Search

Biodiesel Plant Settles EPA Noncompliance Allegations for $396,000

Posted on 6/2/2016 by Roger Marks

For violations of multiple major US EPA environmental laws, a Rhode Island biodiesel plant will pay a $396,000 fine. 

While biodiesel is “environmentally important” in EPA’s words, its manufacture requires large volumes of methanol, a covered hazardous air pollutant (HAP) under the Clean Air Act. Not only did the plant have no controls in place to mitigate methanol emissions, but it also:

  • Failed to meet its responsibilities for chemical inventory reporting under the Emergency Preparedness and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA);
  • Did not prepare or implement a spill prevention, countermeasure, and control plan (SPCC Plan) as required under the Clean Water Act; and
  • Did not have in place a fire suppression system to meet Clean Air Act chemical accident prevention provisions, also known as Risk Management Planning or RMP requirements.  
These violations of EPA rules have been corrected at the plant. Since EPA uncovered the noncompliance issues, the owners installed both a new emissions control system and a fire suppression system. See the full Consent Decree at the US Department of Justice’s website, here.

EPA rules for oil and gas industry

Do You Know All the EPA Rules That Affect Your Site?


Be confident you know which of the many complex and overlapping US EPA environmental laws and regulations apply to your site and activities. At the Complete Environmental Regulations Workshop, join an expert, full-time Lion instructor to identify the programs that affect your job and understand what you have to do to achieve and maintain compliance. Don’t miss this nationally trusted workshop in Cincinnati on June 6-7 and Pittsburgh on June 9-10!

Tags: Act, Air, Clean, Clean Water Act, EPA, EPCRA, fines and penalties

Find a Post

Compliance Archives

Lion - Quotes

The instructor was excellent. They knew all of the material without having to read from a notepad or computer.

Gary Hartzell

Warehouse Supervisor

Lion is at the top of the industry in compliance training. Course content and structure are updated frequently to make annual re-training enjoyable. I like that Lion has experts that I can contact for 1 year after the training.

Caroline Froning

Plant Chemist

This training broke down the regulations in an easy-to-understand manner and made them less overwhelming. I now feel I have the knowledge to make more informed decisions.

Amanda Oswald

Shipping Professional

Excellent job. Made what is very dry material interesting. Thoroughly explained all topics in easy-to-understand terms.

David Hertvik

Vice President

The course is well thought out and organized in a way that leads to a clearer understanding of the total training.

David Baily

Hazmat Shipping Professional

The instructor clearly enjoys his job and transmits that enthusiasm. He made a dry subject very interesting and fun.

Teresa Arellanes

EHS Manager

The instructor took a rather drab set of topics and brought them to life with realistic real-life examples.

Tom Berndt

HSE Coordinator

One of the best trainings I have ever received!

Brandon Morfin

EH&S Manager

The exercises in the DOT hazardous materials management course are especially helpful in evaluating your understanding of course information.

Morgan Bliss

Principal Industrial Hygienist

The course was very well structured and covered the material in a clear, concise manner.

Ian Martinez

Hazmat Shipping Professional

Download Our Latest Whitepaper

The definitive 10-step guide for new hazardous materials shipping managers. Quickly reference the major considerations and details that impact hazmat shipping compliance.

Latest Whitepaper

By submitting your phone number, you agree to receive recurring marketing and training text messages. Consent to receive text messages is not required for any purchases. Text STOP at any time to cancel. Message and data rates may apply. View our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.