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HomeMy WebLinkAbout820715_NOV-2019-DV-0284 NOV Response_20210611Smithfield. 60od food.7Zespomible August 1, 2019 NCDEQ DWR Fayetteville Regional Office 225 Green Street, Suite 714 Fayetteville, NC 28301 Attn.: Trent Allen, Regional Supervisor Subject: Dear Mr. Allen, ENTERED TC) JUN i i tuL1 DEQ/DWR WOROS FAYE.Ti E\iILLE REGIONAL OFICE Additional Considerations in Response to NOV-2019-DV-0284 Carroll's Farm 2096, Facility No. 82-0715, Permit No. AWS820715 Sampson County M. Kevin Weston Sr. Environmental Compliance Technical Specialist Smithfield Hog Production Division P.O. Box 856 2822 NC Hwy 24 West Warsaw, NC 28398 (910) 293-3434 tel (910) 293-3138 fax This letter contains additional considerations in response to the NOTICE OF VIOLATION/NOTICE OF RECOMMENDATION FOR ENFORCEMENT letter dated July 23, 2019. According to the notice letter, the required corrective action along with the typically requested information has already been provided to the Fayetteville Regional Office on June 24, 2019. In addition to this information, please consider the following: • All irrigation line ditch crossings have been marked with posts and will be maintained so that anyone performing field maintenance activities will be aware of the irrigation lines crossing the ditches, • All irrigation line ditch crossings are encased in a second pipe for added protection from maintenance activities, • Underground gate valves have been installed throughout the system and various valves will be closed to isolate or shut off sections of the system that are not in use during an irrigation event, • Prior to starting any irrigation event, the entire irrigation system will be inspected for damages and repairs made as needed, • The farm has a good environmental history and responded to the incident in an appropriate, responsible, timely and effective manner in accordance with our Environmental Management System (EMS) as well as our current state General Permit, • This incident occurred while the farm was and still is under contract to be sold. Current and proposed management personnel have been involved with the corrective actions taken and proposed. Our Environmental Management System (EMS) proved its effectiveness by providing the structure and protocol that ensured the incident was discovered quickly and appropriate corrective actions and notifications were done in a timely and effective manner. Recovery and remediation efforts began within three hours of discovery of the incident. The pipe repair was completed the following day. Expenditures for recovery, remediation and repair caused by this incident totaled more than three days of labor and over $3700. Thanks for the opportunity to present additional information for consideration in response to this notice. If you have further questions or need additional information regarding this matter, please contact me. Sincerely, ,fie/ z--� M. Kevin Weston kweston@smithfield.com www.smithfieldfoods.com Murphy Brown. Murphy Brown East June 19, 2019 Bill Dunlap NCDEQ — Division of Water Resources Suite 714 225 Green Street Fayetteville, N.C. 28301 RE: Farm 20963 Facility # 82-715 Accidental Discharge 6/17/19 PO Box 856 Warsaw, NC 28398 REUtlVE DECyDwR JUN242019 AYETTFv!'I EREGIO l.NALOft";C Dear Mr. Dunlap, This letter is the follow-up to an accidental discharge on farm 20963 reported to you on June 17, 2019. The sequence of events on Monday 6/17/2019 was as follows: 1) The farm's LNM Tech started the irrigation pump at 10:20am and then checked the hydrants, air vents and valves for leaks. He retumed to the pump to begin increasing pressure on the system and immediately noticed that something was wrong. He shut the pump down at 10:40am. 2) The Tech checked the system again and checked the ditches as well for any problems. At 11:15am he found a broken irrigation line in a ditch on the Western end of the farm. 3) The Tech immediately contacted his supervisor and put in an earthen dam at the pipe break to contain the effluent that was leaking from the line. 4) The complex manager called to have recovery pumps brought to the site. Once equipment arrived, pumps were set up and remediation began at 1 pm. The effluent mixed water was pumped onto the farm's spray fields. In addition, we brought in other equipment which included an excavator to further contain and recover the effluent. 5) When equipment arrived, a containment dam was constructed at the furthest point accessible. A pump was placed there, and remediation began at approximately 5 pm. The effluent mixed water was pumped from this point onto the site's spray field. I called Bill Dunlap with DEQ at approximately 5 pm to report the spill and give details of the situation. 6) Hughie White with DEQ arrived Monday 5/20/19 at approximately 6:45pm to inspect the incident and recovery efforts. 7) Recovery and remediation included pumping the effluent onto the farm's spray fields from the containment dams. Cleanup efforts were carried on into the night on 6/17/19 and on 6/18/19 until all effluent mixed water was recovered behind the dams. 8) Our LNM crew invested over 47.5-man hours in efforts to recover as much effluent from the spill as possible at a cost of approximately $2,440.00. 9) Root Cause: A 6" PVC irrigation line that crossed a field ditch was hit and busted by someone. We do not know by whom or when this occurred. Estimate of the discharge: • Page 2 June 20, 2019 A) We estimate approximately 8,000 gallons of effluent was lost through the irrigation line. Through our efforts we feel that we recovered approximately 4,800 gallons and no more than approximately 3,200 gallons escaped past our constructed dams. See estimate of discharge attached Corrective Actions taken: 1) The busted irrigation line was repaired 2) Further investigation to find out who damaged the pipe and why it was not repaired. Included with this letter is a copy of the most current waste analysis as required by the permit and a copy of the estimate of discharge. Also, as required by NC general statutes chapter 143-215.10C (h)(I) a public notice was released to local media outlets on 6/18/19. (See attached copy of public notice.) I have outlined all currently available information about this incident. Murphy -Brown LLC staff has responded in an appropriate and responsible manner in accordance with our Environmental Management System Emergency Response Plan and in keeping with our responsibilities under the state permit. Our Environmental Management System (EMS) proved its effectiveness by providing the structure and protocol that all parties involved in the response and ensuring, that they did so in a timely and effective manner. If I can be of any further assistance, please feel free to contact me. Sincerely, Q �%41jejil Michael Norris Environmental Systems Manager Murphy -Brown LLC (910) 293-5575 NOTICE OF DISCHARGE OF UNTREATED WASTE The 20963 Farm, located at SR 1255, 1148 Hayne Stretch Rd Autryville and owned by Murphy -Brown LLC, had a discharge of approximately 8,000 gallons of untreated wastewater originating from a damaged irrigation line on the farm. The discharge occurred on June 17, 2019 and was discovered at approximately 11 am. The wastewater entered an unnamed tributary of Big Swamp. Containment and remediation efforts began immediately upon discovery, and the incident was reported to NCDEQon June 17, 2019. The spilled wastewater was partially contained on farm property and returned to the farm's manure management system. In addition, the damaged irrigation line was repaired to prevent further discharges. This notice was required by North Carolina General Statutes 143-215.10C (h)(I). For more information, please contact Michael Norris.