STATE OF INDIANA

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SS:

BEFORE THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF

 

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COUNTY OF MARION

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ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

 

COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT

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OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT,

 

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)

 

Complainant,

 

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)

 

 

v.

 

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Case No. 2018-25823-S

 

 

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TIRE RECYCLING, Inc.,

 

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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 Tire Recycling, Inc. (“Respondent”), which owns and operates a waste tire transporter company with Solid Waste Program ID No. 096-T-00657 located at 7159 State Route 2830, in Owensboro, Daviess County, Kentucky.

 

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 March 21, 2019 via Certified Mail to:

 

Ken Frazier, President and Registered Agent

Tire Recycling, Inc.

7159 State Route 2830

Owensboro, Kentucky 42303

 

5.            Based on an investigation, including a record review and inspections conducted on May 4 and November 13, 2018 by a representative of IDEM, the following violations were found:

 

a.            Pursuant to 329 Indiana Administrative Code (“IAC”) 15-4-1(a), a person who transports waste tires shall register with the department as a waste tire transporter and hold a valid certificate of registration issued under this rule.

 

As determined during the record review, Respondent transported waste tires in Indiana on May 14, March 21, and March 19, 2018 without a valid certificate of registration. On November 8, 2013, IDEM denied Respondent’s renewal application for a waste tire transporter registration for failing to provide financial assurance in accordance with 329 IAC 15-4-1. On May 4, 2018, IDEM issued a letter to Respondent stating Respondent must cease transporting waste tires in the State of Indiana unless Respondent has an Indiana waste tire transporter registration. On May 31, 2018, Respondent submitted a waste tire transporter application to IDEM. On August 13, 2018, IDEM issued a letter to Respondent requesting additional information and/or changes before IDEM can continue the review. Subsequently, Respondent submitted the requested additional information and/or changes. On January 7, 2019, IDEM approved Respondent’s registration for waste tire transporter operation.

 

b.            Pursuant to Indiana Code (“IC”) 13-20-14-5(a), a person may not act as a waste tire transporter unless the person is registered with the department as a waste tire transporter.

 

As determined during the record review, Respondent transported waste tires in Indiana on May 14, March 21, and March 19, 2018 without a valid certificate of registration. On November 8, 2013, IDEM denied Respondent’s renewal application for a waste tire transporter registration for failing to provide financial assurance in accordance with 329 IAC 15-4-1. On May 4, 2018, IDEM issued a letter to Respondent stating Respondent must cease transporting waste tires in the State of Indiana unless Respondent has an Indiana waste tire transporter registration. On May 31, 2018, Respondent submitted a waste tire transporter application to IDEM. On August 13, 2018, IDEM issued a letter to Respondent requesting additional information and/or changes before IDEM can continue the review. Subsequently, Respondent submitted the requested additional information and/or changes. On January 7, 2019, IDEM approved Respondent’s registration for waste tire transporter operation.

 

6.            Orders of the Commissioner are subject to administrative review by the Office of Environmental Adjudication under IC 4-21.5; however, in recognition of the settlement reached, Respondent acknowledges notice of this right and 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 statutes, rules, and/or permit conditions listed in the findings above.

 

3.            Respondent is assessed and agrees to pay a civil penalty of Eight Hundred Dollars ($800.00). 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”.

 

4.            The civil penalty is payable by check to the “Environmental Management Special Fund.” Checks shall include the Case Number of this action and shall be mailed to:

 

Indiana Department of Environmental Management

Accounts Receivable

IGCN, Room N1340

100 North Senate Avenue

Indianapolis, IN 46204

 

5.            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 4, above.

 

6.            Signatories to this Agreed Order certify that they are fully authorized to execute this Agreed Order and legally bind the party they represent.

 

7.            This Agreed Order shall apply to and be binding upon Respondent and all successors and assigns. Respondent shall provide a copy of this Agreed Order, if in force, to any subsequent owners, successors, or assigns before ownership rights are transferred.

 

8.            No change in ownership, corporate, or partnership status of Respondent shall in any way alter the Respondent’s status or responsibilities under this Agreed Order.

 

9.            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.         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.

 

11.         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 the obligation to comply with the requirements of any applicable permits or any applicable Federal or State laws or regulations.

 

12.         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.

 

13.         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 violations specified in the NOV.

 

14.         Nothing in this Agreed Order shall prevent IDEM or anyone acting on its behalf from communicating with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. 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 U.S. EPA or any other agency or entity.

 

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

 

TECHNICAL RECOMMENDATION:

RESPONDENT:

Department of Environmental Management

 

 

 

By: _________________________

By:  _________________________

 

Linda L. McClure, Section Chief

 

 

Land Enforcement Section

Printed: ______________________

Office of Land Quality

 

 

Title: ________________________

 

 

Date: __________________

Date: _______________________

 

 

 

 

 

COUNSEL FOR RESPONDENT:

 

 

 

 

 

By: ________________________

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date: ______________________

 

APPROVED AND ADOPTED BY THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL

MANAGEMENT THIS

_______

DAY OF

________________________,

20__.

 

 

For the Commissioner:

 

 

 

Signed 11/7/19________

 

Peggy Dorsey

 

Assistant Commissioner

 

Office of Land Quality