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Identified Concerns <br /> Regional Board staff has indicated concern that "fugitive" <br /> connections to the storm drain system may exist which could <br /> • potentially result in the discharge of pollutants to McDougald <br /> Slough. The Regional Board has requested a schematic diagram of <br /> the storm drain system and all known connections to that system <br /> and has suggested that a smoke test be performed to identify <br /> unknown connections. <br /> • Discussion <br /> It should be noted that no evidence exists to suggest that <br /> pollution of McDougald Slough has resulted from "fugitive" <br /> connections within the Gold Bond plant. The episode of dye in <br /> the slough was a result of discharge to an exterior drain inlet <br /> • rather than a fugitive inplant connection. The investigation of <br /> fugitive connections is therefore one of precaution rather than <br /> of observed effect. For this reason, it seems reasonable that <br /> this investigation should be aimed primarily at high risk areas <br /> where spills or inadvertent disposal practices could result in <br /> discharge of pollutants to the slough. <br /> • <br /> As mentioned above, no schematics of the inplant drainage system <br /> are available. Investigation of fugitive connections will <br /> therefore require some form of physical evaluation of the <br /> existing system. The Regional Board has suggested smoke testing <br /> as a means of locating such connections to the storm drain <br /> • system. The following problems exist with this approach: <br /> ( 1 ) Access to the storm drain system is limited to two <br /> manholes in West Church Street. Smoke testing from <br /> these two points would provide only limited <br /> coverage within the Gold Bond plant. Smoke will <br /> • follow the path of least resistance and exit at the <br /> first connections to atmosphere. <br /> ( 2) Many inplant drains have P-traps which will prevent <br /> the passage of smoke. Connection of such drains to <br /> the storm drain system would not be observed in a <br /> • smoke test. <br /> Smoke testing is therefore not recommended for the evaluation of <br /> fugitive connections within the Gold Bond plant. <br /> • One possible alternative to smoke testing would be to either flow <br /> or dye test individual drains within the Gold Bond plant. This <br /> effort would require an initial inventory of drain locations <br /> throughout the plant, a visual tracing of pipe connections and <br /> flow routing , and finally either flow or dye testing of <br /> individual drains. As mentioned above, the testing should focus <br />• primarily on drains in high risk areas for spillage, etc. The <br /> flow or dye testing would be performed by adding either slugs of <br /> flow or flow with dye tracer to inplant drains and monitoring <br /> downstream storm drain manholes in Church Street. This testing <br />• 14 <br />