WQ0016686_Staff Report_20171114

State of North Carolina
Department of Environmental Quality
Division of Water Resources
WATER QUALITY REGIONAL OPERATIONS SECTION
NON-DISCHARGE PERMIT RESCISSION REQUEST FORM

FORM: WQROSNDPRR 08-17 Page 1 of 1
November 14, 2017
To: ARO-WQROS: Landon Davidson / Zan Price
From: Nathaniel D. Thornburg, Water Quality Permitting Section - Non-Discharge Permitting Unit
Permit Number: WQ0016686 Permit Type: Closed-Loop Recycle
Permittee: Metal Industries, Inc. Date Rescission Requested: September 19, 2017
Facility Name: Metal Industries CLRS Date of Last Inspection: August 27, 2015
Comments:
Please complete this form and return to the Central Office within 30 days of receipt.
Site visit performed. Permit rescission approved. Permit rescission denied.
Comments: See Attached Inspection Reports
WQROS Reviewer: ___________________________________________ Date: _____________________
DocuSign Envelope ID: DFCFD383-3A61-445F-8B68-B023A166704C
11/14/2017
Compliance Inspection Report
Permit:WQ0016686 Effective:11/23/05 Expiration:10/31/14 Owner :Metal Industries Inc
SOC:
Contact Person:
Region:
County:
Directions to Facility:
McDowell
Asheville
John R Biddix
Effective:Expiration:Facility:Metal Industries Incorporated
Sr 1214
Marion NC 28752
Title:Phone:[phone]Owner
Facility is located on the right on Hwy. 70, approximately 5 miles east of Old Fort.
Secondary ORC(s):
Phone:Certification:Primary ORC:
System Classifications:
24 hour contact name George Edwin Biddix
On-site representative George Edwin Biddix
On-Site Representative(s):
Related Permits:
Secondary Inspector(s):
Primary Inspector:
Inspection Date:Exit Time:Entry Time:
Phone:
08/30/2017 09:30AM 10:15AM
Beverly Price 828-296-4500
Facility Status:
Permit Inspection Type:
Reason for Inspection:Inspection Type:
Not CompliantCompliant
Other
Closed-Loop Recycle
Compliance Evaluation
Question Areas:
Miscellaneous Questions
(See attachment summary)
Page:1
DocuSign Envelope ID: DFCFD383-3A61-445F-8B68-B023A166704C
Inspection Date:
Permit:
Inspection Type :
Owner - Facility:
Reason for Visit:
WQ0016686
08/30/2017 Compliance Evaluation
Metal Industries Inc
Other
Inspection Summary:
A request to rescind the Closed-Loop Recycle System Permit for Metal Industries was received in the Asheville Regional
Office on September 20, 2017. The purpose of this inspection was to perform a walk through to ensure all permit conditions
had been met and to proceed with the rescission. Beverly Price conducted the inspection. Mr. Eddie Biddix assisted with
the inspection.
Metal Industries was a metal plating facility specializing in Nickle plating. The facility ceased operation in December 2012.
Currently, the property is the site of operations for Smoky Mountain Natural Stone.
Prior to acquiring the Non-Discharge permit (Closed-Loop Recycle), the facility held an NPDES permit NC0057819. This
permit was rescinded June 13, 2001. The wastewater treatment for this system included 7 in-ground concrete tanks. At the
time of inspection, Mr. Biddix indicated that rainwater from a leaking roof had infiltrated the tanks; the depth was
approximately 1 inch.
The chemical storage area still contained some drums of chemicals. One drum of Sodium Hydroxide was severely corroded.
All tanks associated with the closed-loop recycle system had been removed from the recycle processing room. The empty
tanks are now stored on the property adjacent to the stone yard. Prior to the rescission request, the last Division of Water
Resources inspection of the facility on 8/27/2015 indicated that wastewater in the recycle tanks had been properly disposed;
manifests were provided. On October 15, 2015, the Division of Waste Management (DWM) inspected the facility to
determine the status of waste management activity associated with decommissioning the closed-loop recycle system. The
DWM inspection conducted by Brent Burch indicated that waste from the system had been properly manifested and
disposed.
Issues to be resolved:
1.Even though the NPDES permit was rescinded in 2001, the ARO is requiring that the water in the in-ground tanks be
pumped out and properly disposed.
2.ARO notified DWM about the corroded container of sodium hydroxide.
Follow up inspection will be scheduled.
Other findings:
1) 2003 Release (Spill investigated on February 3, 2004 by Surface Water Section); facility was found to be in compliance.
The incident was not reported to Aquifer Protection Section.
Incident #201501088 - Complaint - January 26, 2015 Site Investigation
June 11, 2015 - No further Action Required by Metal Industries per Brett Laverty.
2) Inactive Hazardous Sites Branch (IHSB): Metal Industries Site ID NCN000410289 - Per Colin Day - If this site is closed in
the future, it will be closed under the Risk Based Closure Regulations.
MW's show chlorinated solvents but no receptor issues. WSW on site cannot be used for drinking.
Page:2
DocuSign Envelope ID: DFCFD383-3A61-445F-8B68-B023A166704C
Inspection Date:
Permit:
Inspection Type :
Owner - Facility:
Reason for Visit:
WQ0016686
08/30/2017 Compliance Evaluation
Metal Industries Inc
Other
Page:3
DocuSign Envelope ID: DFCFD383-3A61-445F-8B68-B023A166704C
Compliance Inspection Report
Permit:WQ0016686 Effective:11/23/05 Expiration:10/31/14 Owner :Metal Industries Inc
SOC:
Contact Person:
Region:
County:
Directions to Facility:
McDowell
Asheville
John R Biddix
Effective:Expiration:Facility:Metal Industries Incorporated
Sr 1214
Marion NC 28752
Title:Phone:[phone]Owner
Facility is located on the right on Hwy. 70, approximately 5 miles east of Old Fort.
Secondary ORC(s):
Phone:Certification:Primary ORC:
System Classifications:
24 hour contact name George Edwin Biddix
On-site representative George Edwin Biddix
On-Site Representative(s):
Related Permits:
Secondary Inspector(s):
Primary Inspector:
Inspection Date:Exit Time:Entry Time:
Phone:
10/11/2017 09:00AM 10:00AM
Beverly Price 828-296-4500
Brett Laverty
Facility Status:
Permit Inspection Type:
Reason for Inspection:Inspection Type:
Not CompliantCompliant
Follow-up
Closed-Loop Recycle
Compliance Evaluation
Question Areas:
Miscellaneous Questions
(See attachment summary)
Page:1
DocuSign Envelope ID: DFCFD383-3A61-445F-8B68-B023A166704C
Inspection Date:
Permit:
Inspection Type :
Owner - Facility:
Reason for Visit:
WQ0016686
10/11/2017 Compliance Evaluation
Metal Industries Inc
Follow-up
Inspection Summary:
This inspection was a follow up to the 08/30/2017. Beverly Price and Brett Laverty conducted the inspection. Mr. Eddie
Biddix and Mr. Nick Waycaster assisted with the inspection.
Mr. Biddix had pumped the rainwater from the in-ground tanks to a tote stored on-site. All but one of the tanks were dry.
According to Mr. Biddix, after the tanks were pumped, heavy rains caused the tank that was the last in the NPDES
treatment train to be innundated again. The tank was approximately 3/4 full with rainwater. This tank was connected to a
pipe that led to the NPDES outfall. At the time of the inspection, we observed the dishcarge pipe had been cut and sealed
with concrete and approximately a 4 foot section of the discharge had been removed. The concrete seal had shrunk over the
years and was no longer water tight. Rainwater that collected in the trench once occupied by the discharge pipe filled and
flowed back into the building and into the tank.
Issues to be addressed:
1)Properly seal the pipe and tank to exclude rainwater.
2)Properly dispose of the rainwater in the tank and the tote.
A follow up inspection will be conducted.
Page:2
DocuSign Envelope ID: DFCFD383-3A61-445F-8B68-B023A166704C
Inspection Date:
Permit:
Inspection Type :
Owner - Facility:
Reason for Visit:
WQ0016686
10/11/2017 Compliance Evaluation
Metal Industries Inc
Follow-up
Page:3
DocuSign Envelope ID: DFCFD383-3A61-445F-8B68-B023A166704C
Compliance Inspection Report
Permit:WQ0016686 Effective:11/23/05 Expiration:10/31/14 Owner :Metal Industries Inc
SOC:
Contact Person:
Region:
County:
Directions to Facility:
McDowell
Asheville
John R Biddix
Effective:Expiration:Facility:Metal Industries Incorporated
Sr 1214
Marion NC 28752
Title:Phone:[phone]Owner
Facility is located on the right on Hwy. 70, approximately 5 miles east of Old Fort.
Secondary ORC(s):
Phone:Certification:Primary ORC:
System Classifications:
24 hour contact name George Edwin Biddix
On-site representative George Edwin Biddix
On-Site Representative(s):
Related Permits:
Secondary Inspector(s):
Primary Inspector:
Inspection Date:Exit Time:Entry Time:
Phone:
10/20/2017 09:00AM 10:00AM
Beverly Price 828-296-4500
Jeff Menzel
Facility Status:
Permit Inspection Type:
Reason for Inspection:Inspection Type:
Not CompliantCompliant
Follow-up
Closed-Loop Recycle
Compliance Evaluation
Question Areas:
Miscellaneous Questions
(See attachment summary)
Page:1
DocuSign Envelope ID: DFCFD383-3A61-445F-8B68-B023A166704C
Inspection Date:
Permit:
Inspection Type :
Owner - Facility:
Reason for Visit:
WQ0016686
10/20/2017 Compliance Evaluation
Metal Industries Inc
Follow-up
Inspection Summary:
This inspection was a follow up to the October 11, 2017 inspection. Beverly Price with ARO and Jeff Menzel with the
Division of Waste Management/Hazardous Waste Section (DWM/HWS) conducted the inspection. Mr. Eddie Biddix and Mr.
Nick Waycaster (business partner) assisted with the inspection.
Six of the in-ground tanks were dry. One tank appeared to be damp but contained no standing water. The rainwater from
the tote was added back to the in-ground tank that had been previously inundated. The method of disposal was evaporation
with forced air. Both ends of the old discharge pipe had been re-sealed with Flex-Seal, roofing tar and expandable foam.
The trench will be filled with dirt but this was not done at the time of inspection. We had requested the trench remain open
so the pipe seal could be inspected. The pipe from the tank had been also been sealed from inside the tank.
Chemical Storage Area:
In addition to several drums of caustic and brighteners, there were 2 drums of silver product.
There were also two bins filled with what appeared to be dried sludge. Mr. Waycaster indicated that the material was not
hazardous waste but nickel rounds. According to Mr. Brent Burch of the DWM, this material is recoverable. The DWM
would have jurisdiction over any remaining hazardous waste. The container of sodium hydroxide had been repackaged.
Based on observations at the time of inspection, follow up conversations with Waste Management and available manifests (3
containers of F006 hazardous waste - 4230 pounds; 4000 gallons wastewater) the facility has properly closed out. The
Asheville Regional Offices recommends rescinding the permit.
Page:2
DocuSign Envelope ID: DFCFD383-3A61-445F-8B68-B023A166704C
Inspection Date:
Permit:
Inspection Type :
Owner - Facility:
Reason for Visit:
WQ0016686
10/20/2017 Compliance Evaluation
Metal Industries Inc
Follow-up
Page:3
DocuSign Envelope ID: DFCFD383-3A61-445F-8B68-B023A166704C