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Home My WebLink AboutNC0005177_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20221013ROY COOPER Governor ELIZABETH 5. BISER 5ecrefvey RICHARD E. ROGERS, JR. Director NORTH CAROL! NA Enlri'ronmrrtint Qualify October 13, 2022 Mr. Brad Braggs, Environmental & Sustainability Manager Livent/Lithium Division P.O Box 795 Bessemer, NC 28016 Subject: Compliance Evaluation Inspection Livent/Lithium Division NPDES Permit No. NC0005177 Gaston County Dear Mr. Braggs: Enclosed is a copy of the Compliance Evaluation Inspection for the inspection conducted at the subject facility on October 11, 2022, by Ori Tuvia. Lance Clayton's and 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. The report should be self-explanatory; however, should you have any questions concerning this report, please do not hesitate to contact Ori Tuvia at (704) 235-2190, or at ori.tuvia@ncdenr.gov. Sincerely, DocuSigned by: )444.1.4V H P,xs.i F161 FB69A2D84A3... Andrew H. Pitner P.G., Assistant Regional Supervisor Water Quality Regional Operations Section Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ Cc: 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 EPA 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 Code 1 IN I 2 I5 21 1 1 1 1 NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection I 3 I NC0005177 111 121 22/10/11 117 Type 18 i i I I 1 1 1 Inspector Fac Type 191 S I 201 1 1 1 1 1 11 1 1 1 I I I 1 1 1 1 1 1 I I I I I 1 11 1 1 1 I 1 P6 Inspection Work Days Facility Self -Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA Reserved 67I1.0 I 70I4 I 71IN I 72 I N I 731 I 74 751 I I 1 I I I I I I 180 l 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 09:55AM 22/10/11 Permit Effective Date 18/09/01 Exit Time/Date 11:10AM 22/10/11 Permit Expiration Date 23/08/31 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) /// Brad Braggs//704-868-5544 / Lance Ernst Crayton/ORC/704-868-5450/ 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 DispoFacility 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 A Tuvia Signature(s) of Inspector(s) Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date 10/12/2022 ,-DocuSigned - by: DWR/Division of Water Quality/704-663-1699/ BB057A2DE017498... Signature of Man Andrew Pitn otsanRcRuwiewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date r 4 v IIP" NR/MRO WQ/704-663-1699 Ext.2180/ 10.13.22 F161FB69A2D84A3... EPA Form 3560-3 (Rev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete. Page# 1 NPDES yr/mo/day 31 NC0005177 111 121 22/10/11 I17 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: 10/11/2022 Owner - Facility: Lithium Division Plant Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Permit Yes No NA NE (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? • ❑ El El # Are there any special conditions for the permit? El • El El Is access to the plant site restricted to the general public? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the inspector granted access to all areas for inspection? • ❑ ❑ ❑ 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 Yes No NA NE 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)? El El ❑ • Are analytical results consistent with data reported on DMRs? • El El El Is the chain -of -custody complete? • El ❑ ❑ 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? • El El El Has the facility submitted its annual compliance report to users and DWQ? ❑ El • ❑ (If the facility is = or > 5 MGD permitted flow) Do they operate 24/7 with a certified El El • El operator on each shift? Is the ORC visitation log available and current? • El ❑ ❑ Is the ORC certified at grade equal to or higher than the facility classification? • El El El 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? • El El El Facility has copy of previous year's Annual Report on file for review? El El • El Comment: The records reviewed during the inspection were organized and well maintained. DMRs, COCs, Calibration logs and ORC logs were reviewed for the period of April 2022 to June 2022. Page# 3 Permit: NC0005177 Inspection Date: 10/11/2022 Owner - Facility: Lithium Division Plant Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Laboratory Are field parameters performed by certified personnel or 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: Yes No NA NE • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ • ❑ Effluent Sampling Yes No NA NE Is composite sampling flow proportional? ❑ ❑ • ❑ Is sample collected below all treatment units? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is proper volume collected? • ❑ El El Is the tubing clean? El El • El # Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 ❑ El • ❑ degrees Celsius)? Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type • El El El 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 • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ 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 Yes No NA NE Is containment adequate? • El El ❑ Is storage adequate? • El El El Are backup pumps available? • El El El Is the site free of excessive leaking? • El El El 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: 10/11/2022 Owner - Facility: Lithium Division Plant Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Lagoons Yes No NA NE Type of lagoons? # Number of lagoons in operation at time of visit? 1 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? ❑ El � ❑ Is the lagoon surface free of weeds? ❑ ❑ • ❑ Is the lagoon free of short circuiting? ❑ ❑ • ❑ Comment: Flow Measurement - Influent # 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 Effluent Pipe 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? Yes No NA NE • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ Yes No NA NE Comment: The was no effluents from Outfalls 001 at the time of the inspection. Effluent from outfalls 002 and 004 were clear with no floatable solids or foam. Page# 5