Environmental enforcement roundup: EPA settles with Nalco, Phoenix Global, Miller Waste Mills, and more
In its continued efforts to enforce environmental regulations and protect public health, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced a series of settlements with four companies across the Midwest. These actions address violations ranging from excess air pollution and chemical reporting failures to inadequate safety protocols and emissions control. Each settlement includes financial penalties and corrective measures aimed at improving environmental compliance and reducing harmful emissions.
Nalco Production LLC and Nalco Co. LLC (Chicago, Illinois)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a settlement with Nalco Production LLC and Nalco Co. LLC for alleged violations of the Clean Air Act at their polymer blend chemical manufacturing facility in Chicago. The companies will pay a $401,300 penalty. EPA cited failures in hazard assessments, safety procedures, equipment inspections, and incident investigations. In addition to the fine, the companies agreed to upgrade ventilation systems and pressure relief valves, enhance monitoring with new sensors, and improve training and record-keeping protocols.
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Phoenix Global (Burns Harbor, Indiana)
Phoenix Global has reached a settlement with the EPA for violating Clean Air Act regulations at its slag processing facility in Burns Harbor, Indiana. The company, which processes waste byproducts from steel manufacturing, paid a $190,860 penalty. Violations included exceeding permitted air opacity limits and contributing to hazardous dust emissions containing toxic metals. Phoenix Global will now install dust control equipment to mitigate emissions, improving air quality near Lake Michigan and the Indiana Dunes National Park.
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Miller Waste Mills (Winona, Minnesota)
Miller Waste Mills, Inc. (operating as RTP Company) in Winona, Minnesota, has agreed to pay a $112,155 civil penalty to resolve violations under the Toxic Substances Control Act. The EPA found that the company failed to submit required data reports for four imported chemical substances. These omissions impacted the agency’s ability to evaluate potential health and environmental risks. The EPA emphasizes the importance of accurate chemical reporting for public safety and transparency.
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Carmeuse Lime Inc. (Bettsville, Ohio)
Carmeuse Lime Inc. will pay a $260,000 penalty after the EPA cited the company for exceeding sulfur dioxide emissions at its lime manufacturing facility in Bettsville, Ohio. The violations involved the company’s two rotary lime kilns, which released pollutants known to trigger respiratory issues. In addition to the financial penalty, Carmeuse is required to meet new, stricter emissions limits and continuously monitor sulfur dioxide output from the kilns.
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