STATE OF
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BEFORE THE
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COUNTY OF
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ENVIRONMENTAL
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COMMISSIONER
OF THE DEPARTMENT |
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OF
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, |
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Complainant, |
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Case No. 2019-26367-A |
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FOREST
RIVER, 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 Indiana Code (“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 IC
13-13-1-1.
2.
Respondent
is Forest River, Inc. (“Respondent”), which owns and operates the stationary
recreational vehicle manufacturing facility with Plant ID No. 039-00847,
located at 29089 CR 6, in Elkhart, Elkhart 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”) via Certified Mail to:
Peter
J Liegl, President Forest River, Inc. P.O.
Box 3030 Elkhart, Indiana 46515 |
Darrel O Ritchie, Registered Agent 900 County Road 1 North Elkhart, Indiana 46514 |
5.
During
an investigation including a records review on July 23, 2019 conducted by a
representative of IDEM, the following violations were found:
a.
Pursuant to 326 IAC 2-5.1-3(a), prior to
commencing construction of any emissions unit which has potential emissions of
twenty-five (25) tons or more per year of any of the regulated pollutants
specified in section (E) of this Rule, the source shall apply for and obtain a
construction permit.
Respondent
failed to apply for and obtain a construction permit prior to constructing any emissions
unit which have potential emissions of twenty-five (25) tons or more per year
of the regulated pollutants specified in section (E) of this Rule, in violation
of 326 IAC 2-5.1-3(a).
b.
Pursuant
to 326 IAC 2-7-2, any major source is required to obtain a permit prior to the
operation of equipment that produces regulated emissions.
Respondent
failed to obtain a permit prior to operation of equipment that produces
regulated emissions, in violation of 326 IAC 2-7-2.
6.
IDEM
issued New Source Construction and Federally Enforceable State Operating Permit
No. 039-40855-00847 to Respondent on April 25, 2019.
7.
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 environmental
rules listed in the findings of fact above.
3.
All submittals required by this Agreed Order,
unless IDEM notifies the Respondent otherwise in writing, shall be sent to:
Heather Foxx,
Enforcement Case Manager
Office of Air Quality
Indiana
Department of Environmental Management
100 North
Senate Avenue
Indianapolis,
IN 46204-2251
4.
Pursuant to IC 13-30-4-1, Respondent is
assessed and agrees to pay a civil penalty of Nine Thousand Dollars ($9,000.00). Said penalty amount shall be due and payable
to the Environmental Management Special Fund within thirty (30) days of the
Effective Date; the thirtieth 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:
Indiana
Department of Environmental Management
Accounts
Receivable
IGCN, Room
1340
100 North
Senate Avenue
Indianapolis,
IN 46204
6.
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.
7.
Signatories to this Agreed Order certify that they
are fully authorized to execute this Agreed Order and legally bind the party
they represent.
8.
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.
9.
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.
10.
Respondent shall ensure that all contractors,
firms, and other persons performing work under this Agreed Order comply with
the terms of this Agreed Order.
11.
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.
12.
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.
13.
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.
14.
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.
15.
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.
16.
This Agreed Order shall remain in effect until
Respondent has complied with all terms and conditions of this Agreed Order and
IDEM has issued a Resolution of Case letter to Respondent.
TECHNICAL
RECOMMENDATION: |
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RESPONDENT: |
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Department
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Forest River, Inc. |
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David
P. McIver, Chief |
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Enforcement
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Office
of Air Quality |
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COUNSEL
FOR COMPLAINANT: |
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COUNSEL
FOR RESPONDENT: |
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For
the Department of Environmental Management |
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By: |
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By: |
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Date: |
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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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2020. |
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For
the Commissioner: |
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Signed
on September 4, 2020 |
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Matthew
Stuckey Deputy Assistant |
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Commissioner |
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Office
of Air Quality |
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