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Home My WebLink AboutNC0005177_Inspection_20190405ROY COOPER Governor MICHAEL S. REGAN Secretary LINDA CULPEPPER Director NORTH CAROLINA EnW&onmrrsltgf Qegorrty April 5, 2019 Mr. Rodney Willis, Environmental Engineer FMC Lithium USA Corp P.O Box 795 Bessemer, NC 28016 Subject: Compliance Evaluation/ Bioassay Inspection FMC Lithium USA Corp NPDES Permit No. NC0005177 Gaston County Dear Mr. Willis: Enclosed is a copy of the Compliance Evaluation Inspection for the inspection conducted at the subject facility on April 4, 2019, by Ori Tuvia. Your cooperation during the site visit was much appreciated. Please advise the staff involved with this NPDES Permit by forwarding a copy of the enclosed repot. At the time of the inspection split samples for toxicity were taken. The results will be sent at a later date. If you any questions, please contact Ori Tuvia at (704) 235-2190, or via email at ori. tuvia(ancdenr. gov. Sincerely, DocuSigned by: A*.Xuw N Nuft for F161 FB69A2D84A3... W. Corey Basinger Regional Supervisor Mooresville Regional Office Division of Water Resources Cc: NPDES Unit, MRO Files (Laserfiche) State of North Carolina I Environmental Quality I Water Resources I Water Quality Regional Operations Mooresville Regional Office 1 610 East Center Avenue, Suite 3011 Mooresville, North Carolina 28115 704 663 1699 United States Environmental Protection Agency Form Approved. EPA Washington, D.C. 20460 OMB No. 2040-0057 Water Compliance Inspection Report Approval expires 8-31-98 Section A: National Data System Coding (i.e., PCS) Transaction Code NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type Inspector Fac Type 1 IN I 2 IF I 3 I NC0005177 111 12 I 19/04/04 I17 18 i Q i 19 i G i 201 I 211111 I I I I I I II I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I II I I I I I f6 Inspection Work Days Facility Self -Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA ---------------------- Reserved ------------------- 67 I 71 I n I 72 I I 73 I I I 74 751 2.0 70 Iu ty I� I I I I I I I I80 Section B: Facility Data Name and Location of Facility Inspected (For Industrial Users discharging to POTW, also include Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date POTW name and NPDES oermit Number) 09:30AM 19/04/04 18/09/01 Lithium Division Plant NC Hwy 161 Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date Bessemer City NC 28016 11:30AM 19/04/04 23/08/31 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) Other Facility Data Rodney Stough Willis/ORC/704-868-7630/ Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number Contacted Joe Vasco,PO Box 795 Bessemer City NC 28016/Plant Manager/704-868-0856/ No Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated) Permit Flow Measurement Operations & Maintenance Records/Reports Self -Monitoring Program Sludge Handling Disposal Facility Site Review Effluent/Receiving Waters Laboratory Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) (See attachment summary) Name(s) and Signature(s) of Inspector(s) Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date DocuSigned by: Ori A Tuvia _ I� MRO WQ//704-663-1699/ I 4/5/2019 Eppnr)7A?npnl7AQR Signature of Manag meri't49"�'l "L*er Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date Andrew Pitner A4•�" H P O WQ//704-663-1699 Ext.21 4. 5.19 1`161 FB69AMUA3... EPA Form 3560-3 (Rev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete. Page# NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type N C 0005177 111 121 19/04/04 117 18 JBI Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) Page# Permit: NC0005177 Owner - Facility: Lithium Division Plant Inspection Date: 04/04/2019 Inspection Type: Bioassay Compliance Permit Yes No NA NE (If the present permit expires in 6 months or less). Has the permittee submitted a new ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ application? Is the facility as described in the permit? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ # Are there any special conditions for the permit? ❑ 0 ❑ ❑ Is access to the plant site restricted to the general public? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the inspector granted access to all areas for inspection? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: The subject permit expires on 8/31/2023. New outfall, 002, toe drainage system of the final treatment pond, was added in the new permit. Toxcity split samples were taken during the inspection. Record Keeping Yes No NA NE Are records kept and maintained as required by the permit? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is all required information readily available, complete and current? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Are all records maintained for 3 years (lab. reg. required 5 years)? ❑ ❑ ❑ Are analytical results consistent with data reported on DMRs? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the chain -of -custody complete? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Dates, times and location of sampling Name of individual performing the sampling Results of analysis and calibration Dates of analysis Name of person performing analyses Transported COCs Are DMRs complete: do they include all permit parameters? ❑ ❑ ❑ Has the facility submitted its annual compliance report to users and DWQ? ❑ ❑ ❑ (If the facility is = or > 5 MGD permitted flow) Do they operate 24/7 with a certified operator ❑ ❑ ❑ on each shift? Is the ORC visitation log available and current? ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the ORC certified at grade equal to or higher than the facility classification? ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the backup operator certified at one grade less or greater than the facility classification? ❑ ❑ ❑ Is a copy of the current NPDES permit available on site? ❑ ❑ ❑ Facility has copy of previous year's Annual Report on file for review? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ Comment: The records reviewed during the inspection were organized and well maintained. DMRs, COCs, Calibration logs and ORC logs were reviewed for the period June 2018 through January 2019. Page# 3 Permit: NC0005177 Owner - Facility: Lithium Division Plant Inspection Date: 04/04/2019 Inspection Type: Bioassay Compliance Laboratory Yes No NA NE Are field parameters performed by certified personnel or laboratory? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Are all other parameters(excluding field parameters) performed by a certified lab? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ # Is the facility using a contract lab? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ # Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 degrees 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Celsius)? Incubator (Fecal Coliform) set to 44.5 degrees Celsius+/- 0.2 degrees? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ Incubator (BOD) set to 20.0 degrees Celsius +/- 1.0 degrees? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ Comment: On -site field analvses (dissolved oxvaen. oH. conductivity) are Derformed under the Company's field laboratory certification #5023. Pace Analytical (BOD, TSS, chlorides, total nitrogen, total phosphorus) and R&A Laboratories (toxicity) have been contracted have also been contracted to provide analytical support. The laboratory instrumentation used for field analyses appeared to be properly calibrated/verified and documented. Effluent Sampling Yes No NA NE Is composite sampling flow proportional? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ Is sample collected below all treatment units? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is proper volume collected? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the tubing clean? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ # Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 degrees ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ Celsius)? Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ representative)? Comment: The subject permit requires effluent grab samples. Operations & Maintenance Yes No NA NE Is the plant generally clean with acceptable housekeeping? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Does the facility analyze process control parameters, for ex: MLSS, MCRT, Settleable ❑ ❑ ❑ Solids, pH, DO, Sludge Judge, and other that are applicable? Comment: The wastewater facility appeared to be properly operated and well maintained. Process control measurements are being properly documented and maintained on -site. All domestic wastewater and a small percentage of the industrial wastewater are connected to the City of Bessemer City's wastewater collection system. Chemical Feed Is containment adequate? Is storage adequate? Are backup pumps available? • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ Page# 4 Permit: NC0005177 Inspection Date: 04/04/2019 Chemical Feed Is the site free of excessive leaking? Owner - Facility: Lithium Division Plant Inspection Type: Bioassay Compliance Yes No NA NE ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: Sulfuric acid is added to the influent to maintain appropriate pH levels. Influent pH levels are monitored by an in -line monitoring system Lagoons Yes No NA NE Type of lagoons? # Number of lagoons in operation at time of visit? 1 Are lagoons operated in? # Is a re -circulation line present? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ Is lagoon free of excessive floating materials? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ # Are baffles between ponds or effluent baffles adjustable? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ Are dike slopes clear of woody vegetation? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Are weeds controlled around the edge of the lagoon? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ Are dikes free of seepage? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ Are dikes free of erosion? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ Are dikes free of burrowing animals? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ # Has the sludge blanket in the lagoon (s) been measured periodically in multiple ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ locations? # If excessive algae is present, has barley straw been used to help control the growth? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ Is the lagoon surface free of weeds? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ Is the lagoon free of short circuiting? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ Comment: Polishing pond. Flow Measurement - Effluent Yes No NA NE # Is flow meter used for reporting? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is flow meter calibrated annually? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the flow meter operational? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ (If units are separated) Does the chart recorder match the flow meter? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ Comment: The flow meter for Outfall 001 is calibrated annually and was last calibrated on 11/16/2018 by the Company's personnel. Effluent Pipe Yes No NA NE Is right of way to the outfall properly maintained? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Are the receiving water free of foam other than trace amounts and other debris? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ If effluent (diffuser pipes are required) are they operating properly? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ Page# 5 Permit: NC0005177 Inspection Date: 04/04/2019 Effluent Pipe Owner - Facility: Lithium Division Plant Inspection Type: Bioassay Compliance Yes No NA NE Comment: The effluents from Outfalls 001 , 002 and 004 were clear with no floatable solids or foam. Page#