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Project No.: 0172.09.005.412 Page 1 of 2

Project Name: 304m 2012 Annual Review CBI?

Yes

No

TELEPHONE CALL RECORD

Incoming

Outgoing

Date: 03/16/2012 Time:

11:45

am

pm

Company Name: Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc.

(68850BPNC 1500S)

ERG Staff Name: Elizabeth Sabol

Contact Name: Chris Loeg Contact Phone Number: 605-235-2003

General Subject: Nitrate Compound Discharges Reported to TRI in 2009

TOPICS DISCUSSED AND ACTION TAKEN

Background Information:

Mark Carnes 308-324-8158 – Wastewater Treatment Contact (NPDES Contact)

Pounds of Nitrate Compounds Discharged in 2009 TRI: 4,991,531

BOE: M2

Questions to discuss:

1. Can you confirm the nitrate compounds discharges for 2009?

2. Are the discharges based on actually sampling data?

3. Can you confirm the difference between DMR2009 discharges for total nitrogen, nitrate total = 0 in 

2009 and TRI?

4. Are there other nitrate discharges (stormwater) that aren’t covered by the NPDES Permit?

Telecon: 

I contacted Mark Carnes of Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc. on Friday, March 16, 2012 at 11:30 am. Mark Carnes 

stated that I should contact Chris Loeg (605-235-2003) for further information on TRI reporting. However, he 

did state that the 2009 discharges would probably be much higher than 2010 or more recent data because of the 

changes to the wastewater treatment system (simulation of an anoxic system, see below for further detail) as a 

result of the ELG total nitrogen limitation.

I called Chris Loeg at 11:40 am, and explained that I’m calling to confirm 2009 TRI discharge data (nitrate 

compounds) for the Tyson Fresh Meats, Lexington NE facility (NE0123501). He stated that the amount of 

nitrate compounds reported to TRI in 2009 were 4.99 million, confirmed the pounds of nitrate in the EPA 

database. He stated that the nitrate load is calculated using the average daily nitrate/nitrogen (factoring up to 

nitrate) concentrations from bench scale and lab tests. Mr. Loeg stated that bench samples are collected three 

times per week. 

Mr. Loeg stated that the 2010 nitrate compound load in the 2009 TRI database is lower (3.4 million) because of 

the changes to the wastewater treatment system. These changes included changing two complete mixing basins 

(previously part of the extended air basin) to an on/off system, so aeration is occurring half of the time. This 

creates an anoxic environment, and achieves denitrification and nitrification at the same time.
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Additionally, I asked why the 2009 DMR data was reported as “0” mg/L. From looking at the old and new 

permits, it was determined that total nitrogen reporting was not required until the October 2010 permit. 

Therefore, there was no total nitrogen data for the facility prior to 2011 (available in OTIS). The previous 

permit only had limits for flow, BOD, O&G, TSS, pH, and fecals.

Mr. Loeg stated that he did not handle the Tysons Joslin, IL facility (other top discharger). However, the contact 

is Ms. Rastessin (sp?) – 605-235-4801.

Tyson’s Joslin: 4,450,000 (2009)

From OTIS: 2010: 3,289,150

Called and left a message for Ms. Kim Rastessin on Tuesday, March 20, 2012.

Called and left a message for Ms. Kim Ratsessin on Monday, March 26, 2012 at 1:20 PM.

Ms. Rastessin left me a message Monday, March 26 at 2:15 PM asking me to return her call.

I called Ms. Rastessin back on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at 11:10 am and left a message.

Returned Ms. Rastessin’s call from March 28, 2012 (11:15 am) on March 29, 2012 at 10:00 am.

Ms. Rastessin stated that she would look into the discrepancy between the 2009 TRI and DMR data. She stated 

that a possible scenario is the calculations/molecular weights for the different “nitrate compounds” and “nitrate, 

total nitrogen (as N)” in the different database. Additionally, she stated that they recently received their new 

permit from the state implementing the new total nitrogen limits from the ELG. They are currently working 

with IEPA to determine if any additional treatment is necessary to meet the limits.