Complaint ID 91335 — Public Copy

EPD sent GRP Franklin a Notice of Violation. Letter is attached in complaint.

EPD had a conference call with GRP Franklin, receiving an update about this weekend. GRP experienced less rain than expected but is beginning to discharge from Outfall 002 as of 10/20 at around 05:00. Outfall 001 is not expected to discharge due to less than expected rain and plant not operating. GRP will collect samples discharge samples from Outfall 002 and samples from the pond in Outfall 001.

EPD had a conference call with GRP Franklin, receiving an update on the situation. EPD gave GRP Franklin to discharge from both Outfall 001 and 002 due to the predicted rain event in the following couple of days but to take samples of all believed to be present in their 2015 permit application. GRP Franklin will take pH samples every 6 hours for both outfalls.

EPD had a conference call with GRP Franklin personnel regarding discharging from Outfall 001 after water quality sampling of permit parameters, turbidity, and color and no discharging from Outfall 002 until authorized by EPD.

Chris Bruegge received the DNR Fisheries report regarding the fish kill.

Chris Bruegge, Derrick Williams, and Scott Callaway from EPD met and toured the area with GRP Franklin personnel, David Groves (Plant Manager) and Daniel Rock (Operations Manager), focusing on the scrap wood pile, the flow of the water through the stormwater system, and the outfall into the unnamed tributary that discharges into Indian Creek. During the inspection, EPD was able to obtain a timeline of events. On October 2, GRP personnel were concerned that the wood pile could combust due to sitting idle for three months and dry weather conditions, so the facility started spraying water on the large pile of wood using four hoses with Franklin county water. This spraying continued till October 4, when the facility cut down the spraying to one hose. During this time, no stormwater was observed leaving the pile. On October 5, GRP was notified from a nearby citizen that nearby Indian Creek had turned black. GRP investigated the wood pile, observed black water running from the wood pile to the facility's stormwater retention systems, and stopped spraying. During this time, GRP identified that the skimmers in the stormwater ponds were not operating as intended (i.e. taking water off the top of the pond and continuing it down the path of the stormwater basins), instead moving any collected water at the bottom of the ponds and continuing it down the path of the stormwater basins. This causes any collected water to bypass any settling treatment that would occur in the ponds and discharge through Outfall 001. During the inspection, the EPD observed the following: -Pieces of miscellaneous trash mixed in with the wood pile. -Railroad ties are mixed in with the wood (which is reflected in GRP's air permit) and that there were no piles of railroad ties observed on or around the facility. -GRP took samples at Outfall 002, upstream of 001, and downstream of Outfall 001 where Indian Creek crosses Highway 59. -Skimmers in the stormwater ponds have been plugged and no wastewater is discharging through Outfall 001 -There is standing black water in the intermediary stormwater ponds which the EPD told the facility to vacuum up and send to the local POTW for treatment.

Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources inspected the site and collected water quality samples. Confirmed a fish kill.

Confirmed receipt with SWP Contacted reporting party who stated the creek on his property was black. Cows would not drink the water. Source was reported to be the referenced facility. EMA Director contacted the facility operator who confirmed that water was being applied to un-dyed tree mulch and that runoff water had been released from retention pond. Plant operator agreed to stop applying water to mulch pile and construct a berm around the pile(s) to prevent additional runoff from impacting waterway. A fish kill was reported and WRD fisheries staff responded to make an assessment. Report forwarded to Athens District Office for investigation and potential enforcement as necessary.