STATE OF INDIANA

COUNTY OF MARION

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BEFORE THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT
OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

 

COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT
OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT,

Complainant,

v.

LEHIGH CEMENT COMPANY LLC,

Respondent.

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Case No. 2016-24094-A and

2016-24095-A




 

 

AGREED ORDER

 

Complainant and Respondent desire to settle and compromise this action without hearing or adjudication of any issue of fact or law, and consent to the entry of the following Findings of Fact and Order.  Pursuant to IC 13-30-3-3, entry into the terms of this Agreed Order does not constitute an admission of any violation contained herein.  Respondent's entry into this Agreed Order shall not constitute a waiver of any defense, legal or equitable, which Respondent may have in any future administrative or judicial proceeding, except a proceeding to enforce this order.

 

I.  FINDINGS OF FACT

 

1.             Complainant is the Commissioner (“Complainant”) of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (“IDEM”), a department of the State of Indiana created by Indiana Code (“IC”) 13-13-1-1.

 

2.             Respondent is Lehigh Cement Company LLC (“Respondent”), which owns and operates a portland cement manufacturing plant with Plant I.D. No. 019-00008 located at 301 Highway 31 in Speed, Clark County, Indiana (the “Site).

 

3.             IDEM has jurisdiction over the parties and the subject matter of this action.

 

4.             Pursuant to IC 13-30-3-3, IDEM issued a Notice of Violation (“NOV”) on April 28, 2017, via Certified Mail to:

Francesco Carantani, President

McGuinness & Hodavance, Registered Agent

Essroc Cement Corporation

2517 Rt 35,  Bldg B

3251 Bath Pike

Suite 202

Nazareth, PA 18064

Manasquan, NJ 08736

 

5.             During an investigation conducted by a representative of IDEM, the following violations were found:

 

a.       Pursuant to Part 70 permit 019-35842-00008, issued September 2, 2015, condition D.2.7(a), in order to comply with PSD Minor Limits for PM/PM10 each baghouse for particulate control shall be in operation and control emissions at all time the associated facility in in operation.

Respondent failed to operate the baghouse (DC 133) controlling two bucket elevators used to periodically feed the finish mill feed bins from November 12-14, 2015, in violation of Part 70 permit 019-35842-00008, condition D.2.7(a).

 

b.       Pursuant to 40 CFR 63.1348(a), affected sources subject to this subpart must demonstrate compliance with the emissions standards and operating limits by using the test methods and procedures in §§63.1349 and 63.7.

Respondent failed to demonstrate compliance with 40 CFR 63.1348(a) for PM and Total Hydrocarbon (“THC”), or alternative limit of organic HAP,  for Kiln #1 and #2 and for PM for Clinker Cooler #1 and #2 by March 7, 2016, in violation of 40 CFR 63.1348(a).

 

c.        Pursuant to 40 CFR 63.1343, Table 1, emissions for an existing kiln at a major or area source is limited to 0.07 pounds of PM per ton of clinker produced.

Based on a stack test conducted October 14, 2015, Kiln #1 failed to demonstrate compliance with the 0.07 pounds of PM per ton of clinker produced, in violation of 40 CFR 63.1343, Table 1.

 

d.       Pursuant to Part 70 permit 019-35842-00008, issued September 2, 2015, condition C.14(b), a retest to demonstrate compliance shall be performed no later than 180 days after the date of the test.

Respondent failed to retest Kiln #1 within 180 days after failing stack test on October 14, 2015, in violation of Part 70 permit 019-35842-00008, condition C.14(b).

 

6.             Respondent’s parent company acquired Essroc’s parent company on July 1, 2016.  Under EPAs New Owner Audit Policy, Respondent voluntarily disclosed to EPA the violations cited in Section I. Paragraphs 5.b. and 5.c. on August 15, 2016.

 

7.             Respondent demonstrated compliance with the 0.07 pound PM per ton of clinker produced for Kiln #1 on July 12, 2016.

 

8.             Respondent demonstrated compliance with the 0.07 pound PM per ton of clinker produced for Kiln #2 on May 3, 2016.

 

9.             Respondent demonstrated compliance with the 0.07 pound PM per ton of clinker produced for Clinker Cooler #1 on May 10, 2016.

 

10.          Respondent demonstrated compliance with the 0.07 pound PM per ton of clinker produced for Clinker Cooler #2 on May 11, 2016.

 

11.          Respondent conducted organic HAP testing on January 5, 2017. Respondent demonstrated initial compliance with the 30-day average THC alternative limit of 12 ppmvd for total organic HAP for Kiln #1 on May 4, 2017.

 

12.          Respondent conducted organic HAP testing on November 8, 2017. Respondent demonstrated initial compliance with the 30-day average THC alternative limit of 12 ppmvd for total organic HAP for Kiln #2 on December 10, 2017.

 

13.          In recognition of the settlement reached, Respondent waives any right to administrative and judicial review of this Agreed Order.

 

II.  ORDER

 

1.             This Agreed Order shall be effective (“Effective Date”) when it is approved by Complainant or Complainant’s delegate, and has been received by Respondent.  This Agreed Order shall have no force or effect until the Effective Date.

 

2.             Respondent shall comply with Part 70 Permit number 019-38903-00008, unless superseded by a permit modification or renewal.

 

3.             All submittals required by this Agreed Order, unless Respondent is notified otherwise in writing by IDEM, shall be sent to:

 

Matthew Chaifetz, Senior Enforcement Manager

Compliance and Enforcement Branch – Mail Code 61-53

Indiana Department of Environmental Management

100 North Senate Avenue

Indianapolis, IN 46204-2251

 

4.             Respondent is assessed and agrees to pay a civil penalty of Ninety-Three Thousand Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($93,750).  Said penalty amount shall be due and payable to the Environmental Management Special Fund within thirty (30) days of the Effective Date; the 30th day being the “Due Date”.

 

5.             Civil penalties are payable by check to the “Environmental Management Special Fund.”  Checks shall include the Case Number of this action and shall be mailed to:

 

IDEM Office of Legal Counsel

IGCN, Rm  N1307

100 N Senate Ave

Indianapolis, IN  46204

 

6.             This Agreed Order shall apply to and be binding upon Respondent and his/her/its successors and assigns.  Respondent’s signatories to this Agreed Order certify that they are fully authorized to execute this Agreed Order and legally bind the party they represent.  No change in ownership, corporate, or partnership status of Respondent shall in any way alter its status or responsibilities under this Agreed Order.

 

7.             In the event that the monies due to IDEM pursuant to this Agreed Order are not paid on or before their Due Date, Respondent shall pay interest on the unpaid balance at the rate established by IC 24-4.6-1.  The interest shall be computed as having accrued from the Due Date until the date that Respondent pays any unpaid balance.  Such interest shall be payable to the Environmental Management Special Fund, and shall be payable to IDEM in the manner specified in Paragraph 5, above.

 

8.             In the event that any terms of this Agreed Order are found to be invalid, the remaining terms shall remain in full force and effect and shall be construed and enforced as if this Agreed Order did not contain the invalid terms.

 

9.             Respondent shall provide a copy of this Agreed Order, if in force, to any subsequent owners or successors before ownership rights are transferred.  Respondent shall ensure that all contractors, firms and other persons performing work under this Agreed Order comply with the terms of this Agreed Order.

 

10.          This Agreed Order is not and shall not be interpreted to be a permit or a modification of an existing permit.  This Agreed Order, and IDEM’s review or approval of any submittal made by Respondent pursuant to this Agreed Order, shall not in any way relieve Respondent of its obligation to comply with the requirements of its applicable permit or any applicable Federal or State law or regulation.

 

11.          Complainant does not, by its approval of this Agreed Order, warrant or aver in any manner that Respondent’s compliance with any aspect of this Agreed Order will result in compliance with the provisions of any permit, order, or any applicable Federal or State law or regulation.  Additionally, IDEM or anyone acting on its behalf shall not be held liable for any costs or penalties Respondent may incur as a result of Respondent’s efforts to comply with this Agreed Order.

 

12.          Nothing in this Agreed Order shall prevent or limit IDEM’s rights to obtain penalties or injunctive relief under any applicable Federal or State law or regulation, except that IDEM may not, and hereby waives its right to, seek additional civil penalties for the same violations specified in the NOV.

 

13.          Nothing in this Agreed Order shall prevent IDEM or anyone acting on its behalf from communicating with the EPA or any other agency or entity about any matters relating to this enforcement action.  IDEM or anyone acting on its behalf shall not be held liable for any costs or penalties Respondent may incur as a result of such communications with the EPA or any other agency or entity.

 

14.          This Agreed Order shall remain in effect until IDEM issues a Resolution of Case letter to Respondent.

 

 

TECHNICAL RECOMMENDATION:

 

RESPONDENT:

Department of Environmental Management

 

Lehigh Cement Company LLC

 

 

 

By:

 

 

By:

 

 

David P. McIver, Chief

 

Printed:

 

 

Enforcement Section

 

Title:

 

 

Office of Air Quality

 

 

 

Date:

 

 

Date:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COUNSEL FOR RESPONDENT:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date:

 

 

 

 

 

 

APPROVED AND ADOPTED BY THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL

MANAGEMENT THIS

 

DAY OF

 

, 2019.

 

 

For the Commissioner

 

 

 

Signed on February , 2019

 

Matthew Stuckey, Deputy Assistant Commissioner

 

Office of Air Quality

 

Indiana Department of Environmental Management