U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 reached an agreement with Gerken Materials Inc., Napoleon, Ohio, on clean-air violations at 17 company facilities in Ohio and Michigan that make asphalt, or crush or screen rocks.
EPA assessed a $90,470 penalty, and the company agreed to do environmental projects costing $160,000.
"This agreement will ensure cleaner, healthier air for people living near these facilities," said EPA Region 5 Administrator Thomas V. Skinner.
The agreement resolves an EPA complaint alleging violations at the facilities, including permit, recordkeeping, emissions and opacity violations.
Environmental projects include performing air compliance audits and implementing compliance recordkeeping programs at all of Gerken's facilities, buying and installing pollution control equipment at some of its facilities and completing a paving project at one facility.
The Ohio facilities affected by the agreement are in Sylvania, Napoleon, Swanton, Bluffton, Waterville, Flatrock, Paulding, Parkertown, West Milgrove, Rocky Ridge, Toledo, Custar and Port Clinton. Gerken's Monroe, Mich., facility was also affected.