NCS000057_Draft permit public comments 20070108

NCS000057, Chemical Specialties: Public Comments:
• 8 January 200�p James Bean, Resident of Kanapolis, 704.933.3061:
o Worked at the plant from 1968-1998. It was not always owned by he
same company.
o On several occasions between 1994 and 1997, arsenic trioxide powder was
released from drums. It was cleanedupby a company called Four
Seasons. He said that the powder was blown by wind out of the tanks all
over the road, and that on some occasions it could be seen floating as far
as across the street of the facility.
o He reports that the company would hide evidence and discourage
employees from telling regulators all of the details. Once during an EPA
inspection, one of the employees secretly told the regulator about an
arsenic steam line that was venting inside a building where people were
working. EPA shut down the facility at that time. Another time, EPA
received a complaint about the facility, and called the plant to ask
questions and schedule a plant visit. The facility concreted -over evidence
of arsenic -contaminated fluid running over the ground before EPA arrived.
o He reports that a company named American Chrome had begun
negotiations to purchase the facility several years ago. The purchase never
took place. Mr. Bean believes that American Chrome did not want to
become involved with the poor conditions at the plant. Mr. Bean reports
that several of these issues were related to their poor environmental
practices.
o Some of the chemicals that Mr. Bean reported seeing on the ground (and
therefore potentially in the stormwater) were arsenic acid, ammonia,
copper solution, and manganese solution. He said that there were many
others as well.
o Non -environmental comments:
Mr. Bean was diagnosed with leukemia in August of 1997.
Several other workers have become ill since working at the plant.
Mr. Bean reports that he became ill in February of 1997. He went
to the doctor, but was not informed of his prognosis until August,
when he went to another doctor. Mr. Bean believes that the first
doctor had been paid off by the company to not stir up trouble.

Note to File:
Mr. Bean's comments were considered when issuing NCS 000057. The previous permit
cycle included arsenic monitoring. This requirement was removed for the draft permit
for public comment. It was added back into the requirements for the final permit for the
cycle beginning in 2007.