Field Office Compliance - Assistance

Assistance ID - 22837
Iowa Premium, Llc - 311260389
3337 L. AVE Tama, IA 52339
Tama County

FO 5

Report
File Name File Type File Date Note
Comments
8/10/2010 From: Gastineau, Janet [DNR] Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2010 1:53 PM To: Gross, Bill [DNR] Cc: Perry, David [DNR] Subject: Tama Pack 86-SDP-04-02P-LAN There seems to be more interest than usual regarding this facility. I had a call last week from the operator managing the discharge and he tells me a rabbi was on site talking about the salt load in the influent. I have been in touch with the permit writer to talk about this since there has been no previous mention of this in the waste stream to the lagoons https://programs.iowadnr.gov/focomp/AssistanceDetail.aspx?AssistanceId=22615&StateId=311260389. Jerry Hendricks (former operator) called me this week asking some questions too. The new owner has asked him about maybe doing some consulting and so he had questions about the dredging https://programs.iowadnr.gov/focomp/AssistanceDetail.aspx?AssistanceId=22837&StateId=311260389. Anyway, in looking through the file I find: • An AO from 5/24/01 was issued to Tama Beef Packing and required dredging of the two anaerobic and one aerated cell. • The anaerobic cells were completely dredged and the normally aerated cell only 80 percent dredged in 2003. They ran out of room to land apply and then ownership issues arose and it never got done. • I can’t see that other than recommendations they were ever advised to finish the dredging. • There was a motion to dismiss this order 11/6/2003 due to bankruptcy. • An order was issued 2/20/2004 requiring compliance with effluent limits and a penalty. The facility ceased operation in August 2004. • Another administrative order was issued 3/24/2005 to Iowa Quality Beef Supply and there is no mention of dredging being required. • Liberty Bank took possession and wanted a permit so the facility looked more attractive to potential buyers. The NPDES section wouldn’t issue a permit with an outstanding order so the legal unit issued a consent order to the previous AO waiving penalties and motion to dismiss the appeal to the order. Bottom line, I can’t find anything that supports requiring dredging at this point. The current permit has a requirement to submit an engineering evaluation at least 90 days prior to discharging wastewater into the treatment system to determine if the discharge from the WWTP can consistently comply with the limits in the permit when operations resume. Any issues, such as dredging, would, presumably, be addressed in that engineering evaluation. I should be able to get up there this quarter to have a look at the lagoons and review MORs. They have been discharging off and on (depending on the level of the Iowa River) since September 2009. Much of this was groundwater. Effective April 6, 2010, they were given permission to discharge their sump groundwater through Outfall 002, not to the lagoons. JANET GASTINEAU
8/10/2010 From: Gastineau, Janet [DNR] Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2010 12:34 PM To: 'jdhagh@mchsi.com' Subject: Tama Pack Jerry, I have attached the permit for your information and this website also has rationale for why the permit was issued as it was and amended the https://programs.iowadnr.gov/wwpie/default.aspx?cmd=PermitDetails&Permitid=1930 I reviewed a July 2006 report that indicated the dredging of the anaerobic cells was completed and in 2004 nutriject completed approximately 80 percent of the dredging of the cell normally aerated. Some sludge was visible in the NW portion of that cell during the July 2006 visit. Please let me know if you need any other information. JANET GASTINEAU
8/10/2010 Someone from the facility has approached him for possible consulting. Jerry used to operate the WWTP years ago. Jerry was looking for additional information. I agreed to get back with him after reviewing the file. JANET GASTINEAU
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