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CLEANUP AND ABATEMENT 0, iR R5-2008-0710 HJ BAKER & BRO INC AND THE PORT OF STOCKTON MOLTEN SULFUR PROCESSING PLANT, SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY Between 1991 and 1997, the Port stockpiled Baker's prill at the Clay Pit. The Port used its tunnel and above-ground conveyor belts to move the prill to ships. During this period, the Clay Pit floor was unlined and unbermed (Notice of Intent to Comply with the General Permit to Discharge Storm Water Associated with Industrial Activity, WDID 5639S000860—active as of March 1992). In November 1997, Baker leased the 3.8-acre Clay Pit from the Port, lined the Clay Pit floor with asphalt, installed berms to control stormwater runoff, installed windscreens on the north western side of the Clay Pit, and paved the road towards the Clay Pit. Baker continued to prill sulfur at the Port Road 21 facility, and contracted with the Port and stevedores to truck and to deposit the prill into the Clay Pit's below-ground hopper. The Port continued to stockpile prill at the Clay Pit and to convey the prill to the vessels. On 3 December 1997, Baker assumed responsibility for stormwater discharges from the Clay Pit (see Finding 18). On 30 June 2004, Baker ceased pulling operations at the Port Road 21 facility. However, Baker continued to use the Port Road 21 facility for additional storage/stockpiling of sulfur prill until 7 April 2005. In June 2003, Baker leased 1.8-acres contiguous with the Clay Pit and began construction of a new prilling plant. On 20 August 2004, Baker began processing molten sulfur at the Clay Pit located at the 65 Stork Road facility. In August 2004, Baker took over the operations of stockpiling prill in the Clay Pit and ceased bottom dumping to the hopper. The current daily quantity of prill stockpiled within the Clay Pit ranges from 1,000 metric tons to 40,000 metric tons. Currently, Baker receives molten sulfur in truck shipments and then coverts the molten sulfur into prill. An overhead radial conveyor moves the prill from the processing unit to the stockpile area, where the prill pellets are dropped from above onto stockpiles. The prill stockpiles are stored outdoors and exposed to the elements. Export of prill via ships occurs approximately nine to ten times per year. Beginning in 1978 and continuing until November 2007, the Port transported prill from the Clay Pit to ships via a 1,100-foot conveyor belt system, which includes a tunnel portion and an above-ground portion. The tunnel portion of the conveyor belt starts at three access ports located within and beneath the prill stockpile area (i.e., the Clay Pit). Prill is pushed into these access ports via heavy equipment, where it is then transported by tunnel conveyor belt to the above-ground portion. The above-ground portion of the conveyor system delivers the prill to the ships. In total, the conveyor system consists of a 400-foot tunnel portion and a 700-foot above ground portion that terminates at the wharf. At times, shallow groundwater is known to percolate into the tunnel section. In November 2007, the Port shut down the tunnel conveyor system for an indefinite period. Baker now stockpiles prill on top of the three access ports.