ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
February
27,
1973
CITY OF GRANITE CITY
PCB 72—184
PCB 72—371
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
OPINION AND ORDER OF THE BOARD
(by Mr. Dumelle):
This case involves two separate petitions for variance which
have been consolidated.
The first
(72—184)
requests a variance
from Rule 405 of the Illinois Water Pollution Regulations which
requires that no effluent shall exceed 400 fecal coliforms per
100 ml after July 31,
1972.
The second
(72—371) requests a varianc
from Rule 404(b) (i) which requires that the effluent shall not exc~
20 mg/l BOD and 25 mg/l suspended solids after December 31,
1973.
Hearing was held on January 26,
1973.
The Granite City sewage treatment plant
is primary only and
discharges indirectly to the Mississippi River.
It serves
a
popula
tion of 40,000 persons, but due to the loading from industrial
sources,
it has a population equivalent of around 230,000.
The
average daily flow is 10,039,500 gallons.
The plant removal
efficiency for total organic suspended solids is 60 per cent.
The
design capacity of the plant
is
20 mgd.
The plant consists of an
aerated grit removal tank, primary sedimentation and vacuum sludge
filtration.
The Agency has conducted investigations and has taken samples
the primary effluent showing high levels of BOD, suspended solids
and fecal coliform.
On October
21, 1971 there was 470 mg/l BOD,
290 mg/l ss and 190,000,000/100 ml fecal coliform.
On November 16,
1971 there was 700 mg/l HOD,
460 mg/l SS and 80,000,000/100 ml fecal
coliform.
On March 21, 1972 there was 410 mg/l HOD,
270 mg/l SS and
110,000,000/100 ml fecal coliform.
On May
2,
1972 there was 9,900,0
100 ml fecal coliform.
On June 27, 1972 there was 690 mg/l BOD,
350
mg/l SS and 140,000,000/100 ml fecal coliform.
The proposed additions to the plant include preaeration, addi-
tional primary sedimentation,activated sludge secondary treatment,
chlorination, sludge heat treatment and incineration, primary treat-
ment of combined sewer overflow up to
23 mgd and chlorination
of
combined overflow up to 23 mgd.
Since January of
1971 the City has
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taken certain steps
to comply.
An engineering consultant was retained,
a preliminary report was prepared and final plans were drawn for the
plant additions.
The City’s engineer submitted a project completion
schedule in accordance with Rule 1002
to the Agency on August 31,
1972.
The engineer estimated that the earliest date for operation of
secondary facilities with plant startup and final adjustments would
be March
1,
1975.
The City alleges that in order
to meet the
December 31,
1973 deadline there would have to be an around—the-clock
operation which would create an additional cost of $2½
to
$5 million
to the project.
Construction bids have been received but none has
been accepted yet.
There is some conflicting testimony regarding interim chlorination.
The City’s engineer claims that it would not be very practical because
most of the interim equipment would not be easily incorporated into
the final design.
The engineer did not, however, have any actual
estimate of
the costs involved for interim chlorination.
The engineer
did testify that the interim equipment could be located
in a place
so as not to interfere with the construction of the new plant.
A representative of
the Federal EPA also testified at the hearing.
Be stated that
a 180 day notice hearing had already been held before
his Agency and that interim disinfection at Granite City was an
immediate necessity.
He stated that such facilities can be provided
on a temporary basis within a two month period by utilizing the
construction adaptability and ingenuity shown by many heavy equipment
contractors
in housing their stationary operating equipment.
The
major cost of the facility would be the operational cost of the
chlorine itself.
lie
said that
a competent equipment manufacturer and
engineer for that company could,
in one-half day,
adequately locate
the components on
a ten by ten foot wooden frame
slab and that this
would be adequate for up to two years.
An engineer for the State Agency testified that the travel time for
the effluent in the present outfall pipe is from twelve to thirteen
minutes and that this would be an adequate time in which to chlorinate
the effluent within the outfall pipe itself so that no separate contact
chamber would be necessary.
We find that a variance from the secondary treatment deadline of
December 31, 1973
is warranted in this case.
At this point we will
only grant the variance for one year from the date of
this opinion
and order.
During that time we will observe the Cityts progress and
extend the variance at a later date if appropriate.
We will not,
however, grant a variance from the disinfec~on requirement.
We
feel
that interim disinfection is appropriate, necessary and feasible at
the present time and that no need for a variance exists.
The bacterial
count
is much too high to be continued unabated.
This opinion constitutes the Board’s findings of fact and
conclusion of law.
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ORDER
1.
A variance of one year, expiring February 27,
1974,
is granted
to petitioner from Rule 404 (b) (i)
subject to the following
conditions:
(a)
Petitioner shall report monthly to the Agency.
regarding its progress on the proposed facilities.
(b)
Application for extension of this variance shall be made
at least 90 days prior to its expiration date.
2.
The request for variance from Rule 405 is denied.
3.
As stated in the interim order entered herein on February
6,
1973,
petitioner is granted a variance from Section 921
(d)
of
the Illinois Water Pollution Regulations which requires
that a Project Completion Schedule be approved before a per-
mit can be issued by the Agency.
This does not, however,
excuse the filing of such Schedule altogether;
it is only
permission
to issue the permit prior to that time.
I, Christan L. Moffett, Clerk of the Illinois Pollution Control Board,
certify that the abo e Opinion and Order was adopted by the Board on
the ~~7~day
of
‘~7~’
,
1973,
by a vote of
3
to
0
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.
.