DERR-2024-005414

Schreib$
Schreiber Foods, Inc.
2180 West 6550 North
Smithfield, UT 84335
United States of America
[phone]
schreiberfoods.con
March 13,2024
Utah Department of Environmental Quality
Division of Environmental Response and Remediation
195 North 1950 West
Salt Lake City, UT 84116
Utah Division of Water Quality
P.O. Box 144870
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-4870
Attention: Ground Water Protection Program
Re: Facility: 2180 West 6550 North, Smithfield, UT
Ground Water Discharge Permit No. UGW050004
Follow-Up Report to Reported Release of March 11,2024
Environmental Incident Report #152511
Dear SirAvladarn,
Schreiber Foods, Inc. ("Schreiber") is providing this letter as its formal report concerning the
release of wastewater from its wastewater lagoon treatment system which was reported to the
Division of Water Quality on March Il,2024 (the "Subject Release").
Description of Release
On March 11,2024, at approximately 1 1:00 a.m., while conducting our daily inspection of the
facility's lagoon wastewater treatment system, we discovered a leak within Cell #4 of the lagoon
system (also identified as Pond #4). The lagoon wastewater treatment system is located
approximately a mile west of Schreiber's dairy production facility which is located at 2180 West
6550 North, Smithfield. The approximate coordinates for the wastewater storage lagoons are
41.853463, -111.908345, which is located in the Amalga Barrens area in Cache County, Utah
(the "subject Property"). Attached is a site diagram that depicts the location of the wastewater
storage lagoons in relation to Schreiber's production facility.
The lagoon wastewater treatment system consists of a series of four storage lagoons, with
wastewater from the production facility initially being transported to Cell 1 and then
subsequently transferred to the following cells as part of a biological treatment system, and
ultimately discharged from Cell 4 via irrigation on approved land application fields.
Schreidfi
Schreiber Foods, Inc.
2180 West 6550 North
Smithfield, UT 84335
United States of America
[phone]
sch reiber-foods.con
During its daily inspection, Schreiber noted some water on the outside of the berm of Cell 4.
The plant personnel inspected the situation further and found that water was flowing out of the
bottom of the exterior part of the storage lagoon, and onto the surrounding land. The subject
storage lagoon is the same lagoon that experienced leaks during 2023, which leaks were repaired
and inspected by the Division. During 2023, there were several locations that were seeping
along the same bank of Cell 4. Based on our inspection and observations this week, the current
leak is isolated to one spot; the other spots that were repaired last year appeared to be holding up
(i.e., sealed successfully). While we cannot be absolutely certain, we suspect that the leak is in
the area where the repair tied in with the original liner of such lagoon.
The water leaking outside of the lagoon, along with stormwater, ultimately flows to and collects
in the irrigation ditch between the lagoon berm and highway.
It is very difficult to determine how much wastewater may have leaked from the storage lagoon.
However, we believe we discovered the leak relatively quickly or shortly after it started because
we have crews checking on the lagoons on a daily basis and nothing was reported during the
previous day's inspections. As a result, we believe that minimal quantities have been released
from the lagoon, and ultimately minimal levels left the Subject Property. In addition, it should
be noted that there are no hazardous wastes or chemicals within the wastewater stream that is
being released from the storage lagoons; rather, the wastewater that is leaking has been fully
treated and is the same wastewater that is ultimately used for irrigation purposes per the terms of
the facility's discharge permit.
As noted below, Schreiber took immediate corrective action to address the leak and to cease any
further release of wastewater, thereby minimizing any adverse impacts offsite and downstream
from the Subject Property.
Corrective Action ltems
Schreiber undertook the following corrective action items to address the leak while it pursues
repair options for the storage lagoon:
Upon discovery of the leak, Schreiber placed a plug into the culvert to ensure that
water was not able to flow downstream. At the time of plugging the culvert on
Monday March 1lth, we did not see anything actively flowing into the ditch or
culvert. Rather, the water observed to be leaking from Cell #4 was only present on
the ground immediately adjacent to the lagoon berm.
o
Schrei6fi
Schreiber Foods, Inc.
2180 West 6550 North
Smithfield, UT 84335
United States of America
[phone]
schrei berfoods.con
After plugging the culvert, we were able to divert the leaking water into a catch basin
where it is subsequently being pumped back into the lagoons. We are currently
monitoring the catch basin to ensure that it is capturing all of the water that may be
leaking from the lagoon. Once we are confident that the catch basin is collecting the
water from the lagoon, we plan to remove the plug in the culvert so that stormwater
can flow freely through such culvert.
Schreiber is unable to currently stop the flow of water from the lagoon but we are confident that
the foregoing corrective actions will prevent any of the treated wastewater from leaving
Schreiber's site, thereby avoiding any impact to nearby surface waters. Schreiber is searching
for a consultant that will assist the facility with a repair option for the storage lagoon.
In the meantime, Schreiber will continue to monitor the situation to ensure that wastewater from
the storage lagoons does not leave the Subject Property and it will take any necessary remedial
actions needed to address further releases of wastewater.
Please let us know if you have any questions concerning this report
Sincerely,
Corene
Smithfield Plant Manager