EPA Cites 14 Companies for Clean-air Violations

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has notified 14 companies that it believes they violated federal or federally enforceable clean-air regulations.

These are preliminary findings of violations. To resolve them, EPA may issue compliance orders, assess administrative penalties or bring suit against the companies.  The companies have 30 days from receipt of the notices to request meetings with EPA to discuss resolving the allegations.

"EPA's mission is to protect public health and the environment," said Thomas Skinner, Region 5 administrator. "We will take whatever steps are needed to ensure compliance with the Clean Air Act."

Companies alleged to have violated federal clean-air regulations received a Finding of Violation (FOV) and companies alleged to have violated federally enforceable state regulations received a Notice of Violation (NOV). Five companies received both.

Companies receiving the FOV and the reason for the violation include the following:

Stora Enso North America Corp., Niagara Mill, Niagara, Wis. EPA alleges Stora Enso violated federal new source performance standards at its pulp and paper mill.  Specifically, Stora Enso exceeded emission standards for sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. In addition, EPA alleges the company failed to conduct the required compliance monitoring and failed to perform the required record keeping and reporting.

Superior Aluminum Alloys LLC, New Haven, Ind. EPA alleges Superior violated the Clean Air Act by failing to comply with an EPA request for information. The company also failed to comply with testing, planning, inspection, notification and record keeping requirements.

Lone Star Industries Inc., Greencastle, Ind. Lone Star allegedly violated federal rules at both a nonmetallic mineral processing plant and a hazardous waste treatment facility it operates in Greencastle. EPA alleges Lone Star failed to properly operate air pollution control devices on a conveyor and crusher at the mineral processing facility. 

EPA also alleges Lone Star violated federal hazardous air pollutant control regulations by failing to properly operate its benzene emission control devices.  The company is also charged with failing to submit to EPA complete annual reports on the total amount of benzene accepted at the waste facility.

Barrett Paving Materials Inc., Sylvania, Ohio. EPA alleges Barrett violated federal new source performance standards for nonmetallic mineral processing plants.  Specifically, the company failed to notify the city of Toledo that it intended to install and replace crushers and conveyors and failed to conduct initial performance tests on affected facilities at its plant.

CEMEX, Charlevoix, Mich. EPA alleges CEMEX violated federal new source performance standards for portland cement plants by not properly maintaining or operating their air pollution control devices and exceeding limits on opacity, or the amount of light obscured by particulates.

Companies receiving a notice of violation include the following:

Stora Enso North America Corp., Niagara, Wis.

EPA alleges Stora Enso made major modifications at its pulp and paper mill without first getting a permit to prevent significant deterioration of air quality.

Companies must get these permits, which, among other things require installing best available control technology to limit emissions of air pollutants and prevent deterioration of air quality before new air pollution sources can be built, or existing sources modified, in areas that meet air quality standards.

Trelleborg Wheel System Americas Inc., Hartville, Ohio. EPA alleges Trelleborg violated state air pollution control regulations by failing to control volatile organic compound emissions from three rim preparation lines at its industrial tire manufacturing plant.

Barrett Paving Materials Inc., Sylvania, Ohio. EPA alleges Barrett violated state air pollution control regulations by failing to obtain permits to install and operate a diesel generator.

Aluminum Casting & Engineering Co. Inc., Milwaukee, Wis. EPA alleges the company violated state air regulations at its aluminum casting foundry by adding equipment without first obtaining the proper permits. In addition, the company allegedly failed to meet emission limits on volatile organic compounds released from the plant.