Meetings and Site Visit to Detroit – September 16 – September 18,
2003

From September 16 – 18, 2003, representatives from the Office of Solid
Waste, Region 5 and the State of Michigan met with representatives from
DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Company, General Motors Corporation, PPG
Industries and Henkel Technologies.  The purpose of the meetings and
site visits were to discuss the F019 hazardous waste issue and to
observe first hand the conversion coating process at three automobile
assembly plants (DaimlerChrysler–Jefferson North, Ford-Wixom and
General Motors-Pontiac). An integral part of the meetings and site
visits was to tour the wastewater treatment plants and sludge handling
facilities at each of the assembly plants.

Generally speaking the wastewater treatment plants and sludge handling
facilities at each of the assembly plants were very similar in that they
utilized the same treatment steps including: grit separation, pH
adjustment to remove metals, addition of coagulants, clarification to
generate dilute sludges, and the dewatering of the sludge and grit
solids with filter presses.  Once the filter press completed the
dewatering process the resultant sludges were then dropped into a
roll-off container which was located directly below the filter press. 
Once the roll-off container was filled it was then covered with plastic
and then sent off-site for disposal.  In all three cases, the filter
presses and sludge handling facilities were located inside the
wastewater treatment plant complex.      

    

