NC0086827_Stormwater Discharge_19980731

DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
July 31, 1998
MEMORANDUM
To: Steve Tedder
Coleen Sullins
From: Steve Mitchell
Subject : Stormwater Discharge
Designation Letter
SouthChem Incorporated
2000 East Pettigrew St
P.O. Box 1491
Durham, N.C. 27702
On November 8, 1994 Messrs. Ted Cashion and Steve Mitchell visited
the subject facility. Although the Standard Industrial
Classification does not apply for stormwater permitting (there is
no actual manufacturing that takes place) this facility repackages
chemicals for resale. SouthChem is a regional distributor of
industrial chemicals. This facility manages high volumes of
chemicals which include caustic soda, soda ash, sodium sulfate,
muriatic acid, acetone, trichloroethane, xylene, methyl ethyl
ketone, and toluene. This repackaging transpires from railroad car
or tanker, to forty pound sack or five gallon carboy, etc.
The stormwater generated at this site is collected in two separate
aeration basins, mixed and neutralized as necessary, and
discharged. There is proper containment around the bulk holding
tanks and I am sure that all of the safety procedures are followed.
But accidents and spills do occur when transferring from train cars
to distribution areas to fifty-five gallon drums and so forth.
This facility recently released 200 gallons of water (August 22,
1994) from the containment basin with a pH of 10 .2 and at that time
the treatment works were determined to be a treatment works. In
response, the company indicated that they would remove the aeration
and mixing and thereby create a stormwater containment basin and
not be in violation of General Statutes for operation of a
treatment works without a permit .
If this is not sufficient information for designation, please
inform me.