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DNREC :  Skip Navigation LinksDivisions of Air Quality & Waste & Hazardous Substances : Info : E-News : Update 10-7-08

 
Air and Waste News in Delaware, 10/7/08

 

 

The bimonthly E-News Update features current information on the Division’s public meetings, workshops, hearings, and regulatory documents available for public comment, as well as news updates. For those of you who are receiving the E-News Update for the first time, the subscription is FREE!  Please sign up at the following link: http://www.dnrec.state.de.us/DNREC2000/admin/maillists/maillists.htm.

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Suggestions?  Additions?  Please e-mail Christina.Wirtz@state.de.us, or call Christina at (302) 395-2600. Published by DNREC Division of Air and Waste Management; Web Site: www.awm.delaware.gov.

News Updates

Tanker Vessel Tuchkov Bridge Grounded in C&D Canal near the Roth Bridge (Delaware Rt. 1) – DNREC’s Emergency Response Team received notification from the New Castle County Fireboard about the grounded vessel on September 29. Responding units found the 600-foot long tanker, transporting 145,000 barrels of gasoline and 752,000 barrels of No. 2 oil, aground near Roth Bridge. No leaks were detected; cause of the grounding is under investigation by the US Coast Guard (USCG). In addition to DNREC’s Emergency Response Team, units from the Division of Fish & Wildlife, local fire departments, and the USCG responded to the scene. An over flight by Delaware State Police aviation with an infrared device also reported no release. After the USCG and DNREC team boarded the vessel, it pulled itself free and was guided to the Reedy Point Anchorage for further inspection and investigation. No damage to the ship, canal or Roth Bridge was reported. For more information on the grounded tanker incident, please contact Ellen Malenfant at (302) 739-9404.

US Environmental Protection Agency Reaches Settlement with Noramco Inc. of Wilmington – The settlement, reached on September 18, includes a penalty of $115,934 and addresses violations of hazardous waste storage and hazardous waste air emissions standards. The violations were discovered during a joint federal and state compliance assessment on January 26, 2006. Noramco is a large quantity generator of hazardous waste. For more information on the settlement, please contact Karen J’Anthony at (302) 739-9403.

Final Removal of Process Equipment from Standard Chlorine/Metachem Hazardous Substance Release Site – Representatives from DNREC, USEPA Region 3, USEPA's contractor, and the site demolition contractor met at the Standard Chlorine/Metachem Hazardous Substance Release Site in Delaware City to discuss the final removal of process equipment from the site. The work by the demolition contractor is slated to begin shortly and will take the remainder of the calendar year. The work includes removal of several process towers from the Metachem chlorobenzene process.  The towers and piping have all been cleaned through the USEPA removal program. Concrete pads below the process towers will be left "brush-cleaned" after the equipment is removed. For more information on the equipment removal, please contact Todd Keyser at (302) 395-2600.

Upcoming Air and Waste-Related Hearings, Meetings & Events

October 8 – Air Permitting Workshop on Value Stream Mapping (VSM) Process will be held from 9 AM until 3 PM at the Dover Downs Hotel and Casino in Dover. This workshop will detail the process and procedures that the Division’s Air Quality Management Section has implemented for the construction permitting process, and will discuss new regulatory requirements for common permitting issues. Dover Downs is located at 1131 North Dupont Highway (U.S. Route 13) in Dover. The cost of the workshop, materials, continental breakfast and lunch is $50.00 per person, and registration is required. In addition, recent federal and state regulatory requirements for air emissions permits will be presented, and DNREC’s permitting team will be available to answer questions throughout the day. All Delaware facilities with an air emissions source and air pollution control equipment are encouraged to attend the workshop. For more information and to register, please contact Penny Gentry at (302) 739-9402.

October 14 – CANCELLED – STAY of APPEAL – Environmental Appeals Board Appeal No. 2008-03 will be held from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the DNREC Richardson and Robbins Building Auditorium, 89 Kings Highway, in Dover. The appeal was filed by Premcor Refining Group of a letter dated April 6, 2008, issued by the State of Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Division of Air and Waste Management, to Premcor Refining Group, Inc. requesting Premcor make necessary arrangements to commence monitoring and reporting CO2 emissions at the Delaware City refinery.  For more information, please contact Gail Henderson at (302) 739-9909 or visit: http://www.delaware.gov/eGov/Calendar.nsf/Meetings/07C50ABFFF581E81852574CD0068F06D?open.

October 15 – Recycling Public Advisory Council (RPAC) Meeting will be held from 1:00 PM at the DelDOT Administration Building, Farmington/Felton Room, 800 South Bay Road in Dover. RPAC advises the Governor’s Office, DNREC and the Delaware Solid Waste Authority on all aspects of recycling, including development of grant criteria and selection of applications; a methodology for measuring recycling rates; and possible outreach activities designed to achieve higher recycling rates. For more information on RPAC, please contact Bill Miller at (302) 739-9403 or visit: http://www.awm.delaware.gov/Info/Pages/RPAC.aspx. For more information on the October RPAC meeting, please visit: http://www.delaware.gov/eGov/Calendar.nsf/Meetings/B1741F9988347D28852574BA0056EAFF?open.

October 23 – Public Hearing to Consider Adoption of Proposed Amendments to Delaware’s Regulations Governing Hazardous Waste will be held at 6:00 PM at the DNREC Richardson and Robbins Building Auditorium, 89 Kings Highway, in Dover. Delaware is authorized by the EPA to administer its own hazardous waste management program.  EPA requires Delaware to maintain a program that is equivalent and no less stringent than the federal program to continue to maintain program delegation and authority. Some of the changes DNREC is proposing to make are already in effect at the federal level.  Additionally, DNREC is proposing to adopt optional federal regulations and miscellaneous changes to correct errors and add consistency or clarification.  The public may view the proposed amendments Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM at these DNREC locations: 89 Kings Highway, Dover (302) 739-9403; 715 Grantham Lane, New Castle (302) 323-4560; 391 Lukens Drive, New Castle (302) 395-2600; and 408 N. DuPont Highway, Georgetown (302) 856-5488.  The amendments may also be reviewed online at: http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/info/pages/Rules.aspx. To register for the Public Hearing, please contact Tara Clark at (302) 739-9403. For information on the hearing, please contact Bill Davis or Karen G. J’Anthony at (302) 739-9403.

October 25 – Citizen Drop-Off Day for Scrap Tires will be held from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM, rain or shine, at the Route 5 Transfer Station, 29997 John P. Healy Drive in Harbeson (near Fairmont between Hollyville and Beaver Dam Roads). The Division’s Scrap Tire Control & Cleanup Program is happy to announce an opportunity for Delaware citizens to dispose of scrap tires free of charge in an environmentally responsible manner. In partnership with the Delaware Solid Waste Authority (DSWA) and Independent Disposal Services (IDS), the tires will be recycled.  Proof of Delaware residency is required such as a driver’s license or utility bill, and only passenger or light duty truck tires can be accepted - no larger tires, tires on rims, or bicycle tires. There is a limit of 10 tires per Delaware household.  For more information on the Citizen Drop-Off Day, please visit www.awm.delaware.gov, or call (302) 739-9403 or (800) 662-8802. For a location map, please see the information available for the Route 5 Transfer Station at http://www.dswa.com/facilities_transfer.asp.

November 1 – Introduction to Backyard Composting will be held from 9:30-10:30 AM at Brandywine Creek Sate Park. Join Master Composter and Master Gardener Hetty Francke to learn how to build and care for an environmentally-friendly compost pile, as well as how to begin your own vermi-composting bin. This program will include handouts to help you begin composting at home, a PowerPoint presentation of Compost Demonstrations Sites in Delaware, and a question and answer period. Compost bins will be available for sale at a reduced price of $10 each. The program is intended for an adult audience and families. There is no fee for this program, however, please pre-register by calling Sheila Linn at (302) 577-3534, or by email: sheila.linn@state.de.us. For more information, please contact Hetty Francke at hettyw@UDel.Edu.

Secretary’s Orders

DNREC Issues Secretary’s Order 2008-A-0050 for the Approval of the Delaware Visibility State Implementation Plan (SIP) – The Clean Air Act (CAA) mandates protection of visibility in Class I federal areas, such as national parks, forests and wilderness areas.  Pursuant to federal rules, states are required to develop a series of SIPs to reduce visibility impairment, with the express intent that by 2064 the visibility in the Class I areas will be returned to natural conditions. The SIP is the first in this process, and it establishes that Brigantine National Wildlife Refuge in New Jersey is the only Class I area that Delaware significantly impacts (Delaware does not have any Class I areas).  In addition, Delaware will directly benefit from this and similar actions being taken in other states, as the same pollutants that reduce visibility in these Class I federal areas also impact the air quality in all portions of Delaware. The Division of Air and Waste Management submitted the SIP to USEPA on September 26, ensuring that Delaware will not receive a “Failure to Submit” notification.  For additional information, please contact Jack Sipple, at (302) 739-9402, or visit:
http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/Info/Documents/Secretary%20Order%20No%20%202008-A-0050_2008%20Visibility%20SIP_.pdf.

DNREC Issues Conciliation Order 2008-A-51 Requiring Premcor to Take Corrective Actions at its Propane Frozen Earth Storage System at the Valero Refinery in Delaware City – The Order was issued to The Premcor Refining Group Inc. for alleged air violations at its propane frozen earth storage system in the Delaware City Refinery. Premcor’s frozen earth storage system is an existing underground cavern that has been used to store up to 500,000 barrels of chilled liquid propane, and has been operated continuously at the refinery since 1966. The Premcor Refining Group Inc., owner and operator of the refinery and a wholly owned subsidiary of Valero Energy Corporation, acquired the refinery in 2004. A design flaw in the frozen earth storage system caused it to leak propane through the surrounding soils to the atmosphere.  Estimated annual releases of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are 200 to 350 tons based on the initial emissions measurement results after DNREC discovered the leaks while auditing records in 2007 and observing the leaks through its infrared camera at the site.  The Order requires Premcor to continue a maintenance program to monitor and fix surface leaks, construct alternate propane storage capacity by May 2010 and to empty the frozen earth storage system by December 2010.  Premcor will pay the state $1.2 million, which includes a penalty and supplemental environmental project of $950,000. The order is available for review at: http://www.awm.delaware.gov/AQM/Documents/Premcor%20FES%20Conciliation%20Order-%20final.pdf.

In addition, DNREC issued Interim Secretary’s Order 2008-W-0052 for the approval of a portion of Premcor Refining Group, Inc.’s application for a Subaqueous Lands Permit and Water Quality Certification to dredge portions of Cedar Creek and the Delaware River for the Delaware City Refinery. For more information on the Interim Order, please visit:
http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/Info/Documents/Sec%20Order%20No%202008-W-0052%20_Interim%20Premcor%20Dredging%20permit_.pdf.

Unrelated to the two orders, synthesis gas leaked out from a defective weld on a thermocouple fitting on September 30. The gasifier was shut down immediately; however, Delaware Reportable Quantities (DRQs) may have been exceeded for hydrogen sulfide and carbon monoxide.  In addition, another incident occurred the previous week when a compressor failure caused the hydrocracker to shut down causing a flaring incident at the refinery. The hydrocracker was restarted on September 28. Both incidents are currently under investigation by DNREC. For more information on the refinery, please contact the Division’s site engineers, Ravi Rangan and Bruce Steltzer, at (302) 323-4542.

Documents Available for Public Comment or Appeal

The Division’s Brownfields Development Program encourages the cleanup and redevelopment of vacant, abandoned or underutilized properties which may be contaminated. A party seeking to develop such a property negotiates with the Division's Site Investigation and Restoration Branch (SIRB) for a Brownfields Development Agreement (BDA) or a Brownfields Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP) Agreement to perform an investigation and, if necessary, a remedial action or remedy, for the purpose of addressing the risks posed by past releases of hazardous substances at these sites. A BDA is only available to parties that are not current site owners. The Brownfields VCP Agreement is available to Brownfields site owners, who, although not contributors to the contamination, may already be liable as a potentially responsible party for the site. The VCP Agreement provides a mechanism to remediate contamination while developing the Brownfields site, and receive liability protection for past releases of hazardous substances at the site. For site-specific information on the following sites, please see SIRB’s superfund site files database at: http://docs.dnrec.delaware.gov/sirbsitefiles.cfm. 

NOTIFICATION OF BROWNFIELDS DEVELOPMENT AND VOLUNTARY CLEANUP AGREEMENT NEGOTIATIONS  SIRB is negotiating Brownfields Development Agreements with the following:

SIRB is negotiating a Brownfields Voluntary Cleanup Agreement with the following:

NOTIFICATION OF PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD REGARDING THE SIGNING OF A BROWNFIELDS VOLUNTARY CLEANUP AGREEMENT  SIRB signed a Brownfields VCP agreement and advertised the public comment period for the following site:

PROPOSED PLAN OF REMEDIAL ACTION FOR THE 00 MOUNT VERNON STREET SITE IN SMYRNA
SIRB announced the Proposed Plan of Remedial Action for the 00 Mt. Vernon Street site located in Smyrna. Environmental contamination occurred at the 0.54-acre site is site as a result of its past use as a storage facility for coal and wood.  Ducts Unlimited will redevelop the property for commercial use. DNREC invites written comments on the Proposed Plan. The public comment period began on Sept. 28, 2008 and will close on Oct. 18, 2008.  A copy of the Proposed Plan is available at the Smyrna Library or at the office of SIRB, 391 Lukens Drive, New Castle, DE 19720. The Proposed Plan is also posted on SIRB’s website at http://www.dnrec.state.de.us/DNREC2000/Brownfields.asp under the subject “Announcements.”  Written comments should be submitted to Robert Newsome at SIRB’s address listed above. For additional information, please contact Babatunde Asere at (302) 395-2600 or visit: http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/Lists/Public%20Notices/DispForm.aspx?ID=158&Source=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ednrec%2Edelaware%2Egov%2FPages%2Fdefault%2Easpx.

PROPOSED PLAN OF REMEDIAL ACTION FOR THE PEPUP/CALHOUN SITE IN GEORGETOWN
SIRB announced the Proposed Plan of Remedial Action for the Pepup/Calhoun site located at 22297 South DuPont Boulevard in Georgetown. Environmental contamination occurred at the 13-acre site, caused by a leaking underground storage tank and abandoned agricultural chemicals due to its past use including as a gas station and a warehouse.   The Site will be re-developed as a commercial center. DNREC invites written comments on the Proposed Plan. The public comment period began on Oct. 1, 2008 and will close on Oct. 24, 2008.  A copy of the Proposed Plan is available at the Georgetown Library or at the office of SIRB, 391 Lukens Drive, New Castle, DE 19720. The Proposed Plan is also posted on SIRB’s website at: http://www.dnrec.state.de.us/DNREC2000/Brownfields.asp under the subject “Announcements.”  Written comments should be submitted to Robert Newsome at SIRB’s address listed above. For additional information, please contact Stephen Johnson at (302) 395-2600 or visit:
http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/Lists/Public%20Notices/DispForm.aspx?ID=159&Source=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ednrec%2Edelaware%2Egov%2FPages%2Fdefault%2Easpx.

FINAL PLAN OF REMEDIAL ACTION FOR THE DELAWARE & VAN BUREN SITE IN WILMINGTON
SIRB announced the Proposed Plan of Remedial Action for the Delaware & Van Buren site in Wilmington. The 1.64-acre site is bounded by Delaware Avenue, Van Buren Street, Gilpin Avenue, and N. Jackson Street. The property contained residences and apartment buildings from 1901 until 1965 and then an office building from 1965 until 2000. The building was demolished in 2000. The site is currently used as a parking lot for residents and commuters, but will be developed as a CVS Pharmacy and retail store. DNREC invited written comments on the Proposed Plan.  The public comment period began on August 25, 2008 and closed on September 19, 2008. DNREC did not receive any comments on the Proposed Plan; therefore, the Proposed Plan was adopted as the Final Plan. Copies of the Proposed and Final Plans are available at the Wilmington Library or at the office of SIRB, 391 Lukens Drive, New Castle, DE 19720.  The Proposed and Final Plans are also posted on SIRB’s website at http://www.dnrec.state.de.us/DNREC2000/Brownfields.asp under the subject “Announcements.”  The public may appeal the Final Plan. For additional information, please contact Wendy March at (302) 395-2600 or visit: http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/Lists/Public%20Notices/DispForm.aspx?ID=154&Source=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ednrec%2Edelaware%2Egov%2FLists%2FPublic%2520Notices%2FAllItems%2Easpx.

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 the applications, please contact Joanna Austin at the Dover Office at (302) 739-9402, or visit: http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/Lists/Public%20Notices/DispForm.aspx?ID=156&Source=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ednrec%2Edelaware%2Egov%2FLists%2FPublic%2520Notices%2FAllItems%2Easpx. A public hearing on the following application will NOT be held unless the Secretary of DNREC receives a request for that application by Oct. 13, 2008:

  • Coker Concrete of 300 Artis Drive in Dover requests a permit amendment to operate two 330-ton per hour crushers and a screening deck at the former Berry Van Lines site at 747 North DuPont Highway at the intersection of US 13 and Dover-Leipsic Road in Dover.  By permit, actual emissions will not exceed 14.4 tons per year (TPY) of nitrogen oxides, 10.4 TPY of particulate matter, 3.1 TPY carbon monoxide, 1.2 TPY volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and 0.96 TPY of sulfur oxides.
  • Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Inc. requests a permit to operate a brewery at their Milton plant located at 6 Cannery Village Center in Milton. The brewery’s potential to emit and permitted emissions are 4.9 TPY of VOCs and 0.62 TPY of particulate matter.

Employee News

Kudos to Emergency Response Team (ERT) members Jamie Bethard, Matt Chamberlain, Casey Fountain, Matthew Higgins and David Moyer, who combined with the Delaware State Police - Explosive Ordinance Disposal (DSP - EOD) team, to form a Joint Hazard Assessment Team (JHAT) for the fall 2008 races at Dover Downs International Speedway. The JHAT is a rapid response team that assesses any possible explosive, weapons of mass destruction (WMD), or chemical hazards during the race events. The JHAT responded to one suspicious package complaint, one radiation complaint, one medical emergency, and one fire report during the race weekend.  The suspicious package and radiation incidents were found to be non-hazardous by the responding individuals.

Congratulations to Becky Keyser (5 years), Fulton Williams (10 years), and Tripp Fischer (10 years) on their anniversaries with DNREC in October.

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
  • Underground Storage Tanks - 302-395-2500

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