NCG060139_Spill Report_20201119

Smithfield.
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November 18, 2020
Mr. Mike Lawyer
Environmental Consultant, Fayetteville Regional Office
Division of Energy, Mineral and Land Resources
225 Green Street -Suite 714
Fayetteville, NC 28301
Subject: Wastewater Spill 11/12/2020
Smithfield Fresh Meats Corp. - Clinton Plant
Clinton, North Carolina
Dear Mr. Lawyer:
Rick Bowen
Environmental Manager
Fresh
Smithfield Clinton
424 E. Railroad Street
Clinton, North Carolina, 28301
[phone] tel
[phone] mobile
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As required, please accept this letter as the written follow up to the previously reported wastewater spill
that occurred on November 12, 2020.
At approximately 1800 Thursday, November 12, Smithfield Clinton's 4 MG Wastewater tank developed
an approximately 1-inch hole ultimately resulting in a spill.
At the request of the City of Clinton, Smithfield was holding water back in the wastewater tank to reduce
flows to the City's POTW.
Smithfield's initial step to lessen the environmental impact was to request from the City of Clinton
permission to resume discharging and to lower the tank level below the leak point. The City of Clinton
approved. Smithfield started treating water at maximum flow and placed an open top watertight, sludge
trailer under the leak which captured 27,000 gallons. The catch trailer eventually filled, and the water
began to overflow onto the ground and ultimately to the stormwater system. Smithfield estimates
approximately 20,000 to 30,000 gallons spilled onto the ground with an unknown amount going to
stormwater.
Smithfield attempted to weld a nipple and valve arraignment to stop the flow, but unfortunately this failed
and resulted in a second leak.
The decision was made to continue lowering the tank level as fast as possible and not risk any more
damage to the tank nor risk any Smithfield associates to injury as the weather conditions and light were
degrading.

Friday morning, the leak had slowed by 90%. I reported the spill to Mr. Mike Lawyer and relayed to him
my observations downstream of the leak. I saw no direct evidence of the spill. On Friday November 131"
at 1422 the leak was completely stopped.
Smithfield is going to have the tank inspected by a Professional Engineer as soon as possible to determine
tank integrity. In the interim, Smithfield will be maintaining our operational tank level as low as possible
to minimize head pressure.
Sincerely,
Rick Bowen
Environmental Manager
Smithfield Fresh Meats Corp.- Clinton