STATE OF
INDIANA |
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BEFORE THE
INDIANA DEPARTMENT |
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COMMISSIONER
OF THE DEPARTMENT Complainant, v. WHITEWATER
MILL, LLC, Respondent. |
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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 Whitewater Mill, LLC (“Respondent”),
which owns and operates the source with Plant ID No. 029-00045, located at 707
Harrison Brookville Rd in West Harrison, Dearborn County, Indiana (“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 January 18, 2019, via Certified Mail to:
Richard
Siemer, President |
CT
Corporation System, Registered Agent |
Whitewater
Mill, LLC |
150
W Market St, Suite 800 |
111
W Main St |
Indianapolis,
IN 46204 |
Teutopolis,
IL 62467 |
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5.
Respondent owns and operates a stationary wheat
mill.
6.
During an investigation including an inspection
on May 5, 2016 conducted by a
representative of IDEM, the following violations were found:
a. Pursuant to FESOP Permit No.
029-38721-00045, issued October 18, 2017 (“Permit”), Condition D.1.1 requires
that Particulate Matter (“PM”) emissions from the Enclosed Headhouse
Distribution system, Silo Chain Conveyor not exceed 0.20 lbs/hr.
Respondent conducted stack testing on August 22, 2018 for the Enclosed Headhouse Distribution system, Silo Chain Conveyor where
the PM emissions were 0.40 lbs/hr,
in violation of Permit condition D.1.1.
7.
Retesting for the Enclosed Headhouse
Distribution system, Silo Chain Conveyor was conducted on October 11, 2018 and demonstrated
that the PM emissions were 0.006 lbs/hr, which is below the permitted limit of 0.20 lbs/hr.
8.
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 the rules, and
permit conditions listed in the findings above at issue.
3.
All submittals required by this Agreed Order,
unless Respondent is notified otherwise in writing by IDEM, shall be sent to:
Lisa Hayhurst,
Enforcement Case 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 Seven Thousand Dollars ($7,000.00). 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 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 their 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 their obligation to comply with the
requirements of their applicable permits 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: |
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RESPONDENT: |
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Department
of Environmental Management |
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Whitewater
Mill, LLC |
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By: |
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By: |
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David
P. McIver, Chief |
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Printed: |
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Enforcement
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Title: |
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Office
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COUNSEL
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Date: |
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APPROVED
AND ADOPTED BY THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL |
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MANAGEMENT THIS |
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DAY OF |
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2019. |
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For
the Commissioner |
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Signed
on February 11, 2019 |
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Matthew
Stuckey, Deputy Assistant Commissioner |
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Office
of Air Quality |
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Indiana
Department of Environmental Management |
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