NC0000272_NOV-2021-DV-0254_20210518

DocuSign Envelope ID: 0CE7E291-BB48-48C9-8531-87139E8FDB3F
ROY COOPER
Governor
DIONNE DELLI-GATTI
Secretary
S. DANIEL SMITH
Director
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
SENT VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL ONLY: NO HARD COPY WILL BE MAILED.
May 18, 2021
Paul Syslo, Facility Environmental Health and Safety Manager
E-mail: [e-mail]
Subject: NOTICE OF VIOLATION
This Version includes a date correction (month of incident) and supersedes the previous version.
NOV-2021-DV-0254 (Incident #202101270)
Unlawful Discharge of Oils or Other Wastes
Evergreen Packaging, Inc. (Canton Mill)
Haywood County, N.C.
Dear Mr. Syslo,
Chapter 143, North Carolina General Statutes (NCGS), directs and authorizes the Environmental
Management Commission (EMC) of the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to protect
and preserve the water and air resources of the State. The Division of Water Resources (DWR) has
the delegated authority to enforce water pollution control laws and regulations.
On May 4, 2021, DWR staff from the Asheville Regional Office responded to a release of
turpentine and process wastewater to the Pigeon River from the Canton Mill's wastewater
treatment plant (WWTP). The release occurred at approximately 11:30 AM on May 3, 2021 in the
vicinity of treatment works designed to separate turpentine from the process wastewater. A
faulty valve resulted in the release of approximately 20 gallons of process wastewater and
turpentine to the ground surface, which was transported by stormwater runoff to the Pigeon
River. The faulty component was repaired upon discovery.
DWR staff inspected the Pigeon River at multiple locations extending to approximately 5,000 feet
downstream of the release. A minor amount of sheen was observed on the streambank adjacent
to the release site. Sheen was not observed downstream of the release area. A meeting was
conducted at the facility with environmental staff, including the WWTP ORC and facility EH&S
Manager to review the source of the release and the ongoing mitigation work. Oil -absorbent
booms were deployed downstream of the release. The impacted soil at the release site will be
excavated and removed.
NORTH
oepatdnene et EnWtpnenent$ Qual\
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
Asheville Regional Office 12090 U.S. Highway 70 I Swannanoa, North Carolina 28778
828.296,4500

DocuSign Envelope ID: 0CE7E291-BB48-48C9-8531-87139E8FDB3F
Paul Syslo
May 13, 2021
This section of the Pigeon River (stream index 5-7) is classified as a Class C stream.
Violation:
As a result of the release of industrial wastewater containing turpentine into the Pigeon River,
the following violation is noted:
15A NCAC 02B .0211 (12) - Oils, deleterious substances, or colored or other wastes: only such
amounts as shall not render the waters injurious to public health, secondary recreation, or to
aquatic life and wildlife, or adversely affect the palatability of fish, aesthetic quality, or impair
the waters for any designated uses. For the purpose of implementing this Rule, oils, deleterious
substances, or colored or other wastes shall include substances that cause a film or sheen upon
or discoloration of the surface of the water or adjoining shorelines, as described in 40 CFR
110.3(a)-(b), incorporated by reference including subsequent amendments and editions.
Required Response and Corrective Action
This Office requests that you provide a response to this letter in writing. Your response is to be
received by this office no later than thirty (30) days of receipt of this Notice. Your response
should be sent to this Office at the letterhead address. Your response should address the
following items:
1. Immediately cease all unpermitted discharges to surface waters from primary (i.e.,
tanks and pipe) and secondary sources (i.e., impacted soils, stormwater conveyances,
etc).
2. Institute engineering, administrative, other necessary controls and training to reduce
or eliminate the reoccurrence of this event in the future.
3. Report to this Office assessing the cause, significance, and extent of the industrial
wastewater released on April 3, 2021. The report is to include, but not limited to, the
following information:
• Provide a detailed account on the cause of the release;
• Confirm the source and volume of material that entered the Pigeon
River. Please include documentation and/or sufficient detail supporting
your estimate of the volume of product released; and
• Provide a summary of all emergency and remedial actions completed to date
including any site modifications (e.g. modification of turpentine separation
tanks and associated conveyance to WWTP, excavation of impacted soil, etc.).

DocuSign Envelope ID: 0CE7E291-BB48-48C9-8531-87139E8FDB3F
Paul Syslo
May 13, 2021
If you wish to provide additional information regarding the noted violations or discuss overall
compliance, please include these topics in your required response. Should you have any
questions regarding these matters, please contact Tim Heim or me at
[phone].
Sincerely,
c—DocuSigned by:
"-7E617A38285848C...
G. Landon Davidson, P.G., Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations
Asheville Regional Office
Ec: LF, Tracy Willis, WWTP
ORC