NCG060020_Letter RE Offal Area Overflow_20200624

June 22, 2020
Lon Snider Regional Supervisor
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Winston — Salem Regional Office
Division of Water Resources
SUBJECT: Storm Water Permit: 4 NCG060020
Tyson Farms, Inc. -Wilkesboro Processing Plant
Wilkes County
Dear Mr. Lon Snider:
On June 15, 2020 at approximately 2:06 PM Wilkesboro Processing Plant II experienced a drain
stoppage in its offal area. The offal drain overflowed and reached the stormwater outfall.
Operations were immediately ceased, and vacuum trucks were summoned to the site to begin
recovery of material. The vast majority of water was collected on Tyson property but out of an
abundance of caution a call was placed to the North Carolina Department of Environmental
Quality at 4:41 PM on June 15, 2020.
A pH was immediately taken of the water in the stream to assess potential impacts on it. The pH
result was a 6.75. Additional water samples were taken and sent to an analytical lab. Results
will be forwarded upon receipt.
The location of the line blockage was in an area away from the areas that Tyson had identified
and upgraded in March of this year. For reference, Plant II is located approximately 1000'
upgradient and southwest of the prior incidents at Plant I and the Food Service plants. Due to this
event, additional work was conducted around the offal area of the plant. This work consisted of
erecting a concrete retaining wall adjacent to the offal area. This will eliminate any potential for
impact from this area. This construction was completed June 20, 2020. Tyson invites the
Department to come onsite, following all COVID-19 safety measures, or to do, a virtual visit to
look at the improvements made to the sight and offer any other suggestions that we may have
overlooked as precautionary measures. Tyson takes the protection of the environment very
seriously and wants to make necessary changes so it is not likely for these issues occur.
Tyson has made significant improvements to eliminate potential stormwater discharges and will
continue to look for process improvements. The unnamed tributary will continue to be evaluated
as part of our scheduled Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan inspection schedule.
Tyson Farms, Inc. Wilkesboro, NC Complex 704 Factory Street, NC 28697
Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone] www.tysonfoods.com

Feel free to contact me should you have any questions.
Sincerely,
TYSON FARMS, INC.
James S. Brown
Complex Environmental Manager
Cc: Kevin Taylor (Tyson — Wilkesboro Complex)
Doug Baxter (Tyson — Area Environmental Manager)
Kendra Jones (Tyson — Legal Department)
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Tyson Farms, Inc. Wilkesboro, NC Complex 704 Factory Street, NC 28697
Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone] www.tys0nf00ds.c0m