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Home My WebLink AboutNC0005177_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20231018 (2)United States Environmental Protection Agency Form Approved. EPA Washington, D.C. 20460 OMB No. 2040-0057 Water Compliance Inspection Report Approval expires 8-31-98 Section A: National Data System Coding (i.e., PCS) Transaction Code NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type Inspector Fac Type 1 IN 1 2 u 3 I NC0005177 111 121 23/10/17 I17 18 LC] I 19 I s I 20L] 21111I I I I I I I II I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I II I I I I I r6 Inspection Work Days Facility Self -Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA ---------------------- Reserved ------------------- 67 1.0 701d I 711„ I 72 I r., I 71 I 74 79 I I I I I I I80 L—I ty L-1 I I Section B: Facility Data Name and Location of Facility Inspected (For Industrial Users discharging to POTW, also include Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date POTW name and NPDES permit Number) 09:30AM 23/10/17 18/09/01 Lithium Division Plant NC Hwy 161 Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date Bessemer City NC 28016 12:40PM 23/10/17 23/08/31 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) Other Facility Data Brad Aaron Braggs/ORC/704-868-5400/ 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 0 Flow Measurement Operations & Maintenar Records/Reports Self -Monitoring Progran 0 Sludge Handling Dispo: Facility 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 Signature(s) of Inspector(s) Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date DocuSigned by: OriATuvia DWR/NPDES WW Permitting Unit/704-663-1699/ 10/18/2023 cc_ _� DWR/NPDES WW Permitting Unit/919-707-3612/ Fenton Brown ERB057A2DE017498... udQrAc�viewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date Signature of Ma7rA44" Andrew Pitn H P"q!MR/MRO WQ/704-663-1699 Ext.2180/ 10/18/2023 EPA Form 3560-3 (Rev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete. Page# NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type NC0005177 I11 12I 23/10/17 117 18 i c i Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) Page# Permit: NC0005177 Owner -Facility: Lithium Division Plant Inspection Date: 10/17/2023 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? ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ # Are there any special conditions for the permit? ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ 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 expired on 8/31/2023, the facility applied for permit renewal in timel manner. The RO system has not been in use since 2018 due to the production line not being used, if the production line will be put back into service the RO system will need to be maintained prior to use. The hydrogen peroxide addition unit has been removed and will be taken out during the permit renewal. 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)? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Are analytical results consistent with data reported on DMRs? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the chain -of -custody complete? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ 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? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Has the facility submitted its annual compliance report to users and DWQ? ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ (If the facility is = or > 5 MGD permitted flow) Do they operate 24/7 with a certified ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ operator on each shift? Is the ORC visitation log available and current? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the ORC certified at grade equal to or higher than the facility classification? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ 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? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Facility has copy of previous year's Annual Report on file for review? ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ Page# 3 Permit: NC0005177 Inspection Date: 10/17/2023 Record Keeping Owner -Facility: Lithium Division Plant Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Yes No NA NE Comment: The records reviewed during the inspection were organized and well maintained. DMRs, COCs, Calibration lops and ORC lops were reviewed for the period of January 2023 to September 2023. 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: Effluent Sampling Is composite sampling flow proportional? Is sample collected below all treatment units? Is proper volume collected? Is the tubing clean? # Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 degrees Celsius)? Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type representative)? Comment: The subject permit requires effluent grab samples. Yes No NA NE ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ Yes No NA NE ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Operations & Maintenance Yes No NA NE Is the plant generally clean with acceptable housekeeping? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Does the facility analyze process control parameters, for ex: MLSS, MCRT, Settleable 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Solids, pH, DO, Sludge Judge, and other that are applicable? 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 Is containment adequate? Is storage adequate? Yes No NA NE ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ Page# 4 Permit: NC0005177 Inspection Date: 10/17/2023 Chemical Feed Are backup pumps available? Is the site free of excessive leaking? Owner -Facility: Lithium Division Plant Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Yes No NA NE ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: Sulfuric acid is added to the influent to maintain appropriate PH levels. Influent PH levels are monitored by an in -line monitoring system 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? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ Is lagoon free of excessive floating materials? ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ # Are baffles between ponds or effluent baffles adjustable? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ Are dike slopes clear of woody vegetation? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Are weeds controlled around the edge of the lagoon? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ Are dikes free of seepage? ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ Are dikes free of erosion? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ Are dikes free of burrowing animals? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ # 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? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ Is the lagoon surface free of weeds? ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ Is the lagoon free of short circuiting? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ Comment: Flow Measurement - Effluent Yes No NA NE # Is flow meter used for reporting? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is flow meter calibrated annually? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the flow meter operational? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ (If units are separated) Does the chart recorder match the flow meter? ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: The flow meter for Outfall 001 is calibrated annually Effluent Pipe Yes No NA NE Is right of way to the outfall properly maintained? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Are the receiving water free of foam other than trace amounts and other debris? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Page# 5 Permit: NC0005177 Inspection Date: 10/17/2023 Effluent Pipe Owner -Facility: Lithium Division Plant Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation If effluent (diffuser pipes are required) are they operating properly? Yes No NA NE ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ Comment: The was no effluents from Outfalls 001 at the time of the inspection. Effluent from outfalls 002 and 004 appeared to be clear with no floatable solids or foam. Page#