NC0000400_Meeting Notes_19990319

Unimin/K-T Feldspar/Felspar Corporation Meeting
March 19, 1999
Opening comments from Charlie Stover, Unimin-NPDES permit renewal in Dec. 2001.
Wanted to meet to get DWQ ideas on Dept.'s renewal. Fluoride limits allocated#'s
waited to approach and find out any changes in the permits.
He also talked about data submitted to DWQ. Did some toxicity testing, fluoride toxicity
testing is imprecise. Concerns: 1)knowledge of acute toxicity. Use studies on
ceriodaphnia. Did acute and chronic study in past two months and sent conclusions.
Existing standard is protective of the environment-overly so, standard could be
increased. Acute and chronic toxicity—duplicated by two separate labs,ETT and
Burlington. Chronic shows 8— 16 ppm failure of fluoride toxicity.
Reports include lab sheets from labs, show acute and chronic toxicity info to address the
area of acute to chronic results.
Chronic to acute results 8ppm lowest failed in chronic, 40 ppm lowest failed in acute. 7
ppm is protected , 1.8 ppm standard for NC.
2)Are any changes in fluoride calculations to be made in the permit? Feel that 1.8
ppm for fluoride is too restrictive for North Toe River. Want to know if fluoride
would be ratcheted down Are we looking at the fluoride standard being reduced?
What are DWQ intentions with the limits? Higher correction or lower correction?
Unimin, Feldspar,and KT Feldspar can live with what they have right now. Not looking
for higher poundage,don't want any reduction in existing poundage.
Unimin have developed two new plants in the last couple of years,Asian market took
some business. Any reduction,were there any discrepancies in calculations?
DWQ will give written response to the companies and a copy of the Alcoa report by
the end of April.
Companies will correct typos and submit updated report to DWQ.