2443 PER20100001 1

PERMIT RATIONALE FOR REISSUANCE

Tyson Foods, Inc., Carthage Processing Plant

Leake County

Carthage, Mississippi

Water NPDES No. MS0026140

September 29, 2010

I. FACILITY INFORMATION

Facility Name: Tyson Foods, Inc., Carthage Processing Plant

Facility Address: 3865 Highway 35 North 

Carthage, MS 39051 

Permit No.: MS0026140

SIC: 2015

Permit Writer: Becky Williams

EPD Branch: Agricultural Branch

II. NATURE OF BUSINESS

Poultry processing, packaging, and shipping of 525,000 birds/day.

III. EFFLUENT AND RECEIVING STREAM FLOW DATA

Outfall 001 discharges 2.137 MGD (long term average) and 4.146 MGD (30-day max. flow and max. 

flow) of process wastewater, sanitary wastewater and non-contact cooling water to Pickens Creek 

thence into Cobbs Creek.

IV. 303(d) AND TMDL ISSUES

This discharge is included in the “Pearl River and Yockanookany River (Phase I) TMDL for Mercury 

(Approved: Feb 2004)”. The TMDL recommends mercury monitoring for this discharge.

A TMDL for pathogens and a TMDL for pH have also been completed. 

V. TYPE OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT:

Screening, anaerobic lagoons, activated sludge, sedimentation, disinfection, and dechlorination.

VI. EPA APPLICABLE CATEGORICAL GUIDELINES AND LIMITATIONS

40 CFR 432 - Meat and Poultry Products Point Source Category. Subpart K – Poultry First 

Processing (432.112 and 432.113. Subpart L – Poultry Further Processing (432.122 and 432.123).

Subpart K – 432.112 (BPT) & Subpart L – 432.122 (BPT)

Parameter Maximum Monthly Average Daily Maximum

Ammonia (as N) 4.0 mg/L 8.0 mg/L

BOD5 16 mg/L 26 mg/L

Fecal Coliform N/A 400 col./100 mL

O&G (as HEM) 8.0 mg/L 14 mg/L

TSS 20 mg/L 30 mg/L
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Subpart L – 432.113 (BAT) & Subpart L – 432.123 (BAT)

Parameter Maximum Monthly Average Daily Maximum

Ammonia (as N) 4.0 mg/L 8.0 mg/L

Total Nitrogen 103 mg/L 147 mg/L

VII. DATA FROM APPLICATION FORM 2C

Parameter Maximum Daily Value

BOD5 7.6 mg/L

COD 40 mg/L

TOC 6.2 mg/L

TSS 14 mg/L

NH3-N 1.1 mg/L

Oil & Grease 7.2 mg/L

pH 8.0 S.U.

Fecal Coliform Bacteria 240 col./100 mL

Temperature (Summer) 15.5 o C

Temperature (Winter) 34.2 o C

Flow 2.137 MGD (long term average)

Total Residual Chlorine 0.05 mg/L

Nitrate/Nitrite (as N) 86 mg/L

Total Organic Nitrogen 87.7 mg/L

Total Phosphorus 14 mg/L

Total Copper 0.03 mg/L (max) – 0.003 mg/L (avg. - 24 samples)

Total Mercury 0.00000195 mg/L = 1.95 ng/L (1 sample)

Total Zinc 0.34 mg/L (max) – 0.033 mg/L (avg. - 24 samples)

VIII. WATER QUALITY LIMITATIONS BASED ON WASTELOAD ALLOCATION 

Parameter Average

CBOD5 16 mg/L

NH3-N 2 mg/L

Minimum D.O. 6.0 (min) mg/L

Fecal Coliform (Summer) 200 col./100 mL

Fecal Coliform (Winter) 2,000 col./100 mL

TRC 0.011 mg/L

pH 6.0 (min) – 9.0 (max) S.U.

Flow 2.571 MGD

IX. TOXICITY SCREENING

IWC = Instream Wastewater concentration

Qw = maximum 30 day average wastewater flow, if available

Qr = receiving stream flow

Xw = historical effluent data

Xwa = permit limits from previous permit or from effluent guidelines

Xta = the calculated instream concentration based on existing permit limits or the calculated 

limit based on current effluent guidelines

Xt = the calculated instream concentration based on historical effluent data from 

application

Xr = receiving stream concentration 

Qw = 4.146 MGD

Qr = 0.0646 MGD
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IWC = 100* Qw = 100 * 4.146 = 98 %

Qr +Qw 0.0646 + 4.146

Total Copper Xw = 0.003

Xt = (Qr * Xr) + (Qw * Xw) = (0.0646 * 0) + (4.146 * 0.003)= 0.00295 mg/L

 Qr +Qw 0.0646 + 4.146

Total Zinc Xw = 0.033

Xt = (Qr * Xr) + (Qw * Xw) = (0.0646 * 0) + (4.146 * 0.033)= 0.0325 mg/L

 Qr +Qw 0.0646 + 4.146

Acute Screening

Parameter Xt (mg/L) AWQC (mg/L) Pass/Fail

Total Copper 0.00295 0.007 Pass

Total Zinc 0.0325 0.065 Pass

Chronic Screening

Parameter Xt (mg/L) CWQC (mg/L) Pass/Fail

Total Copper 0.00295 0.005 Pass

Total Zinc 0.0325 0.065 Pass

X. PROPOSED FINAL LIMITATIONS 

1. Average Permit Limitations 

Parameter

Categorical 

Limitation

Water Quality 

Limitation

Present Permit 

Limitation

Proposed Permit 

Limitation Basis

BOD5 16 mg/L N/A 16 mg/L 16 mg/L Categorical

CBOD5 N/A 16 mg/L N/A Report mg/L MSWQS

TSS 20 mg/L N/A 20 mg/L 20 mg/L Categorical

NH3-N 4.0 mg/L 2.0 mg/L 2.0 mg/L 2.0 mg/L MSWQS

Oil & Grease 8.0 mg/L N/A 8.0 mg/L 8.0 mg/L Categorical

TRC N/A 0.011 mg/L 0.011 mg/L 0.011 mg/L MSWQS

Fecal (Summer) N/A 200 col./100 mL 200 col./100 mL 200 col./100 mL MSWQS

Fecal (Winter) N/A 2,000 col./100 mL Report col./100 mL Report col./100 mL 1/

D.O. (min.) N/A 6.0 mg/L 6.0 mg/L 6.0 mg/L MSWQS

pH (min.) N/A 6.0 S.U. 6.0 S.U. 6.0 S.U. MSWQS

Mercury N/A Report mg/L Report mg/L Report mg/L MSWQS

Total Nitrogen 103 mg/L N/A 103 mg/L 103 mg/L Categorical

Nitrate/Nitrite N/A N/A Report mg/L Report mg/L 2/

TKN N/A N/A Report mg/L Report mg/L 2/
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2. Maximum Permit Limitations 

Parameter

Categorical 

Limitation

Water Quality 

Limitation

Present Permit 

Limitation

Proposed Permit 

Limitation Basis

BOD5 26 mg/L N/A 26 mg/L 26 mg/L Categorical

CBOD5 N/A 24 mg/L N/A Report mg/L MSWQS

TSS 30 mg/L N/A 30 mg/L 30 mg/L Categorical

NH3-N 8.0 mg/L 3.0 mg/L 3.0 mg/L 3.0 mg/L MSWQS

Oil & Grease 14 mg/L N/A 14 mg/L 14 mg/L Categorical

TRC N/A 0.019 mg/L 0.019 mg/L 0.019 mg/L MSWQS

Fecal (Summer) N/A 400 col./100 mL 400 col./100 mL 400 col./100 mL Categorical

Fecal (Winter) 400 col./100 mL 4,000 col./100 mL 400 col./100 mL 400 col./100 mL Categorical

pH N/A 9.0 S.U. 9.0 S.U. 9.0 S.U. MSWQS

Mercury N/A Report mg/L Report mg/L Report mg/L MSWQS

Total Nitrogen 147 mg/L N/A 147 mg/L 147 mg/L Categorical

Nitrate/Nitrite N/A N/A Report mg/L Report mg/L 2/

TKN N/A N/A Report mg/L Report mg/L 2/

Carbonaceous Biochemical Oxygen Demand (5-Day), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (5-Day), Total 

Suspended Solids, Ammonia as Nitrogen, Oil and Grease, Fecal Coliform Bacteria, Total Residual Chlorine, 

Dissolved Oxygen, and pH shall be monitored twice per month with a grab sample of the effluent. Mercury 

shall be monitored once per year with a grab sample of the effluent. Flow shall be measured continuously 

using a recorder. 

1/ Fecal coliform is limited to a maximum of 400 col./100 mL therefore the winter average cannot be 

limited to 2,000 col./100 mL. The winter average fecal shall be limited to report.

2/ There is no test method to monitor total nitrogen. Total Nitrogen is the total of nitrate/nitrite and total 

kjeldahl nitrogen. Nitrate/nitrite nitrogen and total kjeldahl nitrogen must be monitored and the 

results added together to obtain a value for total nitrogen.

XI. BPT AND BAT STATEMENT: 

The foregoing limitations represent BPT & BAT.