CARGILL AND AJINOMOTO PLANTS PERMIT FLEXIBILITY (IA)

Nature of Activity: The State of Iowa arranged for two neighboring industrial plants discharging into the Des Moines River to meet effluent limits jointly. The Cargill facility's permit had allowed Cargill (a wet corn milling plant with a waste water treatment facility) to discharge up to the stream's maximum capacity for CBOD. A new Ajinomoto food preparations facility required a CBOD discharge in order to operate, but the stream had no capacity to accept new discharge. The Ajinomoto plant is situated very near the Cargill plant. The Cargill plant agreed to accept and treat Ajinomoto’s effluent stream, partly because the qualities of the Ajinomoto waste stream helped Cargill with its nutrient control. The Cargill plant was able to accept the Ajinomoto effluent stream and not exceed their water quality-based effluent limit. The plants also have other business together – Ajinomoto buys steam and power from Cargill.

Environmental Problem: General water quality in Des Moines river.

Pollutant(s) / Pollution Type(s): Ammonia, CBOD.

Trade Types: Point/point.

Stage of Implementation: The permits were issued in the early 1990s.

Relation to TMDL: None.

Number of Potential Participants: 2

Trading Ratios: 1:1

Estimated Cost Savings: While savings have not been reported, the Ajinomoto plant could not have operated without some discharge. Additionally, the qualities of Ajinomoto’s effluent facilitate nutrient control in Cargill’s plant.

Available Written Information: The permit is available.

Innovative Aspects: The arrangement regarding wastewater treatment is one of a number of several business relationships between the facilities.

Obstacles: Unknown

Web Sites: Lower Des Moines: http://www.epa.gov/surf3/hucs/07100009/

Contact: Ralph Turkle, Iowa Environmental Protection Agency. (515) 281-7025