HomeMy WebLinkAboutNC0005177_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20210107ROY COOPER
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MI HAEL 5. REGAN
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5. DANIEL SMITH
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January 7, 2021
Mr. Dave Haley, Environmental & Sustainability Manager
FMC Corporation/Lithium Division
P.O Box 795
Bessemer, NC 28016
Subject: Compliance Evaluation Inspection
FMC Corporation/Lithium Division
NPDES Permit No. NC0005177
Gaston County
Dear Mr. Haley:
Enclosed is a copy of the Compliance Evaluation Inspection for the inspection conducted
at the subject facility on January 5, 2021, 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.
If you any questions, please contact Ori Tuvia at (704) 235-2190, or via email at
ori.tuvia@ncdenr.gov.
Sincerely,
—DocuSigned by:
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fo r
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 1610 East Center Avenue, Suite 301 I Mooresville, North Carolina 28115
704 663 1699
United States Environmental Protection Agency
E PA Washington, D.C. 20460
Water Compliance Inspection Report
Form Approved.
OMB No. 2040-0057
Approval expires 8-31-98
Section A: National Data System Coding (i.e., PCS)
Transaction
1 i�I i
Code
2 IS
NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection
I 3 I NC0005177 111 12 I 21/01/05 117
Type
18 [ i
Inspector Fac Type
19 i G i 201
211IIIIIIIIImiliIIiillimilIIIIIIIIIiiiii
166
Inspection Work Days Facility Self -Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA Reserved
6711.0 17° 14 I 711N72 I N I 73I I 174
1L� 1 751
180
1 11111
Section B: Facility Data
Name and Location of Facility Inspected (For Industrial Users discharging to POTW, also include
POTW name and NPDES permit Number)
Lithium Division Plant
NC Hwy 161
Bessemer City NC 28016
Entry Time/Date
09:25AM 21/01/05
Permit Effective Date
18/09/01
Exit Time/Date
10:45AM 21/01/05
Permit Expiration Date
23/08/31
Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s)
///
Thomas David Haley/ORC/704-308-2430/
Other Facility Data
Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number
Contacted
Rodmey S Willis,1115 Highway 161 Bessemer City NC 28016/ORC/704-868-7630/
No
Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated)
Permit Flow Measurement Operations & Maintenar Records/Reports
Self -Monitoring Progran Sludge Handling Dispos Facility Site Review Effluent/Receiving Wate
Laboratory
Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary)
(See attachment summary)
Name(s) and
Ori ATuvia
Signature(s) of Inspector(s) Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers
Date
1/7/2021
�DocuSigned y: DWR/MRO WQ/704-663-1699/
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'BBn57A2nEn174gil
Signature of Man
Andrew Pitn
- dseuksviewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date
r 114 44144' H 1 " Ei1VR/MRO WQ/704-663-1699 Ext.2180/ 1. 7.21
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EPA Form 3560-3 (Rev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete.
Page# 1
NPDES yr/mo/day
31 NC0005177 111 121 21/01/05
117
Inspection Type
18 [j
1
Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary)
Page# 2
Permit: NC0005177
Inspection Date: 01/05/2021
Owner - Facility: Lithium Division Plant
Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Permit
(If the present permit expires in 6 months or less). Has the permittee submitted a new
application?
Is the facility as described in the permit?
# Are there any special conditions for the permit?
Is access to the plant site restricted to the general public?
Is the inspector granted access to all areas for inspection?
Yes No NA NE
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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.
Record Keeping
Are records kept and maintained as required by the permit?
Is all required information readily available, complete and current?
Are all records maintained for 3 years (lab. reg. required 5 years)?
Are analytical results consistent with data reported on DMRs?
Is the chain -of -custody complete?
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 operatc
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?
Yes No NA NE
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Comment: The records reviewed during the inspection were organized and well maintained. DMRs,
COCs, Calibration logs and ORC logs were reviewed for the month of October 2020.
Laboratory
Are field parameters performed by certified personnel or laboratory?
Yes No NA NE
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Page# 3
Permit: NC0005177
Inspection Date: 01/05/2021
Owner - Facility: Lithium Division Plant
Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Laboratory
Are all other parameters(excluding field parameters) performed by a certified lab?
# Is the facility using a contract lab?
# Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 degrees
Celsius)?
Incubator (Fecal Coliform) set to 44.5 degrees Celsius+/- 0.2 degrees?
Incubator (BOD) set to 20.0 degrees Celsius +/- 1.0 degrees?
Comment: Inspection was done during COVID-19, no lab review was done.
Effluent Sampling
Is composite sampling flow proportional?
Is sample collected below all treatment units?
Is proper volume collected?
Is the tubing clean?
# Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 degrees
Celsius)?
Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type
representative)?
Comment: The subject permit requires effluent grab samples.
Operations & Maintenance
Is the plant generally clean with acceptable housekeeping?
Does the facility analyze process control parameters, for ex: MLSS, MCRT, Settleable
Solids, pH, DO, Sludge Judge, and other that are applicable?
Yes No NA NE
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Yes No NA NE
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Yes No NA NE
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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?
Is the site free of excessive leaking?
Yes No NA NE
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Comment: Sulfuric acid is added to the influent to maintain appropriate pH levels. Influent pH levels are
monitored by an in -line monitoring system
Page# 4
Permit: NC0005177
Inspection Date: 01/05/2021
Owner - Facility: Lithium Division Plant
Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Lagoons
Type of lagoons?
# Number of lagoons in operation at time of visit?
Are lagoons operated in?
# Is a re -circulation line present?
Is lagoon free of excessive floating materials?
# Are baffles between ponds or effluent baffles adjustable?
Are dike slopes clear of woody vegetation?
Are weeds controlled around the edge of the lagoon?
Are dikes free of seepage?
Are dikes free of erosion?
Are dikes free of burrowing animals?
# Has the sludge blanket in the lagoon (s) been measured periodically in multiple
locations?
# If excessive algae is present, has barley straw been used to help control the growth?
Is the lagoon surface free of weeds?
Is the lagoon free of short circuiting?
Comment:
Flow Measurement - Effluent
# Is flow meter used for reporting?
Is flow meter calibrated annually?
Is the flow meter operational?
(If units are separated) Does the chart recorder match the flow meter?
Comment: The flow meter for Outfall 001 is calibrated annually
Yes No NA NE
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Yes No NA NE
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Effluent Pipe Yes No NA NE
Is right of way to the outfall properly maintained? • ❑ ❑ ❑
Are the receiving water free of foam other than trace amounts and other debris? • ❑ ❑ ❑
If effluent (diffuser pipes are required) are they operating properly? ❑ ❑ • ❑
Comment: The effluents from Outfalls 001 , 002 and 004 were clear with no floatable solids or foam.
Page# 5