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Agribusiness Firm to Pay $899,000 to Settle Clean Air Act Violations

Posted on 1/29/2016 by Roger Marks

A major agribusiness firm will pay $899,000 in civil penalties and spend $42 million on facility upgrades to resolve allegations that it violated the Clean Air Act when it made modifications to five of its sulfuric acid plants, EPA reported last month.

Under Title V of the Clean Air Act, industry sites must obtain a permit in order to construct new sources of air pollution or make major modifications to existing sources. EPA alleges the company failed to obtain the proper pre-construction permits and failed to implement “best available control technology” (BACT) to limit sulfur dioxide (SO2), sulfuric acid mist, and particulate matter emissions.

Among the upgrades the company will make is a $200,000 wood stove replacement mitigation project to reduce emissions of particulate matter (PM 2.5), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO), and hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). 

US EPA clean air act penalty

In total, EPA estimates the settlement will result in a 50% reduction of SO2 emissions from the company’s five sulfuric acid plants (approx. 2,540 tons per year). View the Clean Air Act settlement here.  

New Clean Air Act Rules for 2016

US EPA made significant updates to its Clean Air Act regulations in 2015, announcing a new Clean Power Plan for electricity generators in August and lowering the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for ozone in October.

New Clean Air Act Regulations Now Available

To help environmental engineers, EHS managers, and compliance officers keep their facilities in compliance with the US EPA’s Clean Air Act programs, a new online course will launch on February 1, 2016. The Clean Air Act Regulations guides professionals through compliance with Title V permit requirements, emissions and pollution controls, annual greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting, Risk Management Planning (RMP) responsibilities, and more. 

Build the expertise needed to make informed on-the-job decisions that help your site control pollution and maintain compliance. Interactive, easy to use, and available 24/7, the new online course will help you get up to speed with new and changing EPA clean air rules and protect your facility from costly EPA enforcement. 

Tags: Act, Air, Clean, EPA

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