Document g05aj56GZMO4VaE3xJROrJQe
DATE: SUBJECT: FROM: THRO: TO:
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGIONS
77 WEST JACKSON BOULEVARD CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60604
MAY 2 1 2019
CLEAN AIR ACT INSPECTION REPORT H01mel Foods, Beloit, Wisconsin
Kenneth Ruffatto, Environmental Engineer AECAB (IL/IN)
Nathan Frank, Section Chief AECAB (IL/IN)
File
BASIC INFORMATION
Facility Name: Hormel Foods
Facility Location: 3000 Kennedy Drive, Beloit, Wisconsin
Date of Inspection: April 11, 2019
EPA Inspector(s): 1. Kenneth Ruffatto, Environmental Engineer 2. Sasha Letuchy, Environmental Engineer
Other Attendees 1. Robert Weilbrenner, Beloit Project Engineer, Hom1el Foods 2. Jon Thiering, Engineering Tech, Hormel Foods
Contact Email Address: n-weilbrenner@ho1mel.com
Purpose of Inspection: Opacity inspection based off of visible emissions when driving by the facility
Facility Type: Food Company
Arrival Time: approximately 2:45 PM Departure Time: 3: 15 PM
Inspection Type: IZl Unaimounced Inspection
D Announced Inspection
OPENING CONFERENCE
IZl Credentials Presented IZl CBI warning to facility provided
The following information was obtained verbally from Bonnel Foods staff unless otherwise noted.
Process Description: Bonnel Foods creates a wide variety of food products including salsas, chilis, hashes, etc. The facility is set up so that areas can be switched out when new products need to be produced. Hmmel has boilers used to provide steam for the facility. Natural gas is used as the primary fuel for the boilers, but #2 fuel oil may be used in instances when the natural gas cannot be fed to the boiler.
Staff Interview: Hormel Foods operates under a registration air pennit # 154004290-ROPA. EPA noticed high opacity corning from a stack at the plant while driving on I-90 and performed a brief inspection. Hormel Foods stated that they had a gas valve failure at their #3 boiler causing them to switch over to #2 fuel oil around l :00PM which caused the high opacity. This is not a typical occurrence at the boilers.
TOUR INFORMATION
EPA toured the facility: No
Data Collected and Observations: EPA observed high opacity (>50%) corning from the boiler #3 stack at Hormel Food's facility. EPA was unable to take a photo or Method 9 opacity readings due to the location of the plant.
Photos and/or Videos: were not taken during the inspection.
Field Measurements: were not taken during this inspection.
CLOSING CONFERENCE
Requested documents: Emailed explanation of the cause of the opacity Pictures of the stack once adjustments were made to decrease opacity
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Compliance Assistance: EPA informed Hormel Foods that they had excessive opacity coming from their boiler #3 stack, though EPA did not perform Method 9 opacity readings.
SIGNATURES
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