Complaint - Template

	Name
Select	Chamness Technology, Inc.
Select	Chamness Technology
Select	Chamness Technology, Inc.
Select	Gary Chamness
Select	CHAMNESS TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Select	GARY CHAMNESS
Select	DWAYNE ELLISON
Select	CHAMNESS TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Select
Select
Select	DOUG MACCREA
Select	CHAMNESS TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Select	HORIZON TECHNOLOGY INC
Select	Chamness Technology, Inc.
Select	Chamness Technology, Inc.
Select
Select	GARY CHAMNESS

Complaint ID - 29446

Chamness Technolgy, Inc - 310982346

24820 160TH ST. Eddyville, IA 50034

Wapello County

FO 6

Complaint ID:

29446

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Complainant

Anonymous

DNR Observation

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Attached Files/Reports

File Name	File Type	File Date	Note

Comments

Date	Comment	Commenter
5/17/2021	Gary and I spoke on: 5/12, 5/13, and 5/17 as he provided some updates on their obtaining a new screen (which is now onsite as of Monday) and he said they're planning to begin screening material off the east side of the pad. We also discussed their staff working to determine exactly where leachate left the property upon entering Palestine Creek. Gary thinks the leachate observed on May 3 was from the far south side where land application was taking place and the terraces held it back before soaking down into the tiles. I informed Gary that we're still waiting for sample results before we determine our next course of action. Brian Lee, Theresa Stiner and Sue Johnson met at Chamness today to inspect/visit the operation, as Brian had a routine visit planned and Theresa had never been there before.	KURT LEVETZOW
5/11/2021	Gary Chamness called me this morning to discuss a few items. He called to inform me that he's driving down to Eddyville today and will be there for a few days. He's wanting to see for himself what is leading to the leachate in the creek as he thought a few years ago they built berms near the creek to avoid having leachate enter Palestine Creek again. He's suspecting the recent impact to Palestine Creek is from the land application field where the spray rig is located. Gary informed me that he's close to buying a used screen at the cost of $310K and while it's not yet purchased, he hopes it will be by Friday or Monday. He's working with Doug to develop a plan to ensure the derecho waste pile doesn't catch on fire. I stressed to Gary (as I have previously to Richard and Doug) that we cannot have smoldering piles of compost or derecho waste this summer and Gary agreed. I reminded him that the July 1 deadline is quickly approaching. I informed Gary that he's in the spotlight of the DNR, neighbors and media and he's well aware of that. Lastly I told him we're awaiting sample results to determine next steps.	KURT LEVETZOW
5/5/2021	I've sent several texts and emails to Gary, Richard and Doug over the past three days asking what steps they'll be taking to ensure the rest of the derecho wood chips do not burn and the importance of pumping leachate from the lagoons as well as the creek (which no pumping of the creek ever happened). Doug Mccrea responded to one of my emails, with an email on 5/5/21 after I'd sent him some photos that Anthony took on 5/1/21 which showed some very black water that migrated downgradient and into Palestine Creek. Doug's messaged seemed to not agree with our observations that leachate did in fact enter Palestine Creek. I also responded with another email to Doug on 5/5/21 asking what the dumped material was, in boxes, that resembled hog hair over at the spot of the burned hay barn. I informed Doug that feedstocks are not to be dumped off the pad and its now solid waste that needs hauled to the landfill.	KURT LEVETZOW
5/5/2021	Anthony went back down to continue investigating the leachate portion of this complaint. I asked Anthony to walk Palestine Creek again and check the finger leading to the south, which would likely catch leachate runoff from the area of grass where the leachate spray gun is set up. Anthony also was asked to walk up Palestine Creek until he finds clear water and get a sample there, then at the confluence of where leachate enters the creek and again down where the leachate is black. Anthony also took videos and many photos of the area between the compost pad and Palestine Creek and he found several different paths of black material, consistent with the look of leachate, which all lead toward Palestine Creek. After the rains Monday afternoon, Palestine Creek cleared up some from the previous day (it's very obvious if you compare photos from 5-1 to 5-2).	KURT LEVETZOW
5/3/2021	Anthony Kerker and Jeff Thomann responded to the fire at Chamness and investigated the cause of the allegation of Palestine Creek being black. Anthony arrived onsite first and walked Palestine Creek, observed and reported back to me (KRL) that indeed the creek water was black. Anthony was instructed to walk up the creek until he finds clear water and to take photos of his observations. Anthony said he walked up gradient until he got about even with the large (middle) leachate lagoon. He found at least one path and possible more, where leachate migrated off the pad and into Palestine Creek. Samples were taken just prior to a rain storm that went through the area. Samples were also taken east of Chamness under 160th Street bridge. Samples will be analyzed for BOD, TSS and Ammonia. The fire was initially said to be caused from a pile of uncompacted shredded derecho landscape waste that was staged east of the large pallet pile. Saturday May 1 was a windy warm sunny day, so it is assumed that the derecho waste pile spontaneously combusted and spread to the pallet pile. Chamness staff are questioning how the pallet pile would have started burning and have requested the fire departments report as they're suspecting foul-play. Rain fell on and off throughout much of the day on May 3, 2021. Toward the end of the day on May 3, 2021, a press release was issued by Karen Grimes.	KURT LEVETZOW

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Compliance Tracking

Action Type	Date	Completed Date	Comment	Delete

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Field Office Compliance - Complaint

Complaint ID - 29446

Chamness Technolgy, Inc - 310982346

24820 160TH ST. Eddyville, IA 50034

Wapello County

FO 6

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