Information #3 10-17-2005
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
September 29, 2005
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The Honorable Stephanie A. Klinzing
Mayor, City of Elk River
13065 Orono Parkway
P.O. Box490
Elk River, MN 55330-0490
RE: National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit MN0020788
Compliance Monitoring Survey
Dear Mayor Klinzing:
On September 26, 2005, the MPCA staff recently completed a compliance monitoring survey of
the city of Elk River's wastewater treatment facility. Mr. Gary Leirmoe accompanied us during
the inspection and led a tour of the facility. As you will note in the attached inspection report, I
did not find any deficiencies at the time of the inspection. The facility is well operated and
maintained and the city does an excellent job of supporting its infrastructure.
Thank you and your staff for providing such excellent service and answering our questions.
Herschel Blasing
North Central Regional Unit
Brainerd Office
Municipal Division
HB :vms
cc: Gary Leirmoe, Wastewater Operator, Elk River
Jennifer Satnik, MPCA, St. Paul
Eudale Mathiason, MPCA, St. Paul
7678 College Road, Suite 105; Baxter, Minnesota 56425; Voice (218) 828-2492; Fax (218) 828-2594; TTY (651 )-282-5332
S1. Paul · Duluth · Brainerd · Detroit Lakes · Marshall · Rochester · Mankato · Willmar; Web Site www.pca.state.mn.us
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Facility: Elk River Wastewater Treatment Facility
Address: City Hall
13065 Orono Parkway
Elk River, Minnesota 55330
Responsible Official: The Honorable Stephanie Klinzing
Permit Expiration: 6/30/07
Phone: (763) 441-4918
Class: B
Title: Mayor
Operator: Gary Leirmoe
Certifications/Expiration:
Inspection Type: C
Inspector Code: S
Inspection Date: 9/26/05
Facility Type: M
Transaction Code: N
NPDES/SDS #: MN0020788
Facility Representatives
Gary Leirmoe
Titles
Wastewater Chief Operator
Inspectors Herschel Blasing, Brian Fitzpatrick, Chris Klucas - MPCA
AREAS EVALUATED DURING INSPECTION
Collection System N Process Control y Records y
Lift Stations N Laboratory y Reporting y
Flow Measurement! Maintenance Discharge Monitoring
Instrumentation y Program y Reports y
Treatment System y Sampling y Effluent Data Y
Disinfection y Pretreatment y Compliance Schedule N
DecWorination N Solids Handling y Other N
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INSPECTION SUMMARY
Herschel Blasing, Brian Fitzpatrick, and Chris Klucas of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
(MPCA), conducted a Compliance Monitoring Survey (CMS) on September 26, 2005, to determine
the Elk River Wastewater Treatment Facility's (WWTF) compliance status with the terms and
conditions of its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. The CMS was
conducted in the presence of Gary Leirmoe, Wastewater Chief Operator.
Comments:
The City has currently started going through their first phase of the Wastewater Treatment Facility
upgrades and modifications which will result in replacing the anaerobic digester cover and cover for
the methane gas storage facility. During our inspection, the digester was currently being worked on
and plans for the starting work on the methane storage facility is scheduled for the spring of2006.
The City is planning on replacing/installation of two new influent flow bar screens and will need to
switch from influent flow measurement to effluent flow measurements for reporting daily flows.
The City has hired Mr. Bill Chang from BDM as the City Engineer and I am requesting that
Mr. Chang contact Mr. EuDale Mathiason, MPCA Project Engineer, regarding this change for
approval.
The City has sold off most of their land application of biosolids equipment and will be utilizing
Fergus Power and Pump as a contract land application applicator. By December 31 of each year an
Annual Land Application Report is due and even though the City has been hiring this work done,
the City will still need to submit an Annual Land Application Report.
Because of more stringent effluent discharge limits being required as permits are re-issued to
Permittees, the City may soon have a phosphorus discharge effluent limit imposed. I talked with
Mr. Leirmoe about this during the inspection and it appears that the City is already preparing for
these future requirements and an additional phase project will be to upgrade to chemically treat for
phosphorus removal.
It was quite evident during the time of the inspection that Mr. Leirmoe and his staff are doing an
excellent job of operations al1d maintena..llee at the wastewater treatment facility and I would like to
commend them and the City for their hard work and efforts in helping to protect our resources.
Corrective Actions:
NONE
Signature of Inspector ~.... Date r;_;;2~/CJ
Comments and questions should be addressed to: Herschel Blasing
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
7678 College Road, Suite 105
Baxter, Minnesota 56425
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