monitoring events in a manner that best characterizes the potential impacts from
these events. These requirements have been added as footnotes in the effluent monitoring tables.
Commenters requested denial or delay of the permit until the treatment system issues were addressed or
requested that a compliance schedule should be included in the permit to address deficiencies. The
Division has taken action in the final permit to assess any needed adjustments in the treatment system. The
changes in the permit set time frames for reviews and for implementation of any needed actions. The final
permit has also added a reopener clause specifically tied to Division assessment of instream water quality
or macroinvertebrate impacts associated with the discharge from this permit [see Section A. (4.) of the
permit]. Should the Division find that the discharge has impacts on the receiving stream, this provision
may be used to reopen the permit and consider necessary actions to protect water quality. This provision,
along with the others outlined in the final permit, leads the Division to the determination that reissuance of
the permit is appropriate.
Comments from members of the POA indicated that the treatment system was necessary for the Pine
Mountain community and that the POA has responded and is working to address needed adjustments to the
treatment system.
Pine Mountain POA comments challenged many comments from the local community with regard to their
treatment system impacts and indicated that their system was not dumping untreated wastewater into
surface waters or causing water quality or medical issues. These comments noted other potential sources
of pollution in the area including clear cutting of buffer areas on adjacent properties, properties with
leaching materials from their disposal systems, etc.
The Pine Mountain POA also noted that they are working with the NC Rural Water Association to conduct
smoke tests and other evaluations of their system and operational issues.
All Public Comments can be found in a separate document that compiles the comments received
Pine Mountain Lakes WWTP Fact Sheet
NPDES Renewal 2020
Page 5

Morganton News Herald
Advertising Affidavit
PO Box 968
Hickory, NC 28603
NC DENR/DWO
ATTN: WREN THEDFORD
1617 MAIL SERVICE CENTER
RALEIGH, NC 27699-1617
Account Number
3142720
Date
July 10, 2020
Dale Category Description Ad Number Ad Size
07/10/2020 Legal Notices
M Carolina fmlrmmen�al tNnagemeat CamidssloB
NPBESwazlewater dittharge permit IoNepersan(s)
(919) 701d601. %ce Mounlaln Properly
renewal of permit NCW76915 Nr %:ce N
Aunty. 7tas wslbaed fadlity %s<M1arges
ak:Calaw4a %vm Basin.
Public Notice North Carolina Environmental Management Corm 0000660532 2 x 26 L
Publisher of
Morganton News Herald
Burke County
Before the undersigned, a Notary Public of Iredell County, North Carolina, duly
commissioned, qualified, and authorized by law to administer oaths, in said
County and State; that he/she is authorized to make this affidavit and sworn
statement; that the notice or other legal advertisement, a copy of which is attached
hereto, was published in the Morganton News Herald on the following dates:
07/10/2020
and that the said newspaper in which such notice, or legal advertisement was
published, was a newspaper meeting all the requirements an qualificati s of
Section 1-597 of the General Statutes of North Carolina.
Assistant Bookkeeper
Newspaper reference: 0600660532
orn to and subscribed before me, this c�� day of�, 2020
—WM.A. WQn9 QaQU Wuuurhi
OELA IV /,00
Natar71 Public
co
r
My Commission expires: r t t_ `;,1 Z !t o�oBt Country
ao o�jy P
THIS IS NOT A BILL. PLEASE PAY FROM INVOICE, THANK YOU CgR00�
'trrhq r, I I I laAa0°

Permit Writer's Notes to File
Pine Mountain Lakes WWTP — NC0036935
Pine Mountain Property Owners Association
Burke County
• Draft permit to public notice on July 10, 2020.
• Started getting calls on the draft notice July 14, 2020
• Complaint to Senator Daniel's office on sewage being discharged from hotel into stream passed to
the Division through Tom Reeder on July 30, 2020. Asheville Regional Office staff visited the site on
July 31s' to investigate the complaint. Staff did not find any evidence of discharge of untreated
wastewater and samples collected were in compliance with the permit.
• Comment period ended August 10, 2020. Thirty-four comments received including a number
requesting public hearing.
• Central office staff compiled summary of comments and reviewed with Regional Office staff to
prepare information to provide to the Director for his review of the comments and request for a
public hearing.
• September 8, 2020 — Central Office and Regional Office staff met with the Director to discuss
comments. After review the Director determined that the information provided in the recent public
noticed likely represented the same information that would be received as part of a public hearing
and that staff had information needed to respond to the comments received. Given this situation,
the Director determined that a public hearing would not be held for this permit. The Director
reviewed potential modifications to the draft permit based on information available to staff and
comments from the public. Staff was directed to move forward to finalize the permit for issuance
with the changes discussed — increase in frequency of monitoring for TSS, BOD and Fecal; Addition
of instream monitoring for Fecal; requirement for monitoring to better characterize situations
around events that could increase flow; requirement for technical evaluation of system, report on
findings and implementation of findings and requirement for a reopener clause that can be used if
DWR water quality assessments show potential impacts from the treatment system. These changes
are explained in detail in the Fact Sheet.

Pine Mountain Lakes WWTP — NC0039935 — Burke County
Summary of Issues and Facility Information
Public Comments
Thirty-three (34) individual comments were received with thirty (30) sending written comments. Two of the
public comments were from River Keepers (Catawba and Broad). Thirty (30) of the commenters were opposed
to the permit renewal. The four that supported the renewal were all residents in the Pine Mountain POA and
commented that the permit was necessary for the community. Of the thirty negative comments thirteen (13)
specifically requested a public hearing be held. Two petitions were also received. One had 210 signatures
from the local community against the permit. They also included a petition generated through Change.org
with over 1,000 signatures. This particular petition includes lots of people from other states and counties
through the online process.
Breakdown of Issues in Comments Opposed to Reissuance:
• Waters are ORW (some call it Class -A) and need to be protected.
• Concerns that sewage is being dumped into the streams; some indicating that they feel untreated sewage
is being discharged.
• Feel that the POA should have to handle their wastewater with onsite treatment systems like others in the
community and not discharge.
• A few comments claimed that the facility had not discharged for years until the recent use of the hotel.
• A number of comments noted that the hotel in the community had recently begun operation again and the
increased flow was too much for the treatment system. Some of these comments also noted events
associated with a religious group (The Last Reformation — TLR) had included tents and RV's for weekend
conventions at the hotel/restaurant area with 200-300 people.
• Most comments mentioned local use of the waters for fishing, recreation and swimming and noted their
concerns for decreasing quality of the waters.
• Some commenters indicated recent medical concerns like ear infections and swimmers itch that they
attributed to recent swimming. They indicated concern for their children no longer being able to enjoy the
waters.
• A few commenters specifically mentioned the facility's onsite pond (finishing pond) and had concerns for
the condition of the pond with erosion, etc. Also expressed concerns that the pond overflowed in large
storm events or could be flooded.
• A number of commenters pointed to violations and enforcement actions against the facility over the last
few years and questioned them receiving a renewed permit if they could not stay in compliance. There
were questions about whether the violations were being addressed or if the facility just paid a fine.
Concerns that renewal of the permit would not lead to compliance.
• Commenters also questioned if there was oversight of the facility or if they were just left on their own.
• One commenter requested that tier provision in the permit to move to 0.0696MGD discharge be removed
and they be limited to 0.02MGD siting the ORW rules.
• A number of commenters requested denial or delay of the permit until the disposal system was addressed.
One specific comment asked for a schedule of compliance in the permit to address deficiencies.
• A few commenters noted the Southern Mountain State Park nearby and expressed concerns with potential
impacts to that resource.
Breakdown of Issues from Those in Support of the Renewal
• Treatment system and permit is necessary for the Pine Mountain Community
• POA has responded to all issues and is working on needed adjustments to the treatment system. POA has
offered to meet with the local citizens and discuss their issues but they have ignored their requests to
meet.

Pine Mountain Lakes WWTP — NC0039935 — Burke County
Summary of Issues and Facility Information
• Pine Mountain is not dumping sewage into the stream.
• Challenged a number of issues that have been claimed locally including medical issues caused by pine
mountain discharge and claims on local signs that there are covid-19 issues with discharge, etc.
• Note issues with the use of the hotel property by religious group and the hotel's failure to pay POA utility
fees.
• Are working with NC Rural center to do smoke tests, etc. to find any potential problem areas.
• Question misleading information posted on social media and on local signs.
• Note other potential sources of pollution including Slick Rock, land owners with clear cut areas near
stream and roads through the stream and properties outside of the POA but near their entrance that leach
material from their disposal systems.
Facilitv Information:
• 100% domestic system; discharges to Jacobs Fork— WS-III; ORW. No waters on 2018 Integrated Report.
• Originally approved at current permit limit of 0.0696MGD; Current As -built capacity of 0.02MGD. Permit
includes tier to allow ATC to go up to 0.069MGD. Original 0.0696MGD discharge goes back to the 1970's
and precedes the reclassification to ORW.
• Facility has package treatment system and finishing pond before discharge
• Facility has had permit limit violations recently and enforcement actions, but this is not a long term issue
for the facility.
• Recent inspection have noted some operational issues to address including; erosion issues along pond and
effluent line, duckweed growth in aeration basin and pond
• Regional office has noted a need for a plan of action to gain more consistent compliance, replacement of
flow meter process, need to review low solids content (5%) to determine potential reasons.
• Recent Regional Office sample of effluent (7/31/20) shows the discharge in compliance, as do the facility's
most recent effluent data.
• Regional Office staff has been given no specific information to verify location of any potential sewage
discharge to surface waters.
• Facility is working with the NC Rural Center on a number of issues.
Page - 2

ROY COOPER
Governor
MICHAEL S. PEGAN
Secretary
S. DANIEL SMITH
Director
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
July 1, 2020
MEMORANDUM
To: Kimberly Barnett
NC DEQ / DWR / Public Water Supply
Asheville Regional Office
From: Bradley Bennett
Compliance and Expedited Permitting Unit
Subject: Review of Draft NPDES Permit NCO036935
Pine Mountain Lake WWTP
Burke County
Please indicate below your agency's position or viewpoint on the draft permit and
return this form by August 7, 2020. If you have any questions on the draft permit,
please contact me via e-mail [[e-mail]].
RESPONSE: (Check one)
WConcur with the issuance of this permit provided the facility is operated and maintained
properly, the stated effluent limits are met prior to discharge, and the discharge does not
contravene the designated water quality standards.
F-1
Concurs with issuance of the above permit, provided the following conditions are met:
F-1 Opposes the issuance of the above permit, based on reasons stated below, or attached:
Signed 2zwA/, �av�,�tl Date :7/04/2020
D Q
�� North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
512 North Salisbury Street 1 1617 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
NOR NCAROL.INA -
Doi' m.mtof EnWmnmn., o..,dy 919.707.9000

9/18/2020
PM recent data
Mail - Bennett, Bradley - Outlook
Wiggs, Linda <[e-mail]>
Wed 8/12/2020 3:34 PM
To: Bennett, Bradley <bradley. ben [e-mail]>
My recent effluent data from 7-31-2020 is:
BOD 8.5 mg/I
TSS 6.3 mg/I
Fecal 140 col/100ml
Their recent effluent data is:
7-30-2020:
BOD 6.73 mg/I
T55 14.5 mg/I
Fecal <1 MPN/100ml (different unit has something to do with lab, but they are the same)
NH3 <0.5 mg/I
8-5-2020:
BOD 7.37 mg/I
T55 4 mg/I
Fecal <1 MPN/100ml
NH3 1.46 mg/I
PM is actively working with Rural Water on the collection system and will offer technical assistance at the WWTP. The WWTP appears to be underfed, so
hopefully Rural Water can assist the ORC with operating a facility lacking in "food" for the bugs.
I looked back in our complaint database for a 10 years and 8 months' timeline and we have never received a complaint regarding Pine Mtn or raw
sewage in Jacob Fork.
The two recent complaints we received are below.
*The first was from yen. Daniel on 7/30/2020 and stated.
"Sen Daniel has been receiving complaints from his constituents about sewer discharges from the hotel of a failed resort community called "Pine
Mountain Lake" in Burke County. Evidently the hotel is still used in some capacity and is believed to have some kind of discharge permit, but the
neighbors believe raw sewage is being dumped into the Jacob Fork's River."
**The second was from Amanda Cook to the EPA on 8/2/2020 and stated.
"Tip or Complaint: the sewage system at Pine mountain lakes is being overrun with more sewage than it can handle due to a recent cult moving into the
condemned hotel this past year. they are dumping 15 times more then what they are permitted daily into the Jacob Fork River, which supports many
families along it, including mine. we have all got cercarial dermatitis along with various ear and stomach infections. i can no longer allow them to swim
here due to this filth. they have been able to get by with this by paying a simple fine but now there permit is up for renewal and it needs to be stopped!
please help us get our class A river back!! I have pictures and proof of all of this but this report will not let me upload."
D
y..- f1a
f' tida 01�7u
Environmental Senior Specia?istlDivision Water Resources
North Carolina Department of Eniironmental Quality
828-296-4500 (Office)
L inda. %v1ggs &cdenr. gov
https:Houtlook.office365.com/mail/search/id/AAMkADglYjdhZmlxLTMzMGYtNGU3Nil hNGU4LTY3M2E1 ODhmOGQxYgBGAAAAAACylgPJgHeWQptj... 1 /1

9/18/2020
Mail - Bennett, Bradley - Outlook
FW: [External] FW: (CWA - FY20-209277-3709-CV) Regional Tip and/or Complaint - North Carolina
Wiggs, Linda <[e-mail]>
Tue 8/4/2020 5:52 PM
To: Bennett, Bradley <bradley. ben [e-mail]>
We got this complaint from EPA today. Yes, it is about Pine Mtn from Mrs. Cook.
�al1Jfl.�lt ��rlf¢ef
Environmental Senior SpecialistlDivision Water Resources
North Carolina Department of EnN-iromental Quality
828-296-4500 (Office)
[e-mail]
E r ai cmeVunderiec to and barn this address r5 i, t,Y;t to the llbah Card, P!►Uc; Alecorrls Law and
rnRy be dscklsed to 1W parties
From: Davidson, Landon
Sent: Tuesday, August 4, 2020 2:28 PM
To: Wiggs, Linda <[e-mail]>
Subject: FW: [External] FW: (CWA - FY20-209277-3709-CV) Regional Tip and/or Complaint - North Carolina
This is our 36935, correct?
G. Landon Davidson, P.G.
Regional Supervisor —Asheville Regional Office
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
NCDEQ — Division of Water Resources
828 296 4680 office
828 230 4057 mobile
[e-mail]
2090 U.S. Hwy. 70
Swannanoa, N.C. 28711
Subscribe to Collection System & Sewer Permitting Updates
NC DEQ.permits handbook
Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the
North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
From: Riley, Pamela [mailto:Riley.Pamela @epa.gov]
Sent: Tuesday, August 4, 2020 2:09 PM
To: Basinger, Corey <[e-mail]>; [e-mail]; Davidson, Landon <[e-mail]>; Aiken, Stan E
<[e-mail]>
Cc: Garnett, Becky <[e-mail]>
Subject: [External] FW: (CWA - FY20-209277-3709-CV) Regional Tip and/or Complaint - North Carolina
CAUTION: External email. Do not click links or open attachments unless you verify. Send all suspicious email as an attachment to [e-mail]
Good afternoon Corey and Zahid,
Please see the citizen complaint below. I added Landon and Stan because of the close proximity.
Thanks,
Pamela Y. Riley, MPH
Riley_.pamela @ ep a.gov
[phone] Office
[phone] Fax
https:Houtlook.office365.com/mail/search/id/AAMkADg1YjdhZm lxLTMzMGYtNGU3Ni1 hNGU4LTY3M2E1 ODhmOGQxYgBGAAAAAACylgPJgHeWQptj... 1 /2

9/18/2020
-----Original Message-----
8/2/2020 12:47 PM
HQ LEAD NUMBER: FY20-209277-3709-CV
SUBJECT: Regional Tip and/or Complaint -North Carolina
FROM: [e-mail]
TO:
Name: Amanda Cook
Phone: [phone]
Alleged Violator's Name: Pine Mountain Property Owners
Alleged Violator's Address: 2885 Pine Mountain Drive
Alleged Violator's City: connelly springs
Alleged Violator's State: North Carolina
Alleged Violator's Zip: 28612
Submitter IP Address: 204.85.209.207
Mail - Bennett, Bradley - Outlook
Tip or Complaint: the sewage system at Pine mountain lakes is being overrun with more sewage than it can handle due to a recent cult moving into
the condemned hotel this past year. they are dumping 15 times more then what they are permitted daily into the Jacob Fork Rlver, which supports
many families along it, including mine. we have all got cercarial dermatitis along with various ear and stomach infections. i can no longer allow them to
swim here due to this filth. they have been able to get by with this by paying a simple fine but now there permit is up for renewal and it needs to be
stopped! please help us get our class A river back!! I have pictures and proof of all of this but this report will not let me upload.
Violation Still Occurring? Yes
State DEP/DEQ/DEM Notified? No
https:Houtlook.office365.com/mail/search/id/AAMkADglYjdhZmlxLTMzMGYtNGU3Nil hNGU4LTY3M2E1 ODhmOGOxYgBGAAAAAACylgPJgHeWOptj... 2/2

9/18/2020 Mail - Bennett, Bradley - Outlook
RE: [External] Sewer Discharge
Wiggs, Linda <[e-mail]>
Thu 7/30/2020 4:33 PM
To: Bennett, Bradley <brad ley.bennett@ ncdenr.gov>
I am going to meet the ORC onsite tomorrow and I am going to sample the effluent for BOD, TSS and Fecal.
D Q
f-z- !1fi rlf¢ef
Environmental Senior SpecialistlDivision Water Resources
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
828-296-4500 (Office)
[e-mail]
iL fnai cmeVund&ice to and barn this address r5 i, t,Y;t to the llbah Carcim P!►rblkc; 1916cads Law and
rnRy be dscbs+ed to 1W parties
From: Bennett, Bradley
Sent: Thursday, July 30, 2020 3:17 PM
To: Wiggs, Linda <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: [External] Sewer Discharge
Linda,
I forwarded this to John. He is in meetings and I'm not sure when I'll hear back from him. I did catch him on the phone for a couple of
minutes but not in too much detail.
BB
Bradley Bennett
Compliance and Expedited Permitting
NC Division of Water Resources
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1617
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Email correspondence to and from this address may be subject to public records laws
From: Wiggs, Linda <[e-mail]>
Sent: Thursday, July 30, 2020 2:10 PM
To: Bennett, Bradley <[e-mail]>
Subject: FW: [External] Sewer Discharge
Call me please.
`�-ltl�lL �j�2¢Ijs{
Environmental Senior SpeciallistlDivision Water Resources
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
828-296-4500 (Office) f
Linda. [e-mail]3-
r ! :tip! • ! ! Ra..
!' ! 4y/!w�'# # ! !�
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/search/id/AAMkADglYjdhZmlxLTMzMGYtNGU3Nil hNGU4LTY3M2E10DhmOGQxYgBGAAAAAACylgPJgHeWQptj... 1/2

9/18/2020
Mail - Bennett, Bradley - Outlook
From: Heim, Tim
Sent: Thursday, July 30, 2020 1:44 PM
To: Wiggs, Linda <[e-mail]>
Subject: FW: [External] Sewer Discharge
Are you familiar with this?
From: Smith, Danny
Sent: Thursday, July 30, 2020 1:31 PM
To: Heim, Tim <[e-mail]>
Cc: Zimmerman, Jay <[e-mail]>; Davidson, Landon <[e-mail]>
Subject: FW: [External] Sewer Discharge
Tim,
Please see and investigate the below listed complaint. You may already have information on this issue.
• Please let me know results of the complaint investigation so that I can follow up with Joy Hicks and Tom Reeder.
Thank you I
Danny
Danny Smith, Director
Division of Water Resources
[phone]
E-Mail: [e-mail]
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
From: Tom Reeder (President Pro Tem's Office) <Tom.Reeder@ncleg,gov>
Sent: Thursday, July 30, 2020 1:21 PM
To: Smith, Danny <[e-mail]>; Zimmerman, Jay <[e-mail]>; Hicks, Joy A <[e-mail]>; Nunna, Shrikar
<[e-mail]>
Subject: [External] Sewer Discharge
CAUTION: External email. Do not click links or open attachments unless you verify. Send all suspicious email as an attachment to [e-mail]
Hello, everybody. I hope you are all well. Sen Daniel has been receiving complaints from his constituents about sewer discharges from the hotel of a
failed resort community called "Pine Mountain Lake" in Burke County. Evidently the hotel is still used in some capacity and is believed to have some kind
of discharge permit, but the neighbors believe raw sewage is being dumped into the Jacob Fork's River. Could you have someone from the region go out
and take a look and see if there is a problem? I can get you more details if you need them. I have been told that this place has received NOVs in the
past, so I suspect the regional staff are already familiar with this operation. Thanks for your help.
Tom Reeder
Policy Advisor
Office of the Senate President Pro Tempore
North Carolina General Assembly
[phone]
https:Houtlook.office365.com/mail/search/id/AAMkADglYjdhZmlxLTMzMGYtNGU3Nil hNGU4LTY3M2E1 ODhmOGQxYgBGAAAAAACylgPJgHeWQptj... 2/2

9/17/2020
Mail - Bennett, Bradley - Outlook
[External] Re: Draft Permit Renewal for Pine Mountain Lakes WWTP
Pine Mountain <[e-mail]>
Tue 7/7/2020 3:05 PM
To: Bennett, Bradley <[e-mail]>
CAUTION: External email. Do not click links or open attachments unless you verify. Send all suspicious email as an attachment
to [e-mail]
Yes, Bradley Bennett,
Electronic transmittal of documents is acceptable.
Our designated contact person for Pine Mountain's treatment plant is:
Ed Yackenovich
Pine Mountain Board Director, Maintenance & Construction Chairperson
If you could provide information to both this office email address and to his personal email, that
would be helpful- to encourage timeliness and good record -keeping.
Ed's email is:
[e-mail]
Chris Bitterman of Envirolink has sent three forms to complete. Letting you know in an effort to
prevent duplication issues.
Thank You,
Edie Stitt
President, PMPOA
On Tue, Jul 7, 2020 at 2:41 PM Bennett, Bradley <bradley. ben [e-mail]> wrote:
I am currently working on the permit renewal for the Pine Mountain Lakes Wastewater Treatment
Plant - NC0036935. We have developed a draft permit and are ready to publicly notice the draft in a
local paper. As part of this notice process we will be sending you the draft permit for your review and
comment as well.
In order to provide more convenience, control, and security to our permittees and assist them in processing
their transactions, The Division of Water Resources is currently transitioning towards electronic
correspondence. This will hopefully provide more efficient service to our permittees and other partners and
will allow us to more effectively process and track documents. We are writing to ask you for your approval of
the transmittal of documents related to your permitting and related activities with the Division in an electronic
format. Documents will be emailed to the appropriate contact person(s) in your organization in a PDF format.
Please respond to me through email with verification that transmittal of your documents in an electronic
manner is acceptable to you. If so, please also provide me with the contact person and their email addresses
for transmittal of the documents.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Currently i am working remotely away from the office
so email contact is the best form of contact.
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/search/id/AAMkADglYjdhZmlxLTMzMGYtNGU3Nil hNGU4LTY3M2E10DhmOGQxYgBGAAAAAACylgPJgHeWQptj... 1/2

9/17/2020
Mail - Bennett, Bradley - Outlook
Bradley Bennett
Compliance and Expedited Permitting Phone: [phone]
NC Division of Water Resources
1617 Mail Service Center Email: [e-mail]
Raleigh, NC 27699-1617
Email correspondence to and from this address may be subject to public records laws
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/search/id/AAMkADglYjdhZmlxLTMzMGYtNGU3Nil hNGU4LTY3M2E1 ODhmOGQxYgBGAAAAAACylgPJgHeWQptj... 2/2

9/18/2020
RE: Draft permit Renewals
Mail - Bennett, Bradley - Outlook
Wiggs, Linda <[e-mail]>
Wed 7/1/2020 12:25 PM
To: Bennett, Bradley <[e-mail]>; Heim, Tim <[e-mail]>
Cc: Armeni, Lauren E <[e-mail]>
1 attachments (1 MB)
Draft_LWedit.pdf;
Thanks Bradley,
Have you sent this yet? If not, when do you want to send these out? I have some edits to Old Fort. Pine Mtn looks good, thank you for the language in
the cover letter.
Old Fort: I've highlighted edits in the attached permit. One item that is not grammatical is the Cu limits don't match between the cover letter and limits
page.
I have sent this to Lauren, our new staff, she will be handling McDowell. If she has comments I will send them in another email.
Tim is on leave this week and next so he will not be able to comment on the draft, unless you want to delay this further. But I think he will be ok with
this.
0K�
Environmental Senior SpecialistlDivision Warer Resources
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
828-296-4500 (Office)
Linda. w1ggs �cder�r. gov
From: Bennett, Bradley
Sent: Wednesday, July 1, 2020 6:55 AM
To: Heim, Tim <Tim. Heim @ncden r.gov>; Wiggs, Linda <[e-mail]>
Subject: Draft permit Renewals
Hey Guys,
Just wanted to forward you the draft permits and fact sheets for a couple of permits:
NCO021229 - Old Fort WWTP
This one has a good number of proposed changes mainly due to them starting pretreatment program back up. I tried to outline the change
in the cover letter and fact sheet. Please take a close look at this one and let me know if you see any issues. I think we have previously
talked about the changes so hopefully everything is okay.
NCO036935 - Pine Mountain Lakes WWTP
Not many major changes here. After discussions it seems that the main issues are operational. There are a few minor changes that are
outlined in the letter and fact sheet. This one is WS-III so I'll also be sending to ARO-PWS for review.
Thanks for all your help. If you want to talk about either of these let me know.
BB
Bradley Bennett
Compliance and Expedited Permitting
NC Division of Water Resources
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1617
Phone: [phone]
Email: bradley.benneft ncdenr.gov
Email correspondence to and from this address may be subject to public records laws
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/search/id/AAMkADglYjdhZmlxLTMzMGYtNGU3Nil hNGU4LTY3M2E1ODhmOGQxYgBGAAAAAACylgPJgHeWQptj... 1/2

9/18/2020
Mail - Bennett, Bradley - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/search/id/AAMkADglYjdhZmlxLTMzMGYtNGU3Nil hNGU4LTY3M2E1 ODhmOGQxYgBGAAAAAACylgPJgHeWQptj... 2/2

Pine Mountain Map — From their website
Sed
Section 18
Section 20
SQUth MQUntalnS pueCtl9II 17
State Park
on 14
Linda, I think the hotel is at the "H" I have placed on the map below.
That puts it right at the end of the small sewer line shown on the map.
Section 13
Section
71
Village Coo
area
72 - 75
Section 12 }
}
}
Section 15 r# Section 10
sec 7
Secti116 � } S�9 {
coon 11
H
00100 Water Lines
} Fire Hydrants - 30 � Sewer Lines
Sewer
Treatment
Piant
Sewer
Treatment
Plant