NC0000272_Annual Report_20210421

evergreen �/ Canton Office
- i 75 Main Street• Canton, NC 28716
packaging
March 30, 2021 CBC 17-21
CERTIFIED MAIL Return Receipt Requested
7020 0640 0000 4606 2234
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Division of Water Resources RECEIVED
"
ATTENTION: Central Files
1611 Mail Service Center
Raleigh,NC 27699-1611 APR 21 2021
NCDEQ/DWR/NPDES
Re: NPDES NO.NC0000272
Best Management Practices 2020 Annual Report
Blue Ridge Paper Products Inc. d/b/a Evergreen Packaging
Canton,NC
This letter report(two copies) is the 2020 summary of Best Management Practices (BMP) daily
monitoring for the Canton Mill. The report is required on or before March 31'of each year by
Special Condition A(6.)Best Management Practices, Section E.4 and Section F.1, of the mill's
NPDES Permit No. NC0000272.
The BMP action levels established in accordance with permit requirements and in effect for 2020
are as follows:
Effective Dates: 1 Jan 2020—31 Dec 2020
Total Influent(TI) Color —
Action Level daily monitoring result Action Required
1-Day Upper Action Immediate investigation and documented
> 72,500 lbs/day for one day
Level (UAL) corrective action
2-day Upper Action > 59,400 lbs/day for two Investigation and documented corrective
Level (UAL) consecutive days action
2-day Lower Action > 55,400 lbs/day for two Investigation and documentation
Level (LAL) consecutive days
Daily records of total influent color are maintained at the mill. These daily color data are
compared to BMP action levels every morning. Total influent color exceeded BMP action levels
on the dates outlined in the following table. A brief summary of information for these dates are
included as required by permit Condition A.(6.), Section E.4. The permit-required BMP
investigation reports are maintained at the mill.
fresh by design
Doing Business in California as Evergreen Beverage Packaging

30 Mar 2020,Page 2
None of the BMP action level days resulted in disruption to the wastewater treatment plant. The
Canton Mill met all NPDES annual average effluent limits during 2020.
Total Influent
Date(s) (TI) Color Action Level and Summary
6—8 January 102,256 lbs/day 1-day UAL/2-day UAL— Investigation and
2020 112,491 lbs/day documented corrective action
79,869 lbs/day
Cause(s)
In association with a planned mill outage, color material
accumulated in the Recovery black liquor sumps. The
contents were diverted to the sewers. The waste
treatment plant received high color material, which was
treated with color reduction polymer.
Corrective Action(s)
Proactive, frequent checks of area sewers and sump
pumps occurred to ensure the gates were closed and
sumps were pumping to the proper location. One-hour
color sampling was done for the duration of the outage
and the use of a chemical color reduction agent
increased. There were no NPDES discharge limit color
exceedances due to this event.
4 March 2020 79,092 lbs/day 1-day UAL— Immediate investigation and
documented corrective action
Cause(s)
During a planned Recovery outage, material contained in
the black liquor sumps was diverted to the waste
treatment plant for a period of 50 minutes.
Corrective Action(s)
This material was captured in a spill protection vessel (a
spare clarifier) and was metered back into the waste
treatment system for further physical and biological
treatment. Treatment efforts resulted in a 46.8%
reduction in color. More frequent checks of sump system
were implemented to ensure pick up of color material.
There were no NPDES discharge limit color exceedances
due to this event.
Blue Ridge Paper Products Inc. dba Evergreen Packaging—Canton Mill
175 Main Street • PO Box 4000
Canton, North Carolina 28716 • 828-646-2000

30 Mar 2020,Page 3
Total Influent
Date(s) (TI) Color Action Level and Summary
6 — 7 March 71,552 lbs/day 1-day UAL/2-day LAL— Investigation and
2020 58,215 lbs/day documented corrective action
Cause and Corrective Action(s)
During a planned Recovery outage, material contained in
the black liquor sumps was diverted to the Waste
Treatment plant.
Corrective Action(s)
The material was chemically and biologically treated prior
to reintroduction to the receiving stream, and more
frequent inspections of the sump system occurs to ensure
the pickup of color material. There were no NPDES
discharge limit color exceedances due to this event.
1 April 2020 75,113 lbs/day 1-day UAL— Immediate investigation and
documented corrective action
Cause(s)
During a planned Recovery outage, high-color material
that accumulated in black liquor sumps was diverted to
waste treatment.
Corrective Action(s)
More frequent inspections of sumps and conductivity
meters occurred, and the material was treated with color
reduction agents. The secondary effluent color was
decreased using the activated sludge WTP and chemical
amendment. There were no NPDES discharge limit color
exceedances due to this event.
Blue Ridge Paper Products Inc. dba Evergreen Packaging—Canton Mill
175 Main Street • PO Box 4000
Canton, North Carolina 28716 • 828-646-2000

30 Mar 2020,Page 4
Total Influent
Date(s) (TI) Color Action Level and Summary
13 April 2020 76,206 lbs/day 1-day UAL— Immediate investigation and
documented corrective action
Cause(s)
During upset conditions in the pulp mill, the color became
elevated. The pulp mill experienced run-ability issues,
causing a diversion of black liquor to the sewers.
Corrective Action(s)
The material was treated with color reducing agents, and
the area was inspected frequently. The color event was
not ongoing. After the flash floods, the flow was close to
normal operation and the process was restarted to
decrease color. There were no NPDES discharge limit
color exceedances due to this event.
16 — 17 April 57,897 lbs/day 2 Day LAL— Investigation and documented corrective
2020 60,664 lbs/day action
Cause(s)
The MRP was down for two days, so there was an
excess in pine bleach filtrate. Based on the filtrate
balance, the percent closure within the pine bleach plant
was affected, so the color material was sent to waste
treatment.
Corrective Action(s)
More frequent inspections of lines for cracks, fissures, or
indications of stress or wear were implemented, and the
material was treated with color reduction agents prior to
release to the effluent. Since no black liquor, soap, or
turpentine was released, this event qualifies as non-BMP,
but is included in the report to acknowledge that the 2-
day lower action limit was triggered and investigated.
However, there were no NPDES discharge limit color
exceedances due to this event.
Blue Ridge Paper Products Inc. dba Evergreen Packaging—Canton Mill
175 Main Street • PO Box 4000
Canton, North Carolina 28716 • 828-646-2000

30 Mar 2020,Page 5
Total Influent
Date(s) (TI) Color Action Level and Summary
10 — 11 May 288,821 lbs/day 1-day UAL/2-day UAL— Investigation and
2020 80,979 lbs/day documented corrective action
Cause(s)
An electrical ground created an unexpected power
outage that caused #10 recovery boiler to go offline. Due
to the power outage, dilution water was added to the
cyclones as a safety mechanism, causing the material to
overflow. The next day, during a cyclone wash, black
liquor was sent to the sewers.
Corrective Action(s)
Material was treated with color reduction agents, with
most of the material captured in a spare clarifier/spill
protection vessel during both events. More frequent
scans of the conductivity meters and temperature gauges
were implemented, and an investigation into the cause of
the electrical ground occurred to prevent future issues.
There were no NPDES discharge limit color exceedances
due to this event.
1 June 2020 112,345 lbs/day 1-day UAL— Investigation and documented corrective
action
Cause(s)
During an annual outage, the color material contained in
a #10 recovery boiler sump was unintentionally diverted
to the sewer, causing heightened color values.
Corrective Action(s)
Operations was advised to be diligent with
communications of color material to the waste treatment
staff. The color material was captured in a spare clarifier
for further treatment prior to slowly being metered back
into the system. Secondary effluent color was improved
prior to discharge. There were no NPDES discharge limit
color exceedances due to this event.
Blue Ridge Paper Products Inc. dba Evergreen Packaging—Canton Mill
175 Main Street • PO Box 4000
Canton, North Carolina 28716 • 828-646-2000

30 Mar 2020,Page 6
Total Influent
Date(s) (TI) Color Action Level and Summary
17 July 2020 83,106 lbs/day 1-day UAL— Investigation and documented corrective
action
Cause(s)
While #10 recovery boiler was down for a cyclone wash,
the boiler sump lost prime twice, allowing a large amount
of wash water material from the black liquor cyclones to
enter the main mill sewer.
Corrective Action(s)
The sump pump internal flapper was changed and the
discharge check valve was cleaned to reduce the
possibility of the pump losing prime again. The material
was biologically treated. There were no NPDES
discharge limit color exceedances due to this event.
12 — 14 177,701 lbs/day 1-day UAL/2-day UAL— Investigation and
September 128,859 lbs/day documented corrective action
2020 55,837 lbs/day
Cause and
An unexpected power outage caused all mill systems to
go offline/inoperable. The black liquor sumps, green
liquor, and weak wash all over-ran to the sewer.
Corrective Action(s)
Color material was captured in a spare clarifier and was
chemically treated prior to reintroduction to the system.
Lower color material was treated with color reduction
agents. There were no NPDES discharge limit color
exceedances due to this event.
Blue Ridge Paper Products Inc. dba Evergreen Packaging—Canton Mill
175 Main Street • PO Box 4000
Canton, North Carolina 28716 • 828-646-2000

30 Mar 2020,Page 7
Total Influent
Date(s) (TI) Color Action Level and Summary
17— 18 105,121 lbs/day 1 day UAL/2-day UAL— Investigation and
September 79,698 lbs/day documented corrective action
2020
Cause(s)
During a planned outage, the Recovery, Utilities, and
Pulp Mill departments were unable to contain all color
material in the sumps. Most tanks and vessels needed to
be drained prior to the extended outage.
Corrective Action(s)
Plans were in place to chemically treat any color releases
and capture flow if necessary. The material was treated
with color reduction agents and most of the high color
material captured in a spare clarifier. There were no
NPDES discharge limit color exceedances due to this
event.
29 September 100,483 lbs/day 1-day UAL— Immediate investigation and
2020 documented corrective action
Cause(s)
Following a planned outage, an unplanned power outage
prevented the Recovery, Utilities, and Pulp Mill
departments from being able to contain all color material
in the sumps.
Corrective Action(s)
Plans were created to mitigate color and effectively
prevented color exceptions in the secondary effluent.
Flow was captured and color material was chemically
treated. There were no NPDES discharge limit color
exceedances due to this event.
Blue Ridge Paper Products Inc. dba Evergreen Packaging—Canton Mill
175 Main Street • PO Box 4000
Canton, North Carolina 28716 • 828-646-2000

30 Mar 2020,Page 8
Total Influent
Date(s) (TI) Color Action Level and Summary
11 — 12 79,180 lbs/day 1 day UAL/2-day UAL— Investigation and
October 2020 59,379 lbs/day documented corrective action
Cause(s)
Following start up from a planned Recovery outage, the
black liquor sumps were unable to contain all color
material. Additionally, the conductivity probe in the area
was reading incorrectly.
Corrective Action(s)
Repairs were made to the affected areas while normal
color mitigation plans were in place; maintained regular
communication with the areas discharging color to the
sewers, maintained the ability to chemically treat material
and divert the flow of material to a spare catch clarifier for
treatment. There were no NPDES discharge limit color
exceedances due to this event.
9— 10 112,157 lbs/day 1 day UAL/2-day UAL— Investigation and
November 62,892 lbs/day documented corrective action
2020
Cause(s)
During normal operations, a power outage caused a
failure of the#11 recovery boiler sump pump. During this
period of inoperability, the pump became plugged and the
contained black liquor overflowed to the sewers.
Corrective Action(s)
Repairs were made within 4.5-5 hours, however the color
material remained in the primary influent system for a
period exceeding 24 hours. One million gallons of
material was captured in spare clarifier before additional
biological treatment. There were no NPDES discharge
limit color exceedances due to this event.
Blue Ridge Paper Products Inc. dba Evergreen Packaging—Canton Mill
175 Main Street • PO Box 4000
Canton, North Carolina 28716 • 828-646-2000

30 Mar 2020,Page 9
Total Influent
Date(s) (TI) Color Action Level and Summary
10 — 14 73,971 lbs/day 1 day UAL/2-day UAL — Investigation and
December 53,102 lbs/day documented corrective action
2020 60,094 lbs/day
62,393 lbs/day Cause(s)
57,800 lbs/day During the start-up phase after a planned outage, several
black liquor pumps within the hardwood pulp mill became
plugged, causing liquor to be diverted to the sewer.
Corrective Action(s)
Waste treatment operators were notified in a timely
manner, and high color material was captured in a spill
containment clarifier. The sumps were cleared and
repaired. During the next three days, color continued to
be elevated, but was chemically and biologically treated
and monitored hourly. There were no NPDES discharge
limit color exceedances due to this event.
Please contact us if you have questions regarding this information.
Sincerely,
4,1/
Chuck Cranford Tracy Willis
Environmental Manager—Waste and Water Programs Operations Supervisor/ORC -WWTP
Evergreen Packaging—Canton Mill Evergreen Packaging—Canton Mill
[e-mail] [e-mail]
cc:
Mr. Landon Davidson
DWR Regional Supervisor, Asheville Regional Office
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
2090 U.S. Highway 70
Swannanoa,NC 28778
C. File—Wastewater
Blue Ridge Paper Products Inc. dba Evergreen Packaging—Canton Mill
175 Main Street • PO Box 4000
Canton, North Carolina 28716 • 828-646-2000