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January 10, 2013<br />

Mr. John Bailey<br />

Engineering Supervisor<br />

Permits Section/No Discharge Permits/Water Division<br />

<strong>Arkansas</strong> <strong>Department</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Environmental</strong> Quality<br />

Water-Permit-Application@adeq.state.ar.us<br />

RE:<br />

Allens, Inc. – Plant #1 (“Country Plant”, Siloam Springs, <strong>Arkansas</strong>)<br />

Allens, Inc. – Plant #4 (Van Buren, <strong>Arkansas</strong>)<br />

Items <strong>Requested</strong> During December 18, 2012 Meeting<br />

Dear Mr. Bailey:<br />

Allens, Inc. (Allens) staff, <strong>Arkansas</strong> <strong>Department</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Environmental</strong> Quality (ADEQ) staff, and<br />

Allens’ consultant, and Allens’ legal counsel met on December 18, 2012 to discuss some<br />

concerns about the phosphorus index (P-Index) implementation at the Country Plant and permit<br />

language for the Van Buren Plant. As an outcome <strong>of</strong> that meeting, ADEQ requested that Allens:<br />

• Propose language to address concerns regarding:<br />

- Soil and waste sampling requirements<br />

- Imminent precipitation<br />

• Provide details regarding the Best Management Practices (BMP) put in place to allow a<br />

steeper slope for land application.<br />

• Provide a Schedule <strong>of</strong> Compliance <strong>of</strong> the facility’s decision on how the will come into<br />

compliance with the P-Index.<br />

The purpose <strong>of</strong> this letter is to provide the proposed permit language change, describe BMPs for<br />

steeper slopes, and provide a schedule <strong>of</strong> compliance for the P-Index.<br />

We are hopeful that the information provided in the paragraphs referencing Soil & Waste<br />

Sampling Requirements and Imminent Precipitation will help move us toward resolution <strong>of</strong><br />

the currently pending Permit Appeal. Since the Permit Appeal has various deadlines, we will<br />

devote whatever effort is necessary to discuss this submittal with you at your convenience.<br />

Allens, Inc. | PO Box 250 | 305 E. Main Street | Siloam Springs, AR 72761


Mr. John Bailey<br />

January 10, 2013<br />

Page 2<br />

Soil & Waste Sampling Requirements (for Van Buren & Country Plants)<br />

Since Allens irrigates on a year-round basis, completing the required annual sampling prior to<br />

the first application <strong>of</strong> the calendar year can be challenging. Allens proposes the following<br />

language in each location where sampling is currently required “Annually, prior to 1 st application<br />

<strong>of</strong> calendar year”.<br />

Annually, prior to 1 st application <strong>of</strong> calendar year*<br />

*Annual samples may be collected up to 45 days prior to the start <strong>of</strong> the calendar year and then<br />

be used to comply with the annual sampling and annual report requirements for the subsequent<br />

year.<br />

Imminent Precipitation (for Van Buren & Country Plants)<br />

Allens and ADEQ staff both understand the need to avoid run<strong>of</strong>f from the irrigation fields and<br />

the role that a heavy rainfall can play with respect to run<strong>of</strong>f. Allens proposes the following<br />

alternative language where the current language states “Land application is prohibited when the<br />

soils are saturated; frozen; covered with ice or snow; during precipitation events; or when<br />

precipitation is imminent (greater than 50% chance <strong>of</strong> precipitation predicted by the nearest<br />

National Weather Service station).”<br />

Land application is prohibited when the soils are saturated; frozen; covered with ice or snow;<br />

during precipitation events; or when significant precipitation is imminent. It is the permittee’s<br />

responsibility to demonstrate via irrigation records that irrigation did not occur for the previous<br />

24 hours if rain-related run<strong>of</strong>f is occurring from the site or if rain did occur, the operator must<br />

verify in such records that land application immediately ceased.<br />

Irrigation on Steeper Slopes (for Country Plant)<br />

Although not an issue at the Van Buren Plant given the site topography, the Van Buren permit<br />

includes new requirements regarding slope that would be a serious constraint for the existing<br />

irrigation system at the Country Plant. The following is an excerpt from the Van Buren permit<br />

regarding the new slope requirements:<br />

Allens, Inc. | PO Box 250 | 305 E. Main Street | Siloam Springs, AR 72761


Mr. John Bailey<br />

January 10, 2013<br />

Page 3<br />

It is understood that the basis for the slope requirements is from Metcalf & Eddy’s textbook<br />

titled “Wastewater Engineering: Treatment, Disposal, and Reuse”. Various editions are<br />

available, but the complete context from this textbook is as follows:<br />

A Water Environment Federation reference (Design <strong>of</strong> Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants,<br />

Volume II) indicates slow rate systems can utilize higher slope systems:<br />

Allens, Inc. | PO Box 250 | 305 E. Main Street | Siloam Springs, AR 72761


Mr. John Bailey<br />

January 10, 2013<br />

Page 4<br />

Allens proposes that the irrigation system at the Country Plant not be subject to these new slope<br />

requirements for the following reasons:<br />

1. The P-Index includes input on slope and risk level is adjusted by slope concerns. The P-<br />

Index does not exclude higher slopes as a matter <strong>of</strong> course; slope is just one <strong>of</strong> the<br />

features that affect run<strong>of</strong>f potential.<br />

2. The P-Index requires the use <strong>of</strong> BMPs to address risk in various portions <strong>of</strong> the irrigation<br />

field. The higher slope irrigation nozzles at the Country Plant are bordered by a riparian<br />

forest buffer, one <strong>of</strong> the acceptable BMPs.<br />

3. The complete Metcalf & Eddy reference allows application on steeper slopes “when<br />

extensive run<strong>of</strong>f control is provided” or the “length <strong>of</strong> the slope is short” and Water<br />

Environment Federation’s manual titled “Design <strong>of</strong> Municipal Wastewater Treatment<br />

Plants” allows


Mr. John Bailey<br />

January 10, 2013<br />

Page 5<br />

Schedule <strong>of</strong> Compliance for P-Index (for Country Plant)<br />

Implementation <strong>of</strong> the P-Index at the Country Plant poses significant challenges for Allens in<br />

that about 95% <strong>of</strong> the phosphorus in the wastewater is from the vegetables themselves and thus<br />

can’t be eliminated from the waste stream. Based on the work completed so far on the P-Index,<br />

the capacity <strong>of</strong> the current irrigation system will be reduced to approximately 33% <strong>of</strong> its current<br />

annual usage rate. Removing phosphorus from the wastewater would first require some<br />

biological treatment, which is not currently part <strong>of</strong> the wastewater system to any great extent.<br />

Based on some preliminary assessments, the following alternatives have been discussed:<br />

1. Complete treatment <strong>of</strong> wastewater to surface water standards and discharge per a NPDES<br />

permit.<br />

2. Partial and/or complete treatment <strong>of</strong> wastewater and discharge to a POTW (such as<br />

Siloam Springs).<br />

3. Partial treatment (to about 1 mg/l phosphorus), reuse <strong>of</strong> water in plant, and irrigation <strong>of</strong><br />

lower phosphorus containing wastewater on existing irrigation system; land application<br />

<strong>of</strong> phosphorus-laden sludge from treatment system.<br />

4. Partial treatment (to about 1 mg/l phosphorus), reuse <strong>of</strong> water in plant, and irrigation <strong>of</strong><br />

lower phosphorus containing wastewater on existing and expanded irrigation system;<br />

land application <strong>of</strong> phosphorus-laden sludge from treatment system.<br />

5. Expansion <strong>of</strong> irrigation system.<br />

In addition to being complex on a technical basis, complying with the P-Index will require<br />

significant investments by the company in a continuing difficult financial period. Therefore, the<br />

following schedule <strong>of</strong> compliance is proposed for the P-Index:<br />

Day 0:<br />

Day 180 (½ year):<br />

Day 365 (1 year):<br />

Permit issued with schedule <strong>of</strong> compliance<br />

Allens submits to ADEQ an analysis <strong>of</strong> alternatives to achieve<br />

compliance with the P-Index and identifies the selected alternative<br />

Allens submits plans and specifications for construction <strong>of</strong> the<br />

selected alternative<br />

Day 455 (1 year + 90 days): ADEQ reviews and approves plans and specifications; Allens<br />

commences construction<br />

Day 910 (2 ½ years):<br />

Day 1,095 (3 years):<br />

Allens completes construction <strong>of</strong> selected alternative and begins<br />

initial operation and testing period<br />

Allens complies with P-Index requirements<br />

Allens, Inc. | PO Box 250 | 305 E. Main Street | Siloam Springs, AR 72761


From:<br />

To:<br />

Cc:<br />

Subject:<br />

Date:<br />

Attachments:<br />

Laura Mushinski<br />

Ungerank, Ralph; Bailey, John; Hogan, Stephen; Water Permit Application; Ewing, Jamie<br />

John Frisque; Tim Browers; Dan Mickelson; Sheri Herron; Neel Sathi; "Walter Wright"<br />

Follow-up to December 18th Meeting<br />

Thursday, January 10, 2013 1:23:21 PM<br />

Allens - Proposed Permit Language & Compliance Schedule - Jan 10 2013.pdf<br />

Per your request, attached is the information requested during our meeting. Please let us know if<br />

you would like to discuss. Thank you!<br />

Laura J. Mushinski, CHMM<br />

Director – <strong>Environmental</strong> Quality<br />

Allens, Inc.<br />

PO Box 250, Siloam Springs, AR 72761<br />

Cell: (479) 228-0102 FAX: (479) 524-9591<br />

From: Ungerank, Ralph [mailto:UNGERANK@adeq.state.ar.us]<br />

Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2012 2:26 PM<br />

To: Laura Mushinski; Sheri Herron (sheriherron@gmail.com); Neel Sathi<br />

Subject: 4438-WR-5<br />

Ms. Mushinski,<br />

Based on our meeting today, the <strong>Department</strong> needs you to submit the following information<br />

by January 15, 2013:<br />

1. Propose language to address your concerns regarding:<br />

a. Soil sampling requirements<br />

b. Precipitation requirements<br />

2. Provide details regarding the BMP put in place to allow a steeper slope for land<br />

application.<br />

3. Provide a Schedule <strong>of</strong> Compliance <strong>of</strong> the facility’s decision on how the will come into<br />

compliance with the P-Index.<br />

If you have any questions regarding this matter, please let me know.<br />

Thanks,<br />

Colby Ungerank<br />

Engineer<br />

ADEQ, Water Division<br />

5301 Northshore Dr.<br />

NLR, AR 72118<br />

(501)682-0047

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