Division of Air and Waste Management

News from the Delaware Division of Air and Waste Management

News Updates

Now Available –State and Federal Annual Toxics Release Inventory Data and Reports – DNREC released Delaware's 2006 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) data on Feb. 15, while the USEPA released the federal 2006 TRI data on Feb. 21. The TRI, created under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986, requires certain facilities to report annually on their chemical releases and other waste management activities to the USEPA and states.  In addition, the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA) of 1990 mandates collection of data from these facilities on toxic chemicals treated on-site, recycled, and combusted for energy recovery. The Delaware data was compiled by DNREC from in-state facilities required to report TRI on-site releases in 2006.  The releases reported by Delaware facilities in 2006 were higher by 32% when compared to 2005.  This was largely attributable to a more accurate method for reporting nitrate discharges into the Delaware River from Premcor’s refinery in Delaware City. The company’s reported nitrate release for 2006 was about 10 times greater than its 2005 data. For more information, please contact John Parker of the Division’s Emergency Response and Prevention Branch at (302) 739-9405. The Delaware TRI reports and data for calendar year 2006 are available at: http://www.awm.delaware.gov/Info/Pages/TRI.aspx. A summary of the federal 2006 TRI data and background materials are available at: http://www.epa.gov/tri/.

Premcor Delaware City Refinery Update – The refinery is continuing to recover from the upset condition earlier this month that affected all major systems. However, the refinery has made significant progress over the last week towards returning to normal operations. Several unit operations were successfully started up including the reformer and four of the five hydrodesulfurizer trains. The start-ups of some of these units were accompanied by intermittent flaring. Premcor anticipates several more days before the refinery operations return to normal. DNREC will continue to provide regulatory oversight. For more information on the refinery, please contact the Division’s site engineers, Ravi Rangan and Bruce Steltzer, at (302) 323-4542.

In addition, DNREC received an application from The Premcor Refining Group, Inc. for the Delaware City Refinery Upgrade and Optimization Project at the facility. This project includes optimizations of the Crude and Fluidized Coking Units, installation of a Liquid Petroleum Gas Propylene dryer and splitter, and upgrades to the Sour Water Stripping System and the Diglycolamine Scrubbing System. The application is subject to the requirements of New Source Review and includes a Best Available Control Technology determination for sulfur dioxide.  DNREC is currently reviewing the application and will hold a public hearing in the near future when the preliminary determination and draft permit is complete.  DNREC invites comments from the public concerning the application.  The comments must be received on or before March 4, 2008. There will be additional opportunity for comments on the application and the Department's assessment at the planned public hearing. To submit comments, for additional information or for an appointment to inspect the application, please contact Joanna Austin at the Dover Office at (302) 739-9402. Additional information is also available at: http://www.dnrec.state.de.us/dnreceis/redirect.asp?ID=2737&MsgType=P.

New Brandywine Hundred Community Yard Waste Drop-off Site – The Brandywine Hundred Community Yard Waste Demonstration Site is now open for residents to manage their yard waste, including leaves, clippings, and branches up to four inches in diameter. The new site, located on the north side of Cauffiel Parkway, near Philadelphia Pike, serves as a cost-free and convenient option for residents to comply with the yard waste ban affecting northern New Castle County. The ban on yard waste went into effect on Jan. 24, 2008. The new Brandywine Hundred site is open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 8:30 AM until 4:30 PM and is not open to commercial entities or municipalities. Yard waste will be periodically ground into useable landscape mulch, and residents can pick up free mulch when available. For information on other yard waste drop-off sites, recycling alternatives, and the Cherry Island Landfill yard waste ban, please visit: www.dnrec.delaware.gov/yardwaste or contact Jim Short or Bill Miller, (302) 739-9403, or James.Short@state.de.us or Bill.Miller@state.de.us.

Upcoming Air and Waste-Related Hearings, Meetings & Events

February 28 – Public Hearing on Tapeta™ Footings, Inc. Coastal Zone Act Permit Application will be held at 6:00 PM at DNREC’s field office located at 391 Lukens Drive in New Castle. DNREC reviewed Tapeta™ Footings, Inc.'s revised application for their proposed manufacturing facility at 341 Pigeon Point Road in New Castle. The application is considered to be preliminarily, administratively complete and sufficient to proceed to a public hearing. Facility operations will include blending raw materials to create the Tapeta™ product, which is used for a horse-track racing surface. The proposed operation may generate up to 150,000 tons per year of Tapeta™ product. There will be a total of 4.48 tons per year of associated air emissions, including 2.64 tons per year of nitrogen oxides and 1.65 tons per year of carbon monoxide. Public comments may be made at the public hearing or submitted in writing prior to the hearing. For more information, please contact Elena Tkacz at (302) 739-9909, or visit: http://www.dnrec.state.de.us/dnreceis/redirect.asp?ID=2717&MsgType=P  and

http://www.dnrec.state.de.us/dnrec2000/admin/press/story1.asp?PRID=2809.

March 4 – Public Hearing on Proposed Revisions to the State Implementation Plan (SIP) for the Attainment of the Annual Fine Particle (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) will be held at 6:00 PM in the Priscilla Building Conference Room, 156 South State Street in Dover. In April 2005, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated 126 areas of the country as "non-attainment" areas under the annual PM2.5 NAAQS. Among those non-attainment areas is the Philadelphia-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE Non-Attainment Area (NAA). This NAA includes New Castle County in Delaware, and federal law requires the NAA to attain the NAAQS by April 2010. In response to the non-attainment designation, Delaware has developed this SIP revision. Public comments may be made at the public hearing or submitted in writing prior to the hearing. For additional information on the PM2.5 Attainment SIP, please contact Jack Sipple at (302) 739-9402. For additional information on the 2002 Base Year Emissions Inventory, please contact Dave Fees, also at (302) 739-9402. The proposed amendment may be inspected at the Department's offices located at 156 S. State Street, Dover and 715 Grantham Lane, New Castle, or reviewed online. For more information, please visit:  http://www.dnrec.state.de.us/dnreceis/redirect.asp?ID=2712&MsgType=P.

March Meetings of the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) and Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) - LEPCs were appointed by the Delaware State Emergency Response Commission. The LEPC provides a forum for interaction and information sharing among businesses, government officials, emergency organizations, and the public. Meetings will be held at the following times and locations:

• March 10 – New Castle County LEPC will meet at 2:30 PM at AstraZeneca in Wilmington. For more information, please visit: http://www.serc.delaware.gov/information/ncclepc/ncclepc.shtml.
• March 11 – Kent County LEPC will meet at 10 AM at the Kent County Public Safety Building, 911 Public Safety Boulevard in Dover. For more information, please visit: http://www.serc.delaware.gov/information/kclepc/kclepc.shtml.
• March 12 –State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) will meet at 9:00 AM at the Delaware State Fire School in Dover.
• March 13 – Sussex County LEPC will meet at 10 AM at the Biden Center at Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewis. For more information, please visit: http://www.serc.delaware.gov/information/sclepc/sclepc.shtml.
• March 14 – Wilmington LEPC will meet at 10 AM at the Wilmington Public Safety Building.

For more information, please contact Shannon Splittorff at (302) 739-9405, or visit: http://www.serc.delaware.gov/.  Meeting information is also available at http://www.serc.delaware.gov/event.shtml.

March 14 – Brownfields Advisory Committee Meeting is scheduled to meet from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM at the DNREC field office located at 391 Lukens Drive in New Castle, Delaware. The committee provides input to the Division regarding brownfields-related issues. For additional information, please contact Christina Wirtz at (302) 395-2600, or visit: http://denver.state.de.us/egov/calendar.nsf/Meetings/EB6A6CAD4DB6666D852573F5006D8021?open.

Documents Available for Public Comment or Appeal

NOTIFICATION OF PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD REGARDING THE SIGNING OF A BROWNFIELDS DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT FOR RAY PANELLA SKI SHOP PROPERTY IN WILMINGTON  NOTICE START DATE: 02/19/2008 NOTICE END DATE: 3/10/2008

The Division’s Site Investigation and Restoration Branch (SIRB) negotiated a BDA with Delaware Restaurants, L. P. for the Panella Ski Shop Property. SIRB invites written public comments on this BDA.  The public comment period begins on February 19, 2008 and will close at the end of the business day (4:30 PM) on March 10, 2008. A copy of the BDA is available at the DNREC’s field office, 391 Lukens Drive, New Castle, DE 19720, or by accessing DNREC-SIRB's superfund site files database at: http://www.dnrec.state.de.us/dnrec2000/Divisions/AWM/sirb/sitefiles.asp. Written comments should be submitted to Todd Keyser at SIRB's address listed above. For more information, please contact Todd Keyser at (302) 395-2600, or visit: http://www.dnrec.state.de.us/dnreceis/redirect.asp?ID=2739&MsgType=P.

NOTIFICATION OF PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE BROWNFIELDS VOLUNTARY CLEANUP PROGRAM AGREEMENT FOR 1101 EAST 8^TH STREET/ FORMER CARNEY HARRIS PROPERTY SITE IN WILMINGTON  NOTICE START DATE: 02/10/2008 NOTICE END DATE: 3/3/2008

SIRB negotiated a Brownfields VCP Agreement with Jackson & Sharp, LLC for the 1101 East 8^th Street/ Former Carney Harris Property. SIRB invites written public comments on the BDA. The public comment period began on February 11, 2008 and will close at the end of the business day (4:30 PM) on March 3, 2008.  A copy of the BDA is available at the office of SIRB, 391 Lukens Drive, New Castle, DE 19720, or by accessing SIRB’s superfund site files database at http://www.dnrec.state.de.us/dnrec2000/Divisions/AWM/sirb/sitefiles.asp. Written comments should be submitted to Morgan Price at SIRB’s address listed above. For more information, please contact Morgan Price at (302) 395-2600, or visit: http://www.dnrec.state.de.us/dnreceis/redirect.asp?ID=2728&MsgType=P.

REVISED PROPOSED PLAN OF REMEDIAL ACTION FOR THE WILMINGTON ROLLING MILL SITE IN WILMINGTON

NOTICE START DATE: 02/10/2008 NOTICE END DATE: 03/03/2008

SIRB announced the Revised Proposed Plan of Remedial Action for the Wilmington Rolling Mill site. The 3-acre site is located in Wilmington near the intersection of Church and 10th Streets. The site is located on the western bank of the Brandywine Creek, and is currently being used to store steel by the owner, RC Fabricators, Inc. The site has one vacant brick building, with a City of Wilmington right-of-way located along the eastern side of the site. Environmental contamination occurred at the site as a result of its past use, including steel manufacturing and historic filling activities. The Final Brownfield Remedial Action Plan was advertised in January 2005, however, the plan had to be revised because the intended use of the site changed from residential to commercial use. 

SIRB invites written comments on this Proposed Plan.  The public comment period begins on February 11, 2008 and will close on March 3, 2008.  A copy of the Revised Proposed Plan is available at the Wilmington Library or at the office of SIRB, 391 Lukens Drive, New Castle, DE 19720. The Revised Proposed Plan is also posted on SIRB's website at: http://www.dnrec.state.de.us/dnrec2000/Divisions/AWM/sirb/  under the subject "Announcements."  Written comments should be submitted to Rick Galloway at SIRB's address listed above.  For additional information, please contact Rick Galloway or Robert Newsome at (302) 395-2600, or visit: http://www.dnrec.state.de.us/dnreceis/redirect.asp?ID=2725&MsgType=P.

TITLE V PERMIT RENEWAL APPLICATION FOR DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER IN WILMINGTON

NOTICE START DATE: 02/17/2008 NOTICE END DATE: 03/18/2008

The Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center has submitted a request for a permit renewal pursuant to Regulation No. 30, Section 7, for their facility at 1601 Kirkwood Highway in Wilmington. Based on the data and certifications contained in the application, the Air Quality Management Section concludes that the applicant meets all applicable requirements promulgated by the USEPA and DNREC. Therefore a "draft" permit renewal (R-2) has been prepared. The draft permit renewal is to renew the existing permit for an additional five years.

A public hearing concerning the permitting action will NOT be held unless the Secretary of DNREC receives a request for a hearing by March 18, 2008. The application and draft permit renewal may be inspected at the offices of the Division of Air and Waste Management, 156 S. State Street, Dover, Delaware and 715 Grantham Lane, New Castle, Delaware.  To submit comments, for additional information or for an appointment to inspect the application, please contact Joanna Austin at the Dover Office at (302) 739-9402. Additional information is also available at: http://www.dnrec.state.de.us/dnreceis/redirect.asp?ID=2733&MsgType=P.

TITLE V SYNTHETIC MINOR PERMIT APPLICATIONS

Notice has been given that the facilities listed below have applied for Title V Synthetic Minor permits. The applications and “draft" permits may be inspected at the office of the Division of Air and Waste Management, 156 S. State Street in Dover. To submit comments, for additional information or for an appointment to inspect the public file, please contact Joanna Austin in the Dover office at (302) 739-9402.

• David A. Bramble, Inc. has submitted an application for the operation of an existing hot mix asphalt plant at 22288 Coverdale Road in Seaford (located at Eddie Kaye Construction). This plant was formerly operated by Pennsy Supply, Inc. dba Tilcon Delaware. David A. Bramble, Inc. requested a limit for the production of hot mix asphalt. This limit is necessary to restrict David A. Bramble, Inc.'s potential to emit air pollutants, and the limit will be enforceable by the USEPA and the state. A public hearing concerning the permitting action will NOT be held unless the Secretary of DNREC receives a request for a hearing by March 17, 2008. Additional information is available at: http://www.dnrec.state.de.us/dnreceis/redirect.asp?ID=2735&MsgType=P.
• Independence Construction Materials has submitted an application for an amendment of their permit at 440 Twin Oaks Drive in Cheswold.  Independence Construction Materials requests an amendment to allow the use of "on-spec used oil" in addition to natural gas as fuel to fire the asphalt plant's rotary drum dryer. A public hearing concerning the permitting action will NOT be held unless the Secretary of DNREC receives a request for a hearing by March 26, 2008. Additional information is available at: http://www.dnrec.state.de.us/dnreceis/redirect.asp?ID=2741&MsgType=P.

REGULATION 1102 NATURAL MINOR PERMIT APPLICATIONS

Notice has been given that the facilities listed below have applied for Regulation 1102 Natural Minor permits. The applications may be reviewed at the office of the Division of Air and Waste Management, 156 S. State Street, Dover, Delaware, or 715 Grantham Lane, New Castle, Delaware. For additional information, or for an appointment to review an application, please contact Joanna Austin at the Dover Office at (302) 739-9402. A public hearing on the following two applications will NOT be held unless the Secretary of DNREC receives a request for that application by March 3, 2008.  Additional information for these two facilities is also available at: http://www.dnrec.state.de.us/dnreceis/redirect.asp?ID=2732&MsgType=P.

• Edward J. Kaye Construction, Inc. requested an amendment to their permit to allow a 1255 kilowatt rental mobile generator at their Seaford, Sussex County facility.  The generator, fired on No. 2 fuel oil, powers a crushing and screening operation. The rental unit is limited to 500 hours operation and cannot stay at the site longer than 12 consecutive months.
• Southgate Concrete-New Plant, located at 1526 Matassino Rd., New Castle, submitted two permit applications to construct two new Stephens MFG passive baghouses on top of two silos.  The new baghouses will replace the currently permitted Columbus DCS-150 baghouses to control particulate matter.

A public hearing on the following Conectiv applications will NOT be held unless the Secretary of DNREC receives a request for that application by March 10, 2008.  Additional information on the Conectiv applications below is available at: http://www.dnrec.state.de.us/dnreceis/redirect.asp?ID=2742&MsgType=P.

• Conectiv Delmarva Generation has submitted an application for an amendment of their operation permit for Boiler No. 3 for relocation of existing injection ports and the addition of new injection ports and associated equipment to enhance the existing selective non-catalytic reduction  nitrogen oxides control system and enhancements to the first, fifth and sixth fields of the existing electrostatic precipitator to further improve collection performance of the precipitator at their 200 Hay Road facility (Edge Moor Power Plant).  The permit emission limits will remain the same. 
• Conectiv Delmarva Generation has also submitted an application for an amendment of their operation permit for Boiler No. 4 for enhancements to the existing low nitrogen oxides burner system, modification to the existing over-fire air system and implementation of new separated over-fire air ports, and enhancements to the first and sixth fields of the existing electrostatic precipitator to further improve collection performance of the precipitator at the Edge Moor Power Plant.  The permit emission limits remain the same.
• Conectiv Delmarva Generation requests a construction permit for installation of new injection ports and associated equipment to accommodate a new selective non catalytic reduction nitrogen oxides control system for Boiler No. 4 at their Edge Moor Power Plant.  The permit emission limits will remain the same.

Kudos

Many kudos to Patrick Boettcher of the Division’s Tank Management Branch (TMB). During the week of February 11, Patrick Boettcher performed continuous soil borings to a depth of approximately 30 feet using TMB’s Geoprobe®, a mobile drilling rig, at Cape Henlopen Park in Lewis. The work was done to support the Division of Water Resources’ and the Delaware Geological Society’s waste water rapid infiltration study in the area. In addition, Patrick Boettcher gave a presentation to USEPA Region VI staff on February 19, via teleconferencing, on a special Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) project to address contaminated site cleanup projects that have been open for ten years or longer, as well as branch efforts to Value Stream Map the LUST cleanup process.

Contact the Division

• 24-Hour Report and Spill Notification Line - 1-800-662-8802
• Aboveground Storage Tanks - 302-395-2500
• Air Quality - Dover Office - 302-739-9402
• Air Quality - New Castle Office - 302-323-4542
• Asbestos New Castle - 302-323-4542
• Asbestos Kent & Sussex - 302-739-9402
• Boiler Safety - 302-744-2735
• Brownfields - 302-395-2600
• Director’s Office - 302-739-9400
• Emergency Prevention and Response - 302-739-9404
• Environmental Crimes Unit - 302-739-9401 or 1-800-662-8802
• Hazardous Waste - 302-739-9403
• Medical Waste - 302-739-9403
• Open Burning - 302-739-9402
• Outreach Ombudsman - 302-395-2515
• Recycling - 302-739-9403
• Site Investigation & Restoration Branch (Superfund/Brownfields) - 302-395-2600
• Solid Waste - 302-739-9403