As many of you know, Swannanoa Pride Community Coalition submitted a letter
to the North Carolina Division of Water Quality and the US Army Corps of
Engineers citing concerns about stream, open water and wetland disturbance in
association with the development of the golf course at the Cliffs at High
Carolina. SPCC, along with many Swannanoa and Fairview residents and other
interested parties, also requested a public hearing be granted where community
concerns could be heard.

Please note that the North Carolina Division of
Water Quality has granted a public hearing in association with the Cliffs at
High Carolina’s application for a water quality certification. The hearing will
take place Tuesday, November 18, 2008 at 6:30 pm. at A.C. Reynolds High School,
1 Rocket Drive, Asheville, North Carolina, 28803. If you cannot be present for
public comment, you can submit a written comment.

Additional information
from the NCDWQ is below. Please feel free to contact me with questions or
concerns.

 All the best,

Rebecca Williams
Land Use Task
Force
SPCC
828-686-3922

PUBLIC HEARING
THE CLIFFS AT HIGH
CAROLINA

NORTH CAROLINA DIVISION OF WATER QUALITY

PUBLIC
NOTICE is hereby given that Mr. Don Nickell and The Cliffs Communities – High
Carolina have applied to the North Carolina Division of Water Quality for a
Water Quality Certification pursuant to Section 401 of the Federal Clean Water
Act and Water Quality Commission rules in 15A NCAC 2B .0101, 15A NCAC 2B .0231
and 15A NCAC 2H .0500. 

The activity for this Certification is
sought to impact 6,149 linear feet of stream channel, 0.219 acre of wetlands,
and 0.03 acre of open water in order to construct a golf course and residential
development on a 2,780 acre tract of land known as The Cliffs at High Carolina
in Buncombe County, North Carolina. 

The public is hereby notified
that that the Division of Water Quality will hold a public hearing on Tuesday,
November 18, 2008 starting promptly at 6:30 p.m. at A.C. Reynolds High School, 1
Rocket Drive, Reynolds, North Carolina, 28803.  Doors will be open starting
at 6:00 p.m. for seating and registration to speak.

The public is
invited to comment in writing on the above-mentioned application as well as
during the Public Hearing.  Speaking times will be determined on the day of
the hearing depending upon the number of speaking slots requested. Those wanting
to speak need to register at the hearing and speaking sequence will be in the
order of registration.  Written comments may be forwarded at any time
before or after the hearing provided they are received by the Division by
regular mail, fax or email no later than close of business (5:00 p.m.) on
Thursday, December 18, 2008. 

Comments should be sent to the N.C.
Division of Water Quality, 401 Oversight Unit, 1650 Mail Service Center,
Raleigh, NC, 27699-1650, Attn: Cyndi Karoly (919-733-1721, FAX: 919-733-6893, Cyndi.Karoly@ncmail.net ). 
Comments may also be mailed to the physical address of the 401 Oversight Unit at
2321 Crabtree Blvd. Suite 250, Raleigh, NC, 27604-2260. 

Copies of
the 401 application materials are on file at the DWQ Asheville Regional Office
at 2090 U.S. Highway 70, Swannanoa, NC, 28778 (Asheville Regional Office phone
828-296-4500) as well as the Raleigh Central Office location listed above during
normal business hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) and may be inspected by the
public.  File materials may not be removed from any DWQ office, as copy
machines are available.

Coleen H. Sullins
Director
N.C. Division of
Water Quality