NC0003298 - Annual Report - 3/28/2018

INTERNATIONAL (& PAPER
March 28, 2018
Certified Mail 7016 3010 0001 1137 0236
NC DEQ / DWQ / Water Quality Section
Attn: Central File
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1617
Subject: NPDES Permit No NC0003298
2017 Annual BMP COD Exceedance Report
Dear Sir or Madam:
RIEGELWOOD MILL
JOHN L RIEGEL ROAD
RIEGELWOOD, NC 28456
jDwR
APR _ � 201
water . sect on
Permitting
For its Best Management Practices (BMP) Plan, International Paper Riegelwood Mill chose chemical
oxygen demand (COD) as the parameter to warn of potential high loading to the wastewater treatment
system. An Upper Action Level (UAL) and Lower Action Level (LAL) were established at 354,486
lbs/day and 311,150 lbs/day respectively. These action levels were updated in August of 2017 after
sufficient time had been allowed to account for the recent product conversion from paperboard
production to fluff pulp production. The current Upper and Lower Action Levels are 337,596 lbs/day
and 301,143 lbs/day, respectively.
COD levels above the LAL for two consecutive days or the UAL for any single day are investigated to
determine the cause, and necessary measures are taken to correct the high loading condition. The 2017
daily COD loading to the waste treatment system averaged 205,432 lbs/day During the same time
span, the maximum and minimum daily COD loadings were 496,022 lbs/day and 15,738 lbs/day,
respectively
There were five events where the UAL was exceeded and one event that exceeded the LAL; however,
this event runs concurrently with a UAL event and will be treated accordingly. A table with the dates
and COD values is included below.
Date
ASB Inlet
COD (lbs/day)
>LAL of
311,150 lbs/day
>UAL of
354,486 lbs/day
BMP Event
(Y/N)
January 11, 2017
386,484
Y
Y
Y
January 12, 2017
368,538
Y
Y
Y
March 24, 2017
320,056
Y
N
Y
March 25, 2017
377,192
Y
Y
Y
March 28, 2017
496,022
Y
Y
Y
April 18, 2017
365,092
Y
Y
Y
There were also three days when the LAL was exceeded. However, these events were on non-
consecutive days Therefore, descriptions of these events are not included in this report. Additionally,
there were no COD values from January -August 2017 that exceeded the revised Upper and Lower
Action Levels that became effective in August 2017. Daily COD values for 2017 are included as an
attachment.
S IGroupslEnvtronmentahWastewaterlDMR'SIDMR-20181COD Report12017 COD Report docx

Investigations of the events delineated in the table above are explained below
• January 11 & 12: High COD loading (386,484 and 368,838, consecutively) occurred when
both the 5 and 6 Evaporator Sets experienced severe runnability issues due to foam carryover.
During this time, the 50% liquor tanks were pulled low, allowing soap to collect in the tanks.
During attempted startup, soap was pulled into the 6 Evaporator Set, and the foaming issues
started.
During the subsequent investigation, the mill determined that 6 Evaporator Set Rupture Disc
was corroded and pitted but had not failed completely and went undiscovered This allowed air
to be pulled into the Evaporator Set exacerbating the foam caused by the soap now present in
the system and creating over pressurization of the system. In order to correct the foam over
issue, which ultimately ended up in the sewer system and ASB, the mill replaced the rupture
disc in 6 Evaporator Set, boiled out the evaporators, brought fresh liquor into the mill from
neighboring facilities and added copious amounts of defoamer during the startup phase to avoid
another foaming episode. Startup was successful and the evaporator set runnability improved in
the succeeding days COD levels were below reporting action levels on subsequent days.
March 24 & 25: High COD loading (320,056 and 377,192, consecutively) occurred when the
standpipe by the BMP and hardwood (HW) tanks was overflowing. The standpipe overflowed
into the process sump, which subsequently filled up and spilled over into the rain sump, which
discharges to the WTS. The operators could not get to the rain sump valves to divert the flow to
the BMP line and were also having difficulty closing the soap off valve from the HW tank to
the standpipe This abnormal operation and misalignment resulted in loss of weak black liquor
to the sewer.
In response to this event, several action items were completed:
1. Line labeling was improved.
2. White Operation Lock system was implemented on the Soap Off Valve from
the HW Tank to the Stand Pipe to prevent a future event
3. A One -Point -Lesson was developed to reinforce proper operational procedures
4. The conductivity alarm on the Process Sump was lowered from 20,000 to
5,000 uS/cm.
March 28: High COD loading (496,022 lbs/day) occurred due to misalignment of the rain
sump pump system and foaming from the Big M tank. Operators noted elevated conductivity in
the rain sump, and the conductivity was field -verified. Foam was observed in the process sump
that overflowed into the rain sump, which discharges to the WTS. The operators believed this
was the cause of the conductivity readings and attempted to divert the rain sump flow to the
BMP tank via the BMP line but inadvertently misaligned the flows, allowing liquor to back
flow to the sewer
In response to this event, the following action items were completed.
1. A One -Point -Lesson was made to reinforce the proper operational procedure
for the recently implemented White Lock system.
2. This OPL was communicated to the affected shift personnel.
3 The conductivity alarm on the Rain Sump was lowered from 20,000 to 5,000
US/cm.
• April 18: High COD loading (365,092 lbs/day) occurred during annual outage activities.
Alkalinity levels in the West Dissolver Tank were low, preventing the collection of green
S IGroupslEnvironmentahWastewater0MR'SIDMR-20181COD Report12017 COD Report docx

liquor in the Raw Tank and resulting in an overflow of green liquor to the sewer The Filter
Plant Helper was notified immediately to monitor and adjust pH to the WTS as needed,
By this signature, I certify that this information is true, accurate and complete to my knowledge If you
have questions or need additional information, please contact Kevin Burk (910/362-3476) or me (910/
362-3309) at your convenience.
Sincerely,
Gary Morrow
Environmental, Health, Safety, and Sustainability Manager
cc: Tom Tharrington, NC DEQ DWR - WiRO
S IGroupslEnvironmentallWastewaterlDMR'SIDMR-20181COD Report12017 COD Report doex

2017 COD Data
Maximum
496022
Minimum
15738
Average
205432
Date
ASB Inlet-
COD Mass -
LB/Day
BMP
Event
LAL 311,150 UAL 354,486 (Y/N) Comments
01 -Jan -2017 06
00 00
260503
02 -Jan -2017 06
00 00
210168
03 -Jan -2017 06
00 00
242861
04 -Jan -2017 06
00 00
252929
05 -Jan -2017 06
00 00
262650
06 -Jan -2017 06
00 00
247562
07 -Jan -2017 06
00 00
300977
08 -Jan -2017 06
00 00
328943
328943 N LAL exceeded Not 2 or more consecutive days
09 -Jan -2017 06
00 00
293547
10 -Jan -2017 06
00 00
219616
11 -Jan -2017 06
00 00
386484
386484 386484 Y UAL exceeded
12 -Jan -2017 06
00 00
368538
368538 368538 Y UAL exceeded
13 -Jan -2017 06
00 00
247771
14 -Jan -2017 06
00 00
299099
15 -Jan -2017 06
00 00
252182
16 -Jan -2017 06
00 00
143657
17 -Jan -2017 06
00 00
267964
18 -Jan -2017 06
00 00
209548
19 -Jan -2017 06
00 00
182636
20 -Jan -2017 06
00 00
235523
21 -Jan -2017 06
00 00
213150
22 -Jan -2017 06
00 00
219005
23 -Jan -2017 06
00 00
273218
24 -Jan -2017 06
00 00
274086
25 -Jan -2017 06
00 00
238739
26 -Jan -2017 06
00 00
287813
27 -Jan -2017 06
00 00
276281
28 -Jan -2017 06
00 00
270266
29 -Jan -2017 06
00 00
290067
30 -Jan -2017 06
00 00
237700
31 -Jan -2017 06
00 00
224446
01 -Feb -2017 06
00 00
229901
02 -Feb -2017 06
00 00
242444
03 -Feb -2017 06
00 00
291476
04 -Feb -2017 06
00 00
283587
05 -Feb -2017 06
00 00
290394
06 -Feb -2017 06
00 00
248233
07 -Feb -2017 06
00 00
269354
08 -Feb -2017 06
00 00
234713
09 -Feb -2017 06
00 00
254596
10 -Feb -2017 06
00 00
260223
11 -Feb -2017 06
00 00
242170
12 -Feb -2017 06
00 00
259670
13 -Feb -2017 06
00 00
273018
14 -Feb -2017 06
00 00
259532
15 -Feb -2017 06
00 00
247203
16 -Feb -2017 06
00 00
278284
17 -Feb -2017 06
00 00
231621
18 -Feb -2017 06
00 00
220226
19 -Feb -2017 06
00 00
249575
20 -Feb -2017 06
00 00
238038
21 -Feb -2017 06
00 00
232427
22 -Feb -2017 06
00 00
240699
23 -Feb -2017 06
00 00
198712
24 -Feb -2017 06
00 00
196076
25 -Feb -2017 06
00 00
214967
26 -Feb -2017 06
00 00
228333
27 -Feb -2017 06
00 00
236174
28 -Feb -2017 06
00 00
191218
01 -Mar -2017 06
00 00
169202
02 -Mar -2017 06
00 00
220567
03 -Mar -2017 06
00 00
192124
04 -Mar -2017 06
00 00
202659
05 -Mar -2017 06
00 00
190232
06 -Mar -2017 06
00 00
183613
07 -Mar -2017 06
00 00 1
197883

2017 COD Data
Date 7
ASB Inlet-
COD Mass -
LB/Day
BMP
Event
LAL 311,150 UAL 354,486 (Y/N) Comments
08 -Mar -2017 06 00 00
189542
09 -Mar -2017 06 00 00
194966
10 -Mar -2017 06 00 00
204126
11 -Mar -2017 06 00 00
253257
12 -Mar -2017 06 00 00
250815
13 -Mar -2017 06 00 00
227832
14 -Mar -2017 06 00 00
227990
15 -Mar -2017 06 00 00
277307
16 -Mar -2017 06 00 00
225447
17 -Mar -2017 06 00 00
219888
18 -Mar -2017 06 00 00
196457
19 -Mar -2017 06 00 00
237068
20 -Mar -2017 06 00 00
257516
21 -Mar -2017 06 00 00
205952
22 -Mar -2017 06 00 00
270303
23 -Mar -2017 06 00 00
302171
24 -Mar -2017 06 00 00
320056
320056 Y LAL exceeded Following day also exceeded
25 -Mar -2017 06 00 00
377192
377192 377192 Y UAL exceeded
26 -Mar -2017 06 00 00
265087
27 -Mar -2017 06 00 00
204001
28 -Mar -2017 06 00 00
496022
496022 496022 Y UAL exceeded
29 -Mar -2017 06 00 00
251157
30 -Mar -2017 06 00 00
231735
31 -Mar -2017 06 00 00
206540
01 -Apr -2017 06 00 00
209125
02 -Apr -2017 06 00 00
275445
03 -Apr -2017 06 00 00
226771
04 -Apr -2017 06 00 00
237406
05 -Apr -2017 06 00 00
140996
06 -Apr -2017 06 00 00
232032
07 -Apr -2017 06 00 00
204890
08 -Apr -2017 06 00 00
236489
09 -Apr -2017 06 00 00
246384
10 -Apr -2017 06 00 00
192954
11 -Apr -2017 06 00 00
211902
12 -Apr -2017 06 00 00
185508
13 -Apr -2017 06 00 00
191053
14 -Apr -2017 06 00 00
175356
15 -Apr -2017 06 00 00
175554
16 -Apr -2017 06 00 00
212865
17 -Apr -2017 06 00 00
217059
18 -Apr -2017 06 00 00
365092
365092 365092 Y UAL exceeded
19 -Apr -2017 06 00 00
230247
20 -Apr -2017 06 00 00
110316
21 -Apr -2017 06 00 00
82716
22 -Apr -2017 06 00 00
15738
23 -Apr -2017 06 00 00
35989
24 -Apr -2017 06 00 00
109421
25 -Apr -2017 06 00 00
87257
26 -Apr -2017 06 00 00
92918
27 -Apr -2017 06 00 00
71497
28 -Apr -2017 06 00 00
115933
29 -Apr -2017 06 00 00
148791
30 -Apr -2017 06 00 00
129820
01 -May -2017 06 00 00
153343
02 -May -2017 06 00 00
210950
03 -May -2017 06 00 00
338357
338357 N LAL exceeded Not 2 or more consecutive days
04 -May -2017 06 00 00
303808
05 -May -2017 06 00 00
259137
06 -May -2017 06 00 00
195089
07 -May -2017 06 00 00
213934
08 -May -2017 06 00 00
205649
09 -May -2017 06 00 00
169996
10 -May -2017 06 00 00
160608
11 -May -2017 06 00 00
188491
12 -May -2017 06 00 00
206128
13 -May -2017 06 00 00
214672
14 -May -2017 06 00 00
219165
15 -May -2017 06 00 00
214155
16 -May -2017 06 00 00
203663

2017 COD Data
Date
ASB Inlet -
COD Mass -
LB/Day LAL 311,150 UAL 354,486
BMP
Event
(Y/N) Comments
17 -May -2017 06 00 00
201811
18 -May -2017 06 00 00
175400
19 -May -2017 06 00 00
179368
20 -May -2017 06 00 00
180259
21 -May -2017 06 00 00
238533
22 -May -2017 06 00 00
185468
23 -May -2017 06 00 00
178343
24 -May -2017 06 00 00
174742
25 -May -2017 06 00 00
189627
26 -May -2017 06 00 00
186582
27 -May -2017 06 00 00
205241
28 -May -2017 06 00 00
227649
29 -May -2017 06 00 00
225360
30 -May -2017 06 00 00
211798
31 -May -2017 06 00 00
187838
01 -Jun -2017 06 00 00
213290
02 -Jun -2017 06 00 00
207754
03 -Jun -2017 06 00 00
253985
04 -Jun -2017 06 00 00
243578
05 -Jun -2017 06 00 00
194305
06 -Jun -2017 06 00 00
212562
07 -Jun -2017 06 00 00
245721
08 -Jun -2017 06 00 00
219851
09 -Jun -2017 06 00 00
168568
10 -Jun -2017 06 00 00
182926
11 -Jun -2017 06 00 00
212399
12 -Jun -2017 06 00 00
209207
13 -Jun -2017 06 00 00
254370
14 -Jun -2017 06 00 00
226396
15 -Jun -2017 06 00 00
232643
16 -Jun -2017 06 00 00
205805
17 -Jun -2017 06 00 00
213100
18 -Jun -2017 06 00 00
237355
19 -Jun -2017 06 00 00
181903
20 -Jun -2017 06 00 00
166294
21 -Jun -2017 06 00 00
206955
22 -Jun -2017 06 00 00
209050
23 -Jun -2017 06 00 00
202837
24 -Jun -2017 06 00 00
217057
25 -Jun -2017 06 00 00
257055
26 -Jun -2017 06 00 00
227205
27 -Jun -2017 06 00 00
230087
28 -Jun -2017 06 00 00
239898
29 -Jun -2017 06 00 00
182102
30 -Jun -2017 06 00 00
182688
01 -Jul -2017 06 00 00
183539
02 -Jul -2017 06 00 00
232131
03 -Jul -2017 06 00 00
217339
04 -Jul -2017 06 00 00
217426
05 -Jul -2017 06 00 00
189150
06 -Jul -2017 06 00 00
234991
07 -Jul -2017 06 00 00
218615
08 -Jul -2017 06 00 00
226564
09 -Jul -2017 06 00 00
256804
10 -Jul -2017 06 00 00
204739
11 -Jul -2017 06 00 00
194128
12 -Jul -2017 06 00 00
337853 337853
N LAL exceeded Not 2 or more consecutive days
13 -Jul -2017 06 00 00
232279
14 -Jul -2017 06 00 00
199764
15 -Jul -2017 06 00 00
205790
16 -Jul -2017 06 00 00
179879
17 -Jul -2017 06 00 00
168290
18 -Jul -2017 06 00 00
173459
19 -Jul -2017 06 00 00
191858
20 -Jul -2017 06 00 00
186894
21 -Jul -2017 06 00 00
167017
22 -Jul -2017 06 00 00
195189
23 -Jul -2017 06 00 00
229900
24 -Jul -2017 06 00 00
224234
25 -Jul -2017 06 00 00
193385

2017 COD Data
Date
ASB Inlet- BMP
COD Mass - Event
LB/Day LAL 311,150 UAL 354,486 (Y/N) Comments
26 -Jul -2017 06 00 00
178870
27 -Jul -2017 06 00 00
168322
28 -Jul -2017 06 00 00
185498
29 -Jul -2017 06 00 00
183230
30 -Jul -2017 06 00 00
180263
31 -Jul -2017 06 00 00
174218
01 -Aug -2017 06 00 00
172031
02 -Aug -2017 06 00 00
170351
03 -Aug -2017 06 00 00
203455
04 -Aug -2017 06 00 00
200213
05 -Aug -2017 06 00 00
175222
06 -Aug -2017 06 00 00
159588
07 -Aug -2017 06 00 00
160930
08 -Aug -2017 06 00 00
145405
09 -Aug -2017 06 00 00
139311
10 -Aug -2017 06 00 00
149565
11 -Aug -2017 06 00 00
145907
12 -Aug -2017 06 00 00
143895
13 -Aug -2017 06 00 00
182751
14 -Aug -2017 06 00 00
160031
15 -Aug -2017 06 00 00
172600
16 -Aug -2017 06 00 00
156126
17 -Aug -2017 06 00 00
124515
18 -Aug -2017 06 00 00
163393
19 -Aug -2017 06 00 00
161704
20 -Aug -2017 06 00 00
184287
21 -Aug -2017 06 00 00
171249
22 -Aug -2017 06 00 00
195922
23 -Aug -2017 06 00 00
193957 New LAL (301,143) and UAL (337,596) go into effect New BMP Plan signed and implemented
24 -Aug -2017 06 00 00
194802
25 -Aug -2017 06 00 00
180835
26 -Aug -2017 06 00 00
176214
27 -Aug -2017 06 00 00
178438
28 -Aug -2017 06 00 00
185448
29 -Aug -2017 06 00 00
203368
30 -Aug -2017 06 00 00
166308
31 -Aug -2017 06 00 00
195358
01 -Sep -2017 06 00 00
172771
02 -Sep -2017 06 00 00
202283
03 -Sep -2017 06 00 00
195616
04 -Sep -2017 06 00 00
133507
OS -Sep -2017 06 00 00
115692
06 -Sep -2017 06 00 00
187191
07 -Sep -2017 06 00 00
195944
08 -Sep -2017 06 00 00
184297
09 -Sep -2017 06 00 00
185113
10 -Sep -2017 06 00 00
201995
11 -Sep -2017 06 00 00
166316
12 -Sep -2017 06 00 00
163064
13 -Sep -2017 06 00 00
171581
14 -Sep -2017 06 00 00
178629
15 -Sep -2017 06 00 00
174560
16 -Sep -2017 06 00 00
171317
17 -Sep -2017 06 00 00
163673
18 -Sep -2017 06 00 00
175981
19 -Sep -2017 06 00 00
193338
20 -Sep -2017 06 00 00
164458
21 -Sep -2017 06 00 00
252810
22 -Sep -2017 06 00 00
200067
23 -Sep -2017 06 00 00
188951
24 -Sep -2017 06 00 00
189898
25 -Sep -2017 06 00 00
179122
26 -Sep -2017 06 00 00
182994
27 -Sep -2017 06 00 00
186179
28 -Sep -2017 06 00 00
183306
29 -Sep -2017 06 00 00
198068
30 -Sep -2017 06 00 00
194929
01 -Oct -2017 06 00 00
220680
02 -Oct -2017 06 00 00
168673
03 -Oct -2017 06 00 00
1 181095

2017 COD Data
Date
ASB Inlet-
COD Mass -
LB/Day LAL 311,150 UAL 354,486
BMP
Event
(Y/N) Comments
04 -Oct -2017 06 00 00
218944
05 -Oct -2017 06 00 00
214867
06 -Oct -2017 06 00 00
218882
07 -Oct -2017 06 00 00
214371
08 -Oct -2017 06 00 00
193318
09 -Oct -2017 06 00 00
223844
10 -Oct -2017 06 00 00
255771
11 -Oct -2017 06 00 00
192761
12 -Oct -2017 06 00 00
184903
13 -Oct -2017 06 00 00
187747
14 -Oct -2017 06 00 00
225300
15 -Oct -2017 06 00 00
189668
16 -Oct -2017 06 00 00
178419
17 -Oct -2017 06 00 00
224354
18 -Oct -2017 06 00 00
193789
19 -Oct -2017 06 00 00
174559
20 -Oct -2017 06 00 00
175018
21 -Oct -2017 06 00 00
179503
22 -Oct -2017 06 00 00
172810
23 -Oct -2017 06 00 00
187870
24 -Oct -2017 06 00 00
227422
25 -Oct -2017 06 00 00
186709
26 -Oct -2017 06 00 00
208709
27 -Oct -2017 06 00 00
201186
28 -Oct -2017 06 00 00
165305
29 -Oct -2017 06 00 00
182146
30 -Oct -2017 06 00 00
177227
31 -Oct -2017 06 00 00
216427
01 -Nov -2017 06 00 00
187943
02 -Nov -2017 06 00 00
166250
03 -Nov -2017 06 00 00
172688
04 -Nov -2017 06 00 00
174004
05 -Nov -2017 06 00 00
215642
06 -Nov -2017 06 00 00
198245
07 -Nov -2017 06 00 00
173133
08 -Nov -2017 06 00 00
163698
09 -Nov -2017 06 00 00
163721
10 -Nov -2017 06 00 00
173459
11 -Nov -2017 06 00 00
189009
12 -Nov -2017 06 00 00
177102
13 -Nov -2017 06 00 00
157549
14 -Nov -2017 06 00 00
184030
15 -Nov -2017 06 00 00
200548
16 -Nov -2017 06 00 00
187537
17 -Nov -2017 06 00 00
154564
18 -Nov -2017 06 00 00
174163
19 -Nov -2017 06 00 00
227745
20 -Nov -2017 06 00 00
193067
21 -Nov -2017 06 00 00
00282
22 -Nov -2017 06 00 00
191721
23 -Nov -2017 06 00 00
184257
24 -Nov -2017 06 00 00
203097
25 -Nov -2017 06 00 00
187993
26 -Nov -2017 06 00 00
239446
27 -Nov -2017 06 00 00
225405
28 -Nov -2017 06 00 00
200874
29 -Nov -2017 06 00 00
185030
30 -Nov -2017 06 00 00
189692
01 -Dec -2017 06 00 00
190727
02 -Dec -2017 06 00 00
163412
03 -Dec -2017 06 00 00
179123
04 -Dec -2017 06 00 00
192203
05 -Dec -2017 06 00 00
194160
06 -Dec -2017 06 00 00
196957
07 -Dec -2017 06 00 00
193788
08 -Dec -2017 06 00 00
200694
09 -Dec -2017 06 00 00
185211
10 -Dec -2017 06 00 00
224820
11 -Dec -2017 06 00 00
188551
12 -Dec -2017 06 00 00 1
221813

2017 COD Data
Date
ASB Inlet -
COD Mass -
LB/Day LAL 311,150 UAL 354,486
BMP
Event
(Y/N) Comments
13 -Dec -2017 06 00
00
247515
14 -Dec -2017 06 00
00
209117
15 -Dec -2017 06 00
00
167121
16 -Dec -2017 06 00
00
190084
17 -Dec -2017 06 00
00
180379
18 -Dec -2017 06 00
00
170003
19 -Dec -2017 06 00
00
168141
20 -Dec -2017 06 00
00
182604
21 -Dec -2017 06 00
00
194931
22 -Dec -2017 06 00
00
178323
23 -Dec -2017 06 00
00
165481
24 -Dec -2017 06 00
00
155900
25 -Dec -2017 06 00
00
172658
26 -Dec -2017 06 00
00
170912
27 -Dec -2017 06 00
00
171487
28 -Dec -2017 06 00
00
168505
29 -Dec -2017 06 00
00
176728
30 -Dec -2017 06 00
00
183563
31 -Dec -2017 06 00
00
196119