Comments, October 1991 Page: ATTACHMENT
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New Lab Toured By GCA Guests...continuedfrom page 1
GCA General Manager Dick Brown emphasized the new lab's importance, saying, "The GCA Central Labc ratory staff is highly trained in
the use of its state-of-the-art equipment. Combining these upper-level skills and equipment, with our quality assurance and control program
that is second to none, has provided the industry with dramatically improved analytical capabilities that set new standards for
dependability."
A portion of the 10,000 square foot facility is available for future expansion. The Central Lab currently employs 19 chemists and technicians.Lyondell reps Carie Go (1) and Greg E. Keng are given a tour of the new central lab by GCA's
Barbara Erwia during the recent open house (above). Director Frank Fisher (photo on right) was
on hand to greet guests. Accompanying photos on page 3.40 A cre/Award Winning WWTP Approaches Second Decade
Editor's note: This is the second in a series of general reviews of GCA operations.In early 1974 a valve was opEned and waste-
water from Union Carbide Corporation be-
gan flowing into a new treatment facility in
Texas City. And though originally built to
service only Carbide, it wasn't long before
other area waste producers began using the
services of GCA's 40 Acre wastewater treat-
ment plant (WWTP).
Today 40 Acre provides joint treatment for
the waste streams from Union Carbide, Ster-
ling Chemicals, Inc., Monsanto Chemical
Company, and miscellaneous sources from
the GCA's Campbell Bayou facility, as well
as, uncontaminated rainwater run-off from
the Motco site.
"The 40 AcrE facility (its name has nothing
whatsoever to do with its size) is a simple,
extremely e=;ective operation," said man-
ager Laverne Pedersen. "In fact, we have
been honored for several years in a row as a
recipient of the Gold Award presented by
the Association of Metropolitan Sewerage
Agencies (AMSA) for facilities which had no
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System permit violations during the calen-
dar year." The last permit violation at the
facility occurred in 1984 during the massive
Christmas freeze, and that was deemed an"act of God," and therefore no fault of the
operation or staff.
This 165 acre WWTP provides both Interme-
diateandSecondarytreatmentof waterborne
wastes through a series of individual pro-
cesses, each performing specific actions on
the combined waste streams of the plant's
customers. "The amount f raw waste we
receive for treatment each day is equivalent
to that generated by a typical city with a
population of 800,000," said Pedersen. The
load is staggering, but well within the
facility's capabilities he says.The treatment system used at 40 Acre is a
modification of the activated sludge system.
"Microcrangisms, in the presence of dis-
solved organic material and oxygen, convert
the organics :o carbon dioxide, water and
moremicroorganisms.,"Pedersenexplained.
"The micrcorganisms are allowed to settle
from the liquid and are then removed from
the system to ultimate disposal.
"We are really proud of the work being done
at this faciliy," said Pedersen. "It's1WE norm
for us to maintain a 90 to 95 percent organics
removalra:e, and that's an excellent lsel for
any facility!"Directors Reappointed...conined from page 1
Like Matthews, Bradley was first appointed tc the Board in 1987, having serve:
nearly 20 years as a City Commissioner in Texas City In 1981 Bradley retired from
Southwestern Bell Telephone having logged 41 years service with that con-pany
and Illinois Bell as a Network Technician.
"I am pleased to see Directors Fisher, Matthews and Eradley returning:o the Board
of the GCA," said GM Dick Brown. "Their continued input and expertise are an
asset to our organization. The staff and I look forward to working with all of them
for another two productive years."
Terms of office for the reappointed directors will expire August 31, 1993.t
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Gulf Coast Waste Disposal Authority. Comments, October 1991, periodical, October 1991; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1543756/m1/2/: accessed June 12, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.