DISCLAIMER

The full text of certain NPDES permits and the associated fact sheets has been made available to 

provide online access to this public information. EPA is making permits and fact sheets available 

electronically to provide convenient access for interested public parties and as a reference for 

permit writers. The ownership of these documents lies with the permitting authority, typically a 

State with an authorized NPDES program. 

While EPA makes every effort to ensure that this web site remains current and contains the final 

version of the active permit, we cannot guarantee it is so. For example, there may be some delay 

in posting modifications made after a permit is issued. Also note that not all active permits are 

currently available electronically. Only permits and fact sheets for which the full text has been 

provided to Headquarters by the permitting authority may be made available. Headquarters has 

requested the full text only for permits as they are issued or reissued, beginning November 1, 

2002. 

Please contact the appropriate permitting authority (either a State or EPA Regional office) prior to 

acting on this information to ensure you have the most up-to-date permit and/or fact sheet. EPA 

recognizes the official version of a permit or fact sheet to be the version designated as such and 

appropriately stored by the respective permitting authority. 

The documents are gathered from all permitting authorities, and all documents thus obtained are 

made available electronically, with no screening for completeness or quality. Thus, availability 

on the website does not constitute endorsement by EPA. 
 Permit No. MI0001368 

FACT SHEET 

PERMITTEE/FACILITY NAME: U.S. Silica Company / U.S. Silica Company 

COUNTY: Wayne 

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES: 

The sand slurry is pumped by pipeline to a storage pile. The wet sand is fed through wet 

processing and then to dry processing. Contaminated process waters are fed through a series 

of settling ponds. Finish water from these ponds is reused in the plant. Overflow from the final 

pond is discharged. The sand mine dewatering water and limestone mine dewatering water 

flow through settling basins prior to discharge. 

Facility Planar Coordinates: 

MAP OF DISCHARGE LOCATION: SE1/4, NE1/4, Section 15, Town 5 S, Range 10E 

Berlin Township, WAYNE COUNTY 

Outfall 001 

Outfall 002 

Outfall 003 
US Silica Co 

Fact Sheet 

Page 2 

RECEIVING WATER: 

The Huron River and Silver Creek are protected for agricultural uses, navigation, industrial 

water supply, public water supply at the point of water intake, warm-water fish, other indigenous 

aquatic life and wildlife, partial body contact recreation, and total body contact recreation (May 

through October). 

The receiving stream flow for the Huron River used to develop effluent limitations is a 

95 percent exceedance flow of 84 cfs. 

The receiving stream flow for Silver Creek used to develop effluent limitations is a 95 percent 

exceedance flow of 0.3 cfs. 

MIXING ZONE: 

For toxic pollutants, the volume of the Huron River for Outfall 001 or Silver Creek for 

Outfalls 002 and 003 used in assuring that effluent limitations are sufficiently stringent to meet 

Water Quality Standards is 25 percent of the applicable design flow of the receiving stream. 

For other pollutants, the volume of the Huron River for Outfall 001 or Silver Creek for 

Outfalls 002 and 003 used in assuring that effluent limitations are sufficiently stringent to meet 

Water Quality Standards is the applicable design flow of the receiving stream. 

EXISTING EFFLUENT QUALITY: (from application received on August 13, 1999, and DMR 

data from January 1, 1993, to December 31, 1998) 

 Minimum Maximum Maximum 

Parameter Daily Monthly Daily Units 

Outfall 001 

Flow – No discharge since 1990 

Total Suspended Solids 12 mg/l 

Hydrogen Sulfide 2 μg/l 

pH 7.8 7.8 standard units 

Dissolved Oxygen 7.6 mg/l 

Outfall 002 

Flow 11.5 MGD 

Total Suspended Solids 22 mg/l 

Hydrogen Sulfide 96 μg/l 

pH 6.6 8.1 standard units 

Dissolved Oxygen 5.7 mg/l 

Outfall 003 

Flow 0.82 MGD 

Total Suspended Solids 13 mg/l 

Hydrogen Sulfide 57 μg/l 

pH 6.6 7.7 standard units 

Dissolved Oxygen 3.1 mg/l 
US Silica Co 

Fact Sheet 

Page 3 

The previous information is from the fact sheet published August 6, 2000. The DMR data 

from March 1, 2004, through April 30, 2005, contains the following information. 

 Minimum Maximum Maximum 

Parameter Daily Monthly Daily Units 

Outfall 001 – No discharge during this period 

Outfall 002 

Flow 7.44 7.44 MGD 

Total Suspended Solids 24 52 mg/l 

1323 2815 lbs/day 

Hydrogen Sulfide <30 μg/l 

pH 7.3 8.0 standard units 

Dissolved Oxygen 8.0 mg/l 

Outfall 003 – No Discharge during this period 

PROPOSED EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS: (see draft permit) 

BASIS FOR PROPOSED EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS: 

Based on this facility's application for an NPDES discharge permit, the Michigan Department of 

Environmental Quality proposes to issue the applicant a permit to discharge, subject to effluent 

limitations and certain other conditions within the permit. Effluent limitations and/or monitoring 

requirements for hydrogen sulfide, dissolved sulfides, temperature, conductivity, dissolved 

oxygen, pH, total dissolved solids, chronic toxicity, acute toxicity, total strontium, total lithium, 

chlorides, sulfate, and outfall observation are based on water quality. Effluent limitations for 

total suspended solids are based on treatment technology and antibacksliding. Flow monitoring 

is based on permit writer’s judgment. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: 

The draft permit is the result of negotiations on the permit issued September 27, 2000, that has 

been withdrawn. The draft permit contains negotiated permit requirements and permit 

language. 

REGISTER OF INTERESTED PERSONS 

Any person interested in a particular application or group of applications, may leave his/her 

name, address, and telephone number as part of the file for an application. The list of names 

will be maintained as a means for persons with an interest in an application to contact others 

with similar interests. 
US Silica Co 

Fact Sheet 

Page 4 

PUBLIC COMMENT 

Comments or objections to the draft permit received between August 19, 2005, and 

September 19, 2005, will be considered in the final decision to issue the permit. 

If submitted comments indicate significant public interest in the application or if useful 

information may be produced, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, at its 

discretion, may hold a public hearing on the application. Any person may request the Michigan 

Department of Environmental Quality to hold a public hearing on the application. The request 

should include specific reasons for the request, indicating which portions of the application or 

draft permit constitutes the need for a hearing. 

Public notice of a hearing will be provided at least thirty (30) days in advance. The hearing will 

normally be held in the vicinity of the discharge. The Michigan Department of Environmental 

Quality will consider comments made at the hearing when making its final determinations on the 

permit. Further information regarding the draft permit, and procedures for commenting or 

requesting a public hearing may be obtained by contacting Jude Woodcock, Permits Section, 

Water Bureau, Department of Environmental Quality, P.O. Box 30273, Lansing, Michigan, 

48909, telephone: 517-373-1329 email: woodcocj@michigan.gov.