820086_Correspondence_20200814

Smithfield..
JGood food.-Kespoasibl8'
August 14, 2020
Via email to [e-mail]
Trent Allen, Regional Supervisor
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Division of Water Resources
Fayetteville Regional Office
225 Green Street, Suite 714
Fayetteville, NC 28301
Subject: Response to letter regarding waste discharge at B&L Farms (AWS820086)
Dear Mr. Allen:
By this letter, Smithfield Foods, Inc. ("Smithfield") is providing the information you requested in
the attached July 140' letter to Smithfield (the "Request") regarding the waste discharge incident (the
"Incident") that occurred at B&L Farms located at 2525 Plain View Hwy, Dunn, NC, 28334 (Permit
AWS820086) (the "Farm") owned by Mr. Bryan McLamb ("Owner"). Since Smithfield neither owns
nor operates the Farm, I want to express our appreciation for the Department's acknowledgement of our
voluntary response to the Incident, including our efforts to help the Owner mitigate the impacts of the
discharge from the Farm's lagoon ("Lagoon") and to prevent further accumulation of waste in the
Lagoon by removal of animals from the Farm.
The second paragraph of the Request asks about the "patch" to the Lagoon and any plans
contemplated by Smithfield to further assist with the Owner's repair of the Lagoon. In terms of its early
response, as soon as Smithfield learned of the Incident, Smithfield personnel, including Dave Elkin,
P.E., and other members of the environmental staff, traveled to the Farm and assessed the Lagoon and
nearby potentially impacted areas. After the assessment, Smithfield personnel worked with the Owner
and DEQ to determine the best possible remediation plan. On the basis of a preliminary evaluation,
Smithfield determined that heavy equipment would be needed at the Farm, and that heavy equipment
and operators from Smithfield's Hog Production Division ("HPD") could reach the site and begin work
quicker than other possible options. As would be expected, the remediation plan focused on stopping
the flow of effluent to the degree possible, returning any effluent possible to the animal waste
management system, and stabilizing the situation to minimize the impact and provide as much
environmental protection as possible.
To that end, it was determined that the breach in the dike should be temporarily patched to
prevent further movement of effluent from the lagoon, both from the immediate situation and from
additional rainfall that was predicted in the area. Division of Water Resources ("DWR") staff from the
Department of Environmental Quality ("DEQ") Fayetteville Regional Office were on site at the time
these decisions were made, and there was good communication between the engineers involved.
Smithfield HPD did not begin any work on the temporary patch until DEQ staff had the opportunity to

inspect and document conditions in and around the dike area and release the site for these activities.
Once released, work began, and a temporary patch was constructed in a matter of a couple of hours.
The temporary repair was not intended, and is still not intended, to be a permanent "fix" to the
dike. Once the temporary repair was completed, DEQ staff established a maximum water level mark in
the lagoon at the site of the breach repair to ensure that wastewater levels in the lagoon would not get
higher on the newly repaired area than it was felt was safe to prevent another breach in that area of the
dike. After the temporary repair was made, the repair area was seeded and mulched to prevent erosion
from predicted rains. As noted in your letter, animals were immediately removed from the facility. The
facility has remained empty.
The second and third paragraphs of the Request ask about Smithfield's plans to further assist
with the permanent repair of the Lagoon embankment. The Owner recently asked Smithfield's HPD
Engineering department for assistance in completing a design for the permanent repair of the structure.
Smithfield has voluntarily provided assistance of this nature in the past for farm owners who contract
with it. Smithfield HPD Engineering has begun the design process, working in conjunction with the
Owner. The design of the repair, when completed, will be sent to DEQ for their approval prior to
construction. The Owner will be responsible for hiring the contractors needed to complete the
permanent repair to the Lagoon and dike, with Smithfield HPD engineers assisting to ensure the repair is
done in accordance with the design specifications.
The third paragraph of the Request asks whether Smithfield has additional plans to assist the
Owner with the continued collection of wastes or other mitigation measures to address waste discharged
to the environment, and also to assist the Owner with managing the waste and wastewater that remains
accumulated in the Lagoon. During the response period, Smithfield HPD personnel worked with the
Owner by supplying equipment and labor as necessary for remediation efforts. Specifically, temporary
dams were constructed and pumping stations were established at several locations on the Owner's
property to catch and return effluent to the lagoon. In addition, Smithfield arranged for pumps to be
placed on the dam of a downstream pond, located on a neighboring property, to capture and return
spilled materials. These efforts lasted several days, with some of the captured materials being returned
back to the Lagoon on the Farm consistent with its limited capacity, with the remainder being applied to
adjacent farm land through the use of tank spreaders. We have discussed with the Owner the need for
him to remediate the area in and around the pond on the adjacent property and, given our prior work
with that adjacent property, have plans to assist the Owner with this effort and have started work to do
so. This process includes the removal of any remaining solids and the land application of these solids on
crop land in the area. Smithfield HPD is willing to assist the Owner or DEQ in any other remediation
efforts that are deemed appropriate, upon request.
The fourth paragraph of the Request notes that the key information that DEQ is seeking at this
time is the recorded waste/freeboard levels in the storage pond and requests any and all records
associated with waste management/freeboard levels at the Farm that have been collected and/or
maintained by Smithfield in the months leading up to the discharge. Attachment 1 is a copy of a report
aggregating weekly recorded freeboard level observations for 2020 as reported by the Owner via a
telephone call -in system or by Smithfield HPD service personnel. Attachments 2-8, which we believe
are self-explanatory, also reflect reported freeboard observations during that period of time. Given the
circumstances surrounding the collection of the freeboard data and observations by company and DEQ
personnel of the conditions at the Lagoon immediately after the Incident, Smithfield cannot attest to the
accuracy of these historic freeboard observations.
Please let me know if you need any additional documents or information.

LSi,ncerely, beek
genior Director
Smithfield Renewables and HPD Environmental Compliance
Attachments:
1. Freeboard Report for the Farm for 2020
2. 4/27/2020 Service Report
3. Handwritten Notes of Serviceperson Cathy Hobbs
4. 6/16/2020 Email from Cathy Hobbs to Andy Murray
5. 6/23/2020 Email from Andy Murray to Angi Romaine
6. Handwritten Statement of Christopher Melvin
7. 6/11/2020 Handwritten Notes of Christopher Melvin
8. 6/11/2020 Email from Christopher Melvin to Andy Murray

ATTACHMENT
1

Subregion Grower # Grower Name Reporting Date Lagoon Nu Freeboard Water Meter
170
4911 B&L FARMS
1/5/2020
1
28 0
170
4911 B&L FARMS
1/12/2020
1
19 0
170
4911 B&L FARMS
1/19/2020
1
23 0
170
4911 B&L FARMS
1/26/2020
1
22 0
170
4911 B&L FARMS
2/2/2020
1
0
170
4911 B&L FARMS
2/9/2020
1
19 0
170
4911 B&L FARMS
2/16/2020
1
0
170
4911 B&L FARMS
2/23/2020
1
200
170
4911 B&L FARMS
3/1/2020
1
19 0
170
4911 B&L FARMS
3/8/2020
1
0
170
4911 B&L FARMS
3/15/2020
1
22 0
170
4911 B&L FARMS
3/22/2020
1
21 0
170
4911 B&L FARMS
3/29/2020
1
24 0
170
4911 B&L FARMS
4/5/2020
1
210
170
4911 B&L FARMS
4/12/2020
1
24 0
170
4911 B&L FARMS
4/19/2020
1
24 0
170
4911 8&L FARMS
4/26/2020
1
23 0
170
4911 B&L FARMS
5/3/2020
1
25 0
170
4911 B&L FARMS
5/10/2020
1
23 0
170
4911 B&L FARMS
5/17/2020
1
23 0
170
4911 B&L FARMS
5/24/2020
1
24 0
170
4911 B&L FARMS
5/31/2020
1
23 0
170
4911 B&L FARMS
6/7/2020
1
22 0
170
4911 B&L FARMS
6/14/2020
1
0
170
4911 B&L FARMS
6/21/2020
1
0
170
4911 B&L FARMS
6/28/2020
1
0
170
4911 B&L FARMS
7/5/2020
1
0
170
4911 B&L FARMS
7/12/2020
1
0
170
4911 B&L FARMS
7/19/2020
1
0

ATTACHMENT
2

Smithfield Smithfield Hog Production 1/F/N'F Communication Report
Forth ID 22
600A 100A. 1588009215681
Audit Date: 4/27/2020 Company: 170
Grower: 4911 B&L FARMS Pig Flow: SINGL
Company Rep: 46076 HOBBS, CATHY A,
Grower Rep:
Send Email: bmclamb@)qualityequip,com
The above email address will be used to send a copy of this form to the grower.
Barn Number i❑ ❑2 37 a 7 0 0
Week of Growout l0 10 10 10
Group Number
Mortality wk/CUIII
Barn Number
Week of Growout
Group Number
Mortality wk/cum

Grower: 4911 B&L FARMS 92
Scoring Expectations: 98-100 Exceeding / 95-97 Meeting / 90-94 Below / <90 Far Below
92
Points
Score
Yes/No
Nutrient Storage
1
1
1
* Freeboard level OK
1
1
Yes
Mortality Management
5
5
2
* Timely & proper mortality management
5
5
Yes
Water Management
14
12
3
* Adequate water to all animals
10
10
Yes
4
No leaking waterers
2
0
No
5
1 Proper adjustment
2
2
Yes
Feed Management
14
10
6
* Proper feed to all animals
10
10
Yes
7
IFeed equipment management ok
4
0
No
8
IFlow ability ok since previous visit
0
o 1
Yes
Barn Environment
12
12
9
* DBT environment & dunging patterns maintained
10
10
Yes
10
Pit fan function, flush/fill function or pit level maintained
2
2
Yes
Animal Husbandry
21
U
11
Fall backs sorted
6
6
Yes
12
* Proper euthanasia
6
6
Yes
13
* An macs treated according to protocol
6
6
Yes
14 Pans utl Ized
Functioning Equipment
3
12
3
12
Yes
15
Sensors thermostats ok
2
2
Yes
16
Soffits/Inlets/chimneys/ridge vents set correctly
2
2
Yes
17
Curtains function ok
2
2
Yes
18
19
Fans/scrapers/pit recycles operational
* Emergency backup systems ok _
2
2
2
2
Yes
Yes
20
Heaters cooling systems ok
2
2
Yes
Current on Record Keeping
8
a
21
M mt system policies followed correctly
1
1
Yes
22
HI low temps
1
1
Yes
23
Freeboard
1
1
Yes
24
Mortallty
1
1
Yes
25
Feed & water
I
1
Yes
26
Treatments & needle usage recorded
3
3
Yes
Biosecurity Practices
9
7
27
Office hygiene & site-s eciflc a ui ment/clothing
I
1
Yes
28
Buildings secure/barn specific boots/following lines of separation
5
5
Yes
29
Birds, Insect, and rodent control adequate
2
0
No
30
Bin pads free of debris
I
1
Yes
Site Aesthetics
4
4
31
Site free of debris
I
1
Yes
32
Functional road
I
1
Yes
33
Vegetation height proper
1
1
Yes
34
Load chute/load out/walkwaymaintained
1
1
Yes
VIP
(W011_
Submit Date/Time: 4/27/2020 13:45 HOBBS, CATHY A,

ATTACHMENT
3

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ATTACHMENT
4

Jones, Terry
From: Murray, Andy ,
Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2020 1:47 PM
To: Jones, Terry; Zubrowicz, Piotr
Subject: FW: B&L 4911
Smithfield.
�600a {OOa,-tltspoKsi613`
Andy Murray
Production Manager
p: [phone] x24070 c: [phone]
a: [e-mail]
137 Farrow To Finish Ln
Rose Hill, North Carolina 28458
smithfleldfoods.com
From: Hobbs, Cathy <[e-mail]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 202010:05 AM
To: Murray, Andy <[e-mail]>
Subject: B&L 4911
On June 2, 20201 visited the farm to get the mortality and free board. The free board at that time was 21 ".
Their was a curtain machine not working an some feeders that needed adjusting. Called the grower an let him
know about the curtain machine an also to go ahead an get the chute repaired for load out. He did what I
asked him to do.
Also on week 2-22-2020 his lagoon was at 19"
On 3-13-2020 his lagoon was at 21'
On 4-27-2020 his lagoon was at 28"
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy Tablet
Cathy Hobbs
Production Resource Specialist
Smithfield. c. chob s@smi9
e: [e-mail]
!Coa ('cod. 'KtsYo;tsibhj'." 137 Farrow To Finish Ln
Rose Hill, North Carolina 28458
smithfieldfoods.com

ATTACHMENT
5

Romaine, Angi
From: Murray, Andy
Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2020 2:25 PM
To: Romaine, Angi
Cc: Zubrowicz, Piotr
Cathys recent freeboard readings at B & L. I have tried in BI to pull SSVAs back to January. No success. I will get with
someone from IT dept.
2/22/20-19"
3/13/20-21"
4/27/20-28"
5/19/20-20"
5/21/20- 20"
6/2/20-21"
Smithfield
yooA too,'. (Zts�or�sibi�:
Andy Murray
Production Manager
p: [phone] x24070 c: [phone]
e: [e-mail]
137 Farrow To Finish Ln
Rose Hill, North Carolina 28458
smithfieldfoods.com

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