iLLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD

August 18, 1977

INC.,

2

~titioner,

W’ECTION AGENCY,

~ondent.

PCB 77—149

OF

THE

BOARD (by Mr. Goodman)

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977,

Petitioner CPC International, Inc. (CPC)

before the Board requesting variance from Rule

ter

Regulations (Chapter 3) until November 1, 1979,

i

g

ater

discharge at its Pekin, Illinois plant.

ne a~

Protection Agency filed its Recommendation on

hearing has been held in this matter.

d operates a wet corn milling plant which dis-

linois River. The dilution ratio, is approximately

a

ises

approximately 20 million gallons of water per

oling. CPC’s petition indicates that since 1966

undertaken a program of in-plant changes to reduce

lant cooling water, which have resulted in a

inpi~vement in BOD cooling water discharges. These

a ned

in the variance petition.

~1eterminedthat the source of over half of the

Ic g

t BOD

cooling water discharge is corn sweetener

rc±iiery

o~ Lrs,

CPC has recently installed entrainment

3eparat

t

apparently the failure of the entrainment separa-

tors

tc

e ~‘y scrub the vapor stream causes the violation

of thc

R

4 4

)

(ii) BOD standard. The Agency indicates that

tna effi

c~

I such devices is frequently not readily predic-

table C°

Jso

retained consultants to conduct a detailed

study of r~i c king

water sewers, to measure flow rates in the

various f ar~~I and

to determine if there are any major losses

I

rorr sot, es o

r

~r

than evaporators which have not been detected.

Because of the -ge

of the plant, which was built in the 1890’s,

in some •ases

e precise locations and configurations of the

sewers arc an no~ni,

The study was due to be completed by June 17,

l977~.

-

---

—2—

CPC now intends to undertake a major equipment repIaccnei~

program to achieve compliance, replacing the corn sweetener

refinery barometric condensers serving the evaporators with

surface condensers. CPC also intends to undertake certain evapo-~

rator modifications and replacement of a cooling water pump. Tne

cost of condenser conversion alone, excluding the other moditi~

cations, is estimated to be about four million dollars. CPC

included a completion schedule with its petition, which indicates

that completion is expected by November 1, 1979. The Agency agrees

that the proposed schedule is reasonable in light of the complexi~

ties involved.

In 1976 and for the first four months of 1977, the arerage

BOD discharge from the P?kin plant was 32 mg/I. CPC~s cooling

water flow is ofiiy approximately 1 of the river’s 10 year ~os~

f low of 1938.8 MGD, Under normal river conditions, the percentagc.

contribution is, of course, much less. CPC therefore alleges, and

the Agency agrees, that any adverse environmental impact resulting

from the grant of this variance would be minimal.

The Board finds that, based upon CPC’s diligence

ii

a ~ruct

irig water pollution abatement facilities and the minimal adverse

environmental impact caused by the temporary continuance of this

discharge, an arbitrary and unreasonable hardship would be created

by denial of this variance, The Board hereby grants CPC ~ar~ance

from Rule 404(b) (ii) as it relates to BOD until November 1, 1979

subject to the conditions detailed below.

The Board notes that the Agency recommends that the Board

order CPC to meet the applicable Best Practicable

Treatmcr.t

(BPT)

limitations dete~minedunder federal law. However, as we noted in

Cit of Quinc v, EPA, PCB 77-102, the U.S. EPA is the appropriate

Agency to etermine and enforce BPT limitations.

This variance

is granted to the extent consistent with applicable federal law

as determined by the U.S. EPA.

This Opinion constitutes the findings of fact and coralusions

of law of the Board in this matter.

ORDER

It is the Order of the Pollution Control Board that CPC

International, Inc. be granted variance from the BOD effluent

standard of Rule 404(b) (ii) of Chapter

3

until November 1, 19 9,

---

subject to the following conditions:

1. CPC shall adhere to the schedule of compliance for its

Sugar Refinery Cooling Water Revisions as outlined in Exhibit A

to the Petition for Variance, which Exhibit as incorporated by

reference as

if fully set forth herein.

2. CPC shall, beginning January 1, 1978, report quarterly

to the Agency and to the Board its progress in achieving compli-

Mr. Dumelle concurs.

I, Christan L. Moffett, Clerk

of the

Illinois Pollution Control

Board hereby certify the pbove Opinion and Order were adopted on

the (~‘ day of

,

1977 by a vote of ~‘p

Illinois Pollution