Document QgvjV3m3Evx8gLEjE1gQvgVEL

U.S. EPA, Region 5 Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division 77 West Jackson Street, Chicago, IL 60604 UNPERMITTED INDUSTRIAL FACILITY STORMWATER INSPECTION REPORT Inspection Date(s): Time: Weather Conditions: Media/Program: 5/3/2022 Entry: 9:40 AM Exit: 10:35 AM Light rain, Temperature 45oF Water - CWA 301, 402 - Industrial Stormwater Operator Name: Owner Name: Facility or Site Name: Permit ID or Tracking # (leave blank if no permit): SIC Code(s) (Primary & Relevant Others): Facility Address: (City, State, Zip Code) County: Geographic Coordinates: Operator Mailing address: Owner Mailing address: Regular Days/Hours of Operation: # of Employees at location: Size of Facility (in acres): Receiving Water(s): Date facility est. @ location: Welch Bros., INC. Brad Welch Welch Bros., INC. 3441 333 Hammond Ave. Elgin, IL Cook and Kane Counties Lat/Long: 42.015294, -88.271280 1050 St. Charles Street, P.O. Box 749, Elgin, IL 60121-0749 1050 St. Charles Street, P.O. Box 749, Elgin, IL 60121-0749 6:00 am - 4:00 pm, Monday - Saturday 11 4 acres Poplar Creek Onsite Representative: Name: Brad Welch Title: Owner Authorized Official: Name: Nick Martinec Contacted? Yes No Title: Operations Manager Additional Personnel Participating in Inspection: Name: Title: Phone #: 847-741-6134 Email: Phone #: 847-741-6134 Email:nmartinec@welchbrothers.com Inspector(s): Name(s): Andi Hodaj Matthew Schulte Inspection Report Author: Name: Andi Hodaj Supervisor Review: Name: Molly Smith Title: Environmental Engineer Physical Scientist Phone #: 312-353-4645 312-886-2405 Signature/Date: Digitally signed by ANDI ANDI HODAJ HODAJ Date: 2022.05.12 05:53:35 -05'00' Signature/Date: MOLLY SMITH Digitally signed by MOLLY SMITH Date: 2022.05.13 13:36:47 -05'00' Welch Brothers, Inc. May 3, 2022 SECTION I - INTRODUCTION Purpose of the Inspection The purpose of the inspection was to determine compliance with the industrial stormwater requirements under 301 and 402(p) of the CWA and its implementing regulations found at 40 CFR Part 122.26. The inspection was (check one) unannounced announced and consisted of interviewing facility representatives, recording field observations, and taking photographs to document site conditions throughout the facility at the time of the inspection. Opening Conference 1) Brief narrative documenting those present, introductions, and explanation of the purpose of the inspection. Attendees: Andi Hodaj and Matthew Schulte, US EPA Brad Welch and Nick Martinec, Welch Bros., Inc. Andi Hodaj and Matthew Schulte (Collectively, EPA) introduced themselves and showed the inspector credentials to Mr. Welch and Mr. Martinec. EPA explained the purpose of the inspection and asked for some information on the operations taking place at the facility. EPA asked for permission to do a walkthrough of the outdoor area of the facility and take photographs. 2) Credentials presented to: __Brad Welch and Nick Martinec______________________________ 3) Confidential Business Information (CBI) reviewed: yes no 4) Facility has been individually notified by Permit authority or EPA that it is subject to stormwater permitting requirements? Yes No Describe: 5) Has the Facility applied for an Industrial Stormwater Permit or a Waiver from the requirement to have one (such as through the filing of a No Exposure Certification)? Yes No Describe: 6) Overview of Facility (attach, if available): a) Aerial of facility with immediate environs, especially any storm drain inlets and surface waters Yes No; b) Site map showing industrial processes and locations Yes No; and c) Facility schematics labeling industrial processes occurring onsite Yes No. 2 Welch Brothers, Inc. May 3, 2022 FACILITY'S OPERATION & PRODUCT DESCRIPTION Brief description of business and industrial activities occurring throughout the site. Include operator's description and note any documentation that further establishes SIC code (permit applications, reports, business registries, website, etc). Facility fabricates steel. It gels raw steel, bends it, cuts it and sends out to a third party galvanizer if needed or, sell it to customers. Other industrial facilities owned/operated by same business entity? Yes No Describe: Facility operates a retail store next to the steel fabrication facility. The retail store sells concrete and plastic septic tanks, PVC pipes, steel mesh, rolled mesh, metal pipes and corrugated pipes for culverts. Most are stored in outdoors uncovered areas and there is some stored in covered areas. SECTION II - OBSERVATIONS Pollutant Sources SITE EVALUATION Note location (including whether occurring indoor or outdoor, and whether outdoor areas are paved or unpaved), quantity/size, design issues, any operation and maintenance (O&M) deficiencies (including the nature and extent), potential pollutants, and evidence of exposure to stormwater. Are best management practices (BMPs) in place to minimize or eliminate stormwater discharges from industrial activities? If so, please describe. Loading/Unloading Operations None observed. Industrial Manufacturing/ Processing Operations None observed. None observed. Industrial Machinery & Equipment Storage 3 Welch Brothers, Inc. May 3, 2022 Storage of Industrial Materials or Products Steel is stored outdoors at the steel fabrication facility. The retail facility stored concrete and plastic septic tanks, PVC pipes, steel mesh, rolled mesh, metal pipes and corrugated pipes for culverts in its outdoor area. EPA observed two Duogard Citrus oil tanks under a covered area at the retail facility that had Liquid Storage (e.g., Tanks, Liquid secondary containment. Storage Drums) Pollutant Sources Note location (including whether occurring indoor or outdoor, and whether outdoor areas are paved or unpaved), quantity/size, design issues, any O&M deficiencies (including the nature and extent), potential pollutants, and evidence of exposure to stormwater. Are BMPs in place to minimize or eliminate stormwater discharges from industrial activities? If so, please describe. Waste Storage/Disposal Areas (solid and/or hazardous) None observed. Waste Treatment Facilities (e.g., Pretreatment Systems) None observed. Fueling Stations/Equipment Maintenance Areas & Cleaning Areas None observed. Sediment & Erosion Controls None observed. Spills/Leaks Handling N/A 4 Outside Shelters Temporary (Date Established___________________) Permanent N/A Welch Brothers, Inc. May 3, 2022 OUTFALL, STORMWATER DISCHARGE & RECEIVING WATER OBSERVATIONS List any established stormwater discharge points. For each such discharge point, describe its location, the Facility areas it serves, Receiving Water/MS4 into which it discharges, Receiving Water appearance, date the discharge point was established, and evidence of present or past discharge (e.g., Facility records or visual evidence such as stains, deposits, ponding). There were two stormwater manholes at the steel fabrication facility that according to the company's representative, flow into the City of Elgin stormwater sewers. Note evidence of any discharge pathways from the Facility not otherwise noted above, and for each pathway, describe its location, slope, the Facility areas it may serve, evidence of past or present migration of pollutants offsite via the pathway (e.g., Facility records or visual evidence such as stains, deposits, ponding), Receiving Water/MS4, and Receiving Water appearance. EPA observed pathways to the Poplar Creek from outdoor areas of the facility but there was no exposed material that pollute the stormwater except for some plastic bags and bottles at the outdoor retail store. Note evidence of any nonstormwater discharges, including process water discharges, from the Facility, and for any such discharge, describe its nature, source, discharge location, Receiving Water/MS4, Receiving Water appearance, and discharge authorization, if any. None observed. SECTION III - AREAS OF CONCERN CITATION DESCRIPTION SUPPORTING INFORMATION SECTION IV - CLOSING CONFERENCE 5 Welch Brothers, Inc. May 3, 2022 Attendees: Andi Hodaj, Matthew Schulte both of US EPA and Nick Martinec of Welch Bros., Inc. Was CBI collected? Yes No Describe: Summary of areas of concern(s) listed above: EPA observed some steel products on the banks of the Poplar Creek that could potentially fall into the Poplar Creek if the tree holding them broke or was uprooted during a highwater situation. EPA observed some trash (plastic bags and bottles) along the property line and on the banks of the Poplar Creek, on the retail side of the facility. Explanation of next steps: The final inspection report will typically be sent to the facility within 70 days. EPA has the option to offer expedited settlement agreements where facilities meet certain criteria. SECTION V - LIST OF ATTACHMENTS (as identified in #6 above, where applicable) Attachment A - Aerial of facility Attachment B - Photograph Log 6 Welch Brothers, Inc. EPA Inspection 5/3/2022 All photos taken by Andi Hodaj, Environmental Engineer, U.S. EPA Camera: RICOH WG-4 1: RIMG2606 Description: Steel products stored on the concrete yard of Welch Brothers Inc. Location: 333 Hammond Street, Elgin, IL Camera Direction: East Date/Time: 5/3/2022 Page 1 Welch Brothers, Inc. May 3, 2022 2: RIMG2607 Description: Steel products stored on the concrete yard of Welch Brothers Inc. Location: 333 Hammond Street, Elgin, IL Camera Direction: East Date/Time: 5/3/2022 3: RIMG2608 Description: Steel products stored close to the banks of Poplar Creek. Location: 333 Hammond Street, Elgin, IL Camera Direction: West Date/Time: 5/3/2022 Page 2 Welch Brothers, Inc. May 3, 2022 4: RIMG2609 Description: Steel products and wooden palletes stored on the yard of Welch Brothers Inc. Location: 333 Hammond Street, Elgin, IL Camera Direction: West Date/Time: 5/3/2022 5: RIMG2610 Description: Indoor storage area with buckets filled steel material. Location: 333 Hammond Street, Elgin, IL Camera Direction: East Date/Time: 5/3/2022 Page 3 Welch Brothers, Inc. May 3, 2022 6: RIMG2611 Description: Steel products and wooden palletes stored on the yard on the banks of Poplar Creek. Location: 333 Hammond Street, Elgin, IL Camera Direction: East Date/Time: 5/3/2022 7: RIMG2612 Description: Concrete and wooden material on the retail facility's yard. Location: 333 Hammond Street, Elgin, IL Camera Direction: North Date/Time: 5/3/2022 Page 4 Welch Brothers, Inc. May 3, 2022 8: RIMG2613 Description: Concrete and wooden material on the retail facility's yard. Location: 333 Hammond Street, Elgin, IL Camera Direction: North Date/Time: 5/3/2022 9: RIMG2614 Description: Pile of steel product leaning agains a tree on the south bank of Poplar Creek. Location: 333 Hammond Street, Elgin, IL Camera Direction: North Date/Time: 5/3/2022 Page 5 Welch Brothers, Inc. May 3, 2022 10: RIMG2615 Description: Gravel yard at the retail store and covered storage structure. Location: 333 Hammond Street, Elgin, IL Camera Direction: South Date/Time: 5/3/2022 11: RIMG2616 Description: Tanks contains Duoguard Citrus oil used on concrete products. Location: 333 Hammond Street, Elgin, IL Camera Direction: South Date/Time: 5/3/2022 Page 6 Welch Brothers, Inc. May 3, 2022 12: RIMG2617 Description: PVC pipes and plastic bags at the retail store in an area surrounded by concrete blocks next to Poplar Creek. Location: 333 Hammond Street, Elgin, IL Camera Direction: Northeast Date/Time: 5/3/2022 13: RIMG2618 Description: Steel products close to the banks of Poplar Creek at the retail store. Location: 333 Hammond Street, Elgin, IL Camera Direction: Northeast Date/Time: 5/3/2022 Page 7 Welch Brothers, Inc. May 3, 2022