Stone Container Settles Air Pollution Charges

Paul J. McNulty, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia and Donald S. Welsh, Regional Administrator for the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Mid-Atlantic region announced that Stone Container Corporation has settled alleged violations of federal and state air pollution control laws at its pulp and paper plant in Hopewell, Va.

A consent decree, civil complaint and notice of publication were filed in U.S. District Court in Alexandria. Stone Container agreed to pay a $835,000 penalty to resolve alleged violations of the federal Clean Air Act and Virginia's Air Pollution Control Law.

The U.S. and Virginia alleged that Stone Container violated several regulations designed to limit emissions of sulfur and sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter. The alleged violations included: failing to adequately monitor emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter; exceeding regulatory limits on emissions of particulate matter and sulfur; and failing to adopt safeguards to minimize sulfur emissions on occasions when the facility’s primary incineration equipment was not operation.

In the proposed consent decree, which is subject to a 30-day public comment period and federal court approval, Stone Container has agreed to pay a $835,000 penalty with 60 percent, or $501,000, paid to the U.S. and 40 percent, or $334,000, paid to the Commonwealth of Virginia.

As part of the settlement, Stone Container neither admitted nor denied liability for the alleged violations. During the protracted settlement discussions following EPA’s issuance of a notice of violation to the plant in September 1997, the company installed equipment and improved operation and maintenance practices to correct the cited violations.