Document VDXw6nrZr7J6Kmy8nQqqrwzo

Conoco Chemicals Company Conoco Inc. P. O. Box 91. New Highway 25 Aberdeen. Mississippi 39730 (901)369-8111 April 18, 1983 Hr. Robert Kay Industrial Waste Water Control Section Mississippi Department Of Natural Resources Bureau of Pollution Control P. 0. Box 10385 Jackson, MS 39209 Dear Mr. May: This letter is to confirm the wastewater bypass which I reported to you by phone on April 14, 1983. The Plant recently began operation of a Pond 1 resin reclaim system which pumps out and recycles PVC resin that is collected in the Pond 1 basins. During startup of this operation it was discovered that the walls of Pond 1 have inadequate support when the basins are emptied, therefore the Plant decided to Install appropriate wall supports. The supports consist of large concrete pilings which will be tied to the walls underground. When the concrete pilings were being installed, the contractors who worked on the job were told that they could pump rain water out of the construction area and down the embankment to James Creek. On April 13 the contractors were also told that if they needed to pump out a basin in order to a wall support tie-in, the wastewater must be pumped to the adjacent basin. On April 14 the contractors needed to drill through the west basin wall in order to mount the west wall support, however the water level in the west basin was above the level of the wall support. The contractors then proceeded to pump wastewater out of the west basin and down the embankment to James Creek without the knowledge or .approval of Plant supervision.' At approximately 9:30 a.m. the activity was discovered by Plant personnel and the pumps were shut off immediately. We estimate that 10,000 gallons of raw wastewater were discharged to James Creek during the incident. On the night of April 13 there were heavy rains in the Aberdeen area, and the water level In James Creek at the time of the Incident was approxi mately 10 feet above the normal water level. We believe that the large flow of water in James Creek should have diluted the wastewater discharge substantially, thereby reducing any Impact on the Creek to a minimum. If you have any questions concerning this report, please contact me at 369-8111, extension 2285. Sincerely, Dave Mahler Environmental Engineer be: ' JF, CRH, CRS, RAF. VEM, JCL \ VAB.0001122710"