Document 8VxaE1q68nXqGVZdZy0E205m
e UNIT ED S* TATE
S
*
AGENCY
ENVIRONMENTALP
ROTECTION
REGION 1
BOSTON, MA 02109
Subj:Facility Inspection Report - Clean Water Act
Inspector: Joseph Canzano, Oil Spill Prevention Compliance Coordinator, and Inspector
Enforcement & Compliance Assurance Division (" ECAD ")
Canzano,
Joseph
Digitally signed by Canzano,
Joseph
Date: 2024.01.25 14:40:41
-05'00 '
I. Facility Information
A.Facility Owner:Pepperell LLC
B.Facility Operator: Pepperell LLC (the " Facility ")
550 Lisbon Street
Lewiston, ME 04240
44 05'20.3 " N
70 12'37.6 " W
CFacility Operator
Contacts:Scott Ferland, Owner
scott@almightywaste.com
info@almightywaste.com
(207) 754-8697
D.ID Nos.:National Oil Database (R1-ME-00239)
Facility Registry Service Number (110010760293)
II. Background Information
E.Date of inspection: December 5,, 2023
F.Weather Condition / s: Overcast, Snow on Ground, 29-degree Fahrenheit
G.US EPA Inspectors: Joseph Canzano and Cayla Jimenez
ED_019088A_00004006-00001
H. State DEP Representative(s): John Luongo, Peter Eremita, Butch Bowie
I.
Federally Enforceable Requirements Covered During the Inspection:
40 C.F.R. Part 112, Oil Pollution Prevention Regulations
III. Type and Purpose of Inspection
The purpose of the site inspection was to view company operations associated with oil storage and
transfer activities, locations where portable and / or mobile oil storage containers were positioned,
spill containment, and runoff controls. The inspection also included reviewing the Facility's
wastewaters introduced into the Publicly Owned Treatment Works (" POTW ") for chemical and oil
slug loadings that have potential to result in Interference or Pass - Through.
IV. Disclaimer
Unless otherwise noted, this report describes conditions observed by EPA inspector / s, and / or
obtained through records provided to and / or information reported to EPA by Facility
representatives and as understood by EPA. This report may not capture all operations and activities
ongoing at the Facility. This report does not make final determination / s on potential areas of
concern and / or deficiencies. Nothing in this report affects EPA's authorities under federal statutes
and regulations to pursue further investigations.
V. Pre - inspection Facility File / Information Review
Federal Emergency Management Agency (" FEMA ") records indicate that the Facility is not
located within a defined flood hazard area. However, due to its proximity to the Androscoggin
River and the reported November 1, 2023, oil spill, the Facility has reasonable potential to
discharge pollutants including oil into the Androscoggin River. The Facility is situated on a parcel
of land that is 9.4-acres in size and is within 4-mile distance to a canal that flows into the
Androscoggin River.
According to EPA's Enforcement Compliance History Online (" ECHO ") database, the Facility's
standard industrial classification (" SIC ") code is 6512-Operators of Nonresidential Buildings.
On November 1, 2023, EPA received an incident report (No. 1383238) for an oil spill into the
Androscoggin River from the Facility. The report notes the discovery of an overfilled aboveground
oil tank and release of 1,000 gallons of heating oil into a storm drain system which connects to the
canal. The canal flows into the Androscoggin River. The report notes the capacity of the
aboveground tank is 8,000 - gallons and is used for storing heating oil.
EPA has no record of the Facility reporting annual inventory for a hazardous chemical (oil) in an
amount over 10,000-pounds (" lbs. ") under the Emergency Planning and Community Right - to-
1 Lewiston ME FEMA Link
2 54,720-pounds of heating oil @ 6.84-pounds equals 1-gallon.
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Know Act (" EPCRA "). For any hazardous chemical used or stored in the workplace, facilities
must maintain a safety data sheet (" SDS ") and submit the SDS or a list of hazardous chemicals to
Emergency Response and Planning Committee / s, and local fire department. Facilities must also
submit an annual inventory of these chemicals by March 1 of each year to the Committee / s, and
local fire department. The information submitted by facilities must be made available to the public.
To learn more about the EPCRA program, go to: https://www.epa.gov/epcra.
VI. In - Briefing & Site Walk
On November 29, 2023, EPA (Inspector Joseph Canzano) contacted a representative for the
Facility owner (Mr. Scott Ferland) and informed the representative that EPA would be conducting
an announced inspection at the Facility on December 5, 2023. Following the conversation with the
representative, EPA informed Mr. Ferland electronically that the inspection will cover the federal
Oil Pollution Prevention Regulations at 40 CFR Part 112, and the November 1, 2023, oil spill.
EPA requested, if available, an oil Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (" SPCC ") plan
and implementation records associated with the plan. Such records would include, but would not
be limited to, formal and informal tank inspection records for the life of the tank and employee
training records for oil handling personnel who have responsibility for managing oil and operating
the tank for the mill.
On December 5, 2023, EPA inspectors Joe Canzano and Cayla Jimenez, along with State of Maine
Department of Environmental Protection (" DEP ") inspectors, arrived at the Facility at 9:00 a.m.
and were greeted by Mr. Ferland. Mr. Ferland identified himself as the owner of the mill complex
and owner of Almighty Waste Company in Auburn, Maine.
The inspection team was escorted into the boiler room by Mr. Ferland, and Mr. Ferland showed
inspectors an Omntec alarm panel and indicated that it was new. Mr. Ferland told the inspection
team a new alarm panel and overflow detection system for the tank was installed following the oil
spill.
Inspector Canzano presented his credentials and requested permission to conduct a site inspection.
Mr. Ferland was argumentative, and reluctantly granted access. Inspector Canzano attempted to
explain, several times, the purpose of the inspection but Mr. Ferland stepped away from the
conversation.
Inspector Canzano asked Mr. Ferland if the Facility, as previously requested, had an oil SPCC plan
and / or tank inspection records. Mr. Ferland did not answer the question initially but eventually
said no. Inspector Canzano asked Mr. Ferland if he has knowledge of the federal oil storage
regulations. Mr. Ferland did not answer the question. Inspector Canzano attempted to explain the
capacity applicability requirement associated with the regulation to Mr. Ferland. Inspector
Canzano informed Mr. Ferland that the Facility (his mill building / complex) was required to have a
federal SPCC plan, and, if he owns / operates aboveground oil tank / s at another location / s, an SPCC
plan may be required for those location / s.
3 The room door has a keypad lock.
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Inspector Canzano asked Mr. Ferland to explain what he knew about the spill. Mr. Ferland said he
didn't know what happened, and that he and other property owners in the area were notified of the
spill by the Town of Lewiston.
Inspector Canzano asked Mr. Ferland who discovered the oil spill in the mill boiler room. He said
he didn't know, but he thought it was the Town. Mr. Ferland said he called Mr. John Luongo, DEP
On - Scene Coordinator (" OSC ") once he became aware of the spill.
Inspector Canzano was informed by OSC Luongo that the tank overfill audible alarm / horn may not
have been working and the oil offloading / delivery activity may have caused the tank to overflow.
Inspector Canzano asked Mr. Ferland the name of the oil delivery company. Mr. Ferland said
Fielding's Oil Company.
Mr. Ferland and the inspection team walked outside to the oil tank fill cabinet. Mr. Ferland showed
inspectors a newly installed tank over fill visual and audible alarm panel and the cabinet. Mr.
Ferland indicated that the fill port / pipe connection is inside the cabinet, which is locked, and he
doesn't have the key to open the cabinet. Inspector Canzano asked Mr. Ferland to test / check the
alarm system. Mr. Ferland tested the alarm, and the light and horn activated. Inspector Canzano
asked Mr. Ferland if the oil delivery company, prior to filling the tank, checked the oil level in the
tank. Mr. Ferland did not answer the question. Inspector Canzano informed Mr. Ferland that
industrial standards recommend an overfill alarm be tested once per month and prior to oil being
introduced into the tank. Inspector Canzano asked if the smaller alarm panel, located next to the
tank vent pipe at the top of the wall, was the old alarm panel. Mr. Ferland said he did not know,
walked away from the conversation, and returned to the boiler room.
The oil tank's fill cabinet was located on the tank room exterior wall (the north wall). Transfer
piping passed through the wall cavity from the cabinet into the tank room. The cabinet was located
within 50 feet of a storm drain. Inspector Canzano was informed by OSC Luongo that oil was not
detected in the storm drain on the day of the spill. Oil transfer procedures are described on the
cover of the cabinet. The ground area below the cabinet was stained from oil leaks. Oil staining in
the area should be cleaned, and an active spill prevention measure should be implemented
below / under the cabinet.
The inspection team returned to the boiler room. Mr. Ferland pointed to a set of stairs that lead to a
room with the tank from which the oil spilled. The tank was a single wall aboveground heating oil
tank. Inspector Canzano asked what the capacity of the tank was. Mr. Ferland said it was 8,000
gallons and the mill boilers can burn both natural gas and heating oil. Inspector Canzano asked if
there was oil in the tank. Mr. Ferland said yes. Inspector Canzano asked Mr. Ferland if he knew
which day Fielding's Oil Company delivered the oil to the tank before the November 2, 2023,
spill. Mr. Ferland said he did not know.
The tank room dimension is estimated to be 42-feet long by 18-feet wide (756-square feet). Based
on the foundation system, the tank room appeared to be an addition to the boiler room building.
The room's foundation walls on three sides are poured concrete, and the fourth / south wall is to the
boiler room building. The concrete foundation and floor system to the tank room building and the
stone foundation and brick wall to the boiler room building are being used, collectively, as a spill
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containment system. The floor and wall connection between the tank room and the boiler room
foundation system may not have been sealed. Cracks and breaks in the concrete floor were
observed and documented. OSC Luongo indicated at the time of the response that the room had
about 3-inches of product / oil on the floor.
Inspector Canzano asked Mr. Ferland if the tank room floor or walls had been evaluated for
integrity since the spill. Mr. Ferland did not provide an answer. Inspector Canzano attempted to
explain the secondary containment requirement for single wall tanks, but Mr. Ferland stepped
away from the conversation.
Mr. Ferland and Inspector Canzano climbed the stairs to the platform on the top of the tank. Mr.
Ferland showed Inspector Canzano a newly installed overfill probe and wiring, tank liquid level
Petrometer gauge, transfer pumps and piping for boilers, and the manway connection where oil
leaked from the tank. Inspector Canzano observed oil in open containers and piping and pumps
leaking. Inspector Canzano recommended that equipment leaks be repaired, and all open oil
storage containers be sealed / covered or emptied at the end of the day into a container approved for
storing oil (i.e., a 55-gallon drum). According to the tank liquid level gauge, about 12,514-gallons
of heating oil was in the tank at the time of the inspection. Along a section of the tank room west
wall and ceiling, Inspector Canzano observed oil staining and spills. Inspector Canzano asked Mr.
Ferland if he knew about the oil staining, but Mr. Ferland did not provide an answer.
At about 11:00 a.m., Mr. Ferland informed Inspector Canzano that he did not expect the inspection
was going to take up so amount time and he was leaving. Inspector Canzano informed Mr. Ferland
that the inspection was not over, and that additional information was needed. Inspector Canzano
also informed Mr. Ferland that the Facility needs a SPCC plan, and the tank containment system
required an evaluation for integrity. However, Mr. Ferland proceeded to begin walking out of the
building. Before Mr. Ferland left, Inspector Canzano asked if he could stay and take more pictures,
but Mr. Ferland did not answer and walked out of the building.
The inspection team ended the inspection and left the building. The team then drove to locations
where oil spill recovery operations occurred.
End of inspection report.
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