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December 20, 2005

Via Electronic Mail

Ms. Janet K. Goodwin 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

1200 Pennsylvania Ave, NW 

Mail Code 4303T

Washington DC 20460

Re: Information on NPDES Permits for Dioxin Releases From VCCA 

Facilities 

Dear Ms. Goodwin:

Following up on our November 16, 2005 meeting, the Vinyl Institute Inc. (VI) is 

attaching information on National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits 

held by the top 10 dischargers of dioxin and dioxin-like compounds (dioxin) to water among 

vinyl chloride / chloralkali (VCCA) manufacturing sites as reported in EPA’s Toxics Release 

Inventory (TRI) for 2003.1 

We continue to believe that Water Quality-Based Effluent Limits (WQBEL) permit 

assistance to EPA Region 6 States is one way to address the Agency’s effluent guideline (ELG) 

concerns with respect to dioxin discharges from the VCCA segment of the organic chemicals, 

plastics, and synthetic fibers (OCPSF) and Inorganic Chemicals categories. In addition, Total 

Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) requirements are being developed for several waterbodies in 

Region 6 and nationwide, and these should further address EPA’s concerns with regard to 

pollutants from chemical manufacturing facilities. The combination of these factors should 

make it unnecessary to develop ELG modifications for the VCCA sector.

 

1 The VI is a U.S. trade association representing the leading manufacturers of vinyl, vinyl 

chloride monomer, vinyl additives and modifiers, and vinyl packaging materials. The VI’s 

mission is to gather and communicate technical information to support the responsible 

manufacture, use and disposal of vinyl products, to build recognition among a wide range of 

stakeholders on the benefits and value of vinyl, and to maintain a level playing field with other 

materials. VI member companies include: CertainTeed Corporation; The Dow Chemical 

Company; Formosa Plastics Corporation, U.S.A.; Georgia Gulf Corporation; Occidental 

Chemical Corporation; OxyVinyls, LP; PolyOne Corporation; and Shintech, Inc.
Ms. Janet K. Goodwin

December 20, 2005

Page 2

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We trust that you find this information useful. Should you have any questions, please do 

not hesitate to contact me at 302-738-0757.

Sincerely,

Frank E. Borrelli

Technical Director 

Attachment

cc: Ms. Samantha Lewis, EPA
Ms. Janet K. Goodwin

December 20, 2005

Page 3

Status of NPDES Permitting of Dioxins/Furans

VCCA Facilities

December 2005

1. Dow Chemical Freeport, TX – chlor-alkali, VCM, PVC and multi-chemical 

manufacturing complex (2003 TRI – 318.5 grams/year (g/y))

TPDES Permit 00007, Issued 12/19/03, Expires 7/1/06 

Outfall 001 D/F WQBEL Permit Limits:

0.70 ppq TEQ monthly average, quarterly, 24C

2.02 ppq TEQ daily maximum, quarterly, 24C

10.0 ppq TEQ single grab

2. Dow Chemical Plaquemine, LA – chlor-alkali, VCM and multi-chemical 

manufacturing complex (2003 TRI – 261.74 g/y)

LPDES Permit LA0003301, Issued 10/12/01, Expires 11/30/06

Outfall 001 D/F Permit Limits:

Monitoring only, once per year

3. Occidental Chemical Corporation Taft, LA – chlor-alkali facility (2003 TRI – 21.08 

g/y)

LPDES Permit LA0005983, Issued 8/6/04, Expires 9/1/09

NO dioxin/furan monitoring requirements or effluent limitations

4. PPG Industries, Inc. New Martinsville, WV – chlor-alkali facility (2003 TRI –

14.2494 g/y)

NPDES Permit WV0004359, Issued 8/13/05, Expires 9/30/09

NO dioxin/furan monitoring requirements or effluent limitations

5. PPG Industries, Inc. Calcasieu, LA – chlor-alkali, EDC, VCM and multi-chemical 

manufacturing complex (2003 TRI – 10.55 g/y)

LPDES Permit LA0000761, Issued 1/1/87, Expired 12/31/91 (admin. continued)

NO dioxin/furan monitoring requirements or effluent limitations

6. OxyVinyls, LP Deer Park, TX – chlor-alkali, PVC, anhydrous caustic facility (chloralkali units shut down) (2003 TRI – 4.22 g/y)
Ms. Janet K. Goodwin

December 20, 2005

Page 4

TPDES Permit WQ0000305, Effective 12/1/05, Expires 12/1/08

Outfall 001 dioxin/furan monitoring requirement: once per 6 months

Outfall 201 internal outfall (chlor-alkali), dioxin/furan tech. based permit limits:

100 ppq TEQ Daily Maximum, quarterly, 24C

100 ppq TEQ Single Grab

7. Occidental Chemical Corporation (OxyVinyls, LP), Ingleside, TX - chlor-alkali and 

VCM manufacturing facility (2003 TRI – 3 g/y)

TPDES Permit 03083, Issued 9/26/05, Expires 4/1/10

NO dioxin/furan monitoring requirements or effluent limitations

8. OxyVinyls LaPorte, TX - VCM manufacturing facility (2003 TRI – 2.62 g/y)

TPDES Permit WQ0002097, Issued 9/26/05, Expires 9/26/08

Outfall 001 WQBEL for Dioxins/Furans with a 3-year compliance schedule

Monthly Average – 0.00000003 lbs/day TEQ, quarterly 24C

Daily Maximum – 0.00000006 lbs/day TEQ, quarterly 24C

Single Grab – 0.000000009 mg/L TEQ

9. Formosa Plastics Corporation, Point Comfort, TX – chlor-alkali, VCM, PVC and 

multi-chemical manufacturing complex (2003 TRI – 1.644 g/y)

TPDES Permit 0002436, Issued 8/30/05, Expires 8/1/2010

Outfall 001 effluent limits:

Monthly Average - 352 ug/day and 9.57 ppq TEQ, quarterly 24C

Daily Maximum - 744 ug/day and 20.2 ppq TEQ, quarterly 24C

Single Grab – 28.7 ppq TEQ

10. Georgia Gulf Chemicals and Vinyls, LLC, Plaquemine, LA – chlor-alkali, VCM, 

PVC and multi-chemical manufacturing complex (2003 TRI – 1.1652 g/y)

LPDES Permit LA0007129, Issued 2/1/99, expired 2/1/04 (administratively 

continued)

NO dioxin/furan monitoring requirements or effluent limitations

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