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March 8, 2001 For further information, contact Chief William Hill, Enforcement Section, 302-739-5072; or Melinda Carl, Information and Education, 302-739-4506 DNREC Investigating Water Pollution Discharge at VlasicThe Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is investigating an unpermitted discharge from the Vlasic Foods wastewater treatment plant at Millsboro that occurred overnight and was reported by a Vlasic employee returning to work early this morning. Approximately 60,000 to 80,000 of an estimated 240,000 gallons of partially treated sludge being transferred yesterday to one of the plant's two digester tanks overflowed apparently due to failure to shut off a valve. An unknown percentage of the spilled sludge traveled across an embankment and entered Whartons Branch, a tributary of Indian River. The partially treated sludge that flows into the plant's digesters for treatment is composed of the solids from the secondary treatment (aeration) basin. The wastewater treatment plant treats vegetable waste from Vlasic's pickling process. Environmental impacts are being assessed. A DNREC environmental enforcement officer responded to the overflow shortly after it was reported and took several samples of the spilled sludge for biochemical oxygen demand analysis (BOD), total suspended solids (TSS) and nutrients. DNREC is continuing to investigate the unpermitted discharge, including the volume and duration. Enforcement action is pending. -30- |
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