The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (“ADEM”) and Arkema, Inc. (“Arkema”) entered into a September 23rd Consent Order (“CO”) addressing alleged violations of an air permit. See Consent Order No. 22-XXX-CAP.
The CAO provides that Arkema operates a chemical manufacturing plant (“Facility”) in Mobile County, Alabama.
The Facility is stated to have been issued a Major Source Operating Permit (“Permit”) in 2015. It therefore operates under a Permit Application Shield.
ADEM is stated to have received an April 14th particulate matter (“PM”) stack test report from the Facility on May 17th. Further, on May 17th ADEM received an April 13th PM stack test.
Arkema reported that an inspection of the Durastrength Dust Collector baghouse indicated there was damage to six of the 81 socks. This included one bag with a 12-inch slit. In addition, it indicated that the last change out of the socks in the Durastrength Dust Collector baghouse occurred in 2016.
ADEM is stated to have completed its evaluation of the April 14th PM stack test report on June 9th. The report is stated to have shown that Durastrength Dryer A exceeded the PM emission limit. In addition, on June 23rd ADEM is stated to have completed its evaluation of the April 13th PM stack test report indicating that Durastrength Dryer B exceeded the permitted PM emission limit.
Arkema is stated to neither admit nor deny ADEM’s contentions.
A civil penalty of $60,000 is assessed. Further, Arkema agrees to submit a revised maintenance plan for the control equipment associated with Durastrength Dryer A and Durastrength Dryer B units within 45 days of the effective date of the CO.
A copy of the CO can be downloaded here.
The Between the Lines blog is made available by Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C. and the law firm publisher. The blog site is for educational purposes only, as well as to give general information and a general understanding of the law. This blog is not intended to provide specific legal advice. Use of this blog site does not create an attorney client relationship between you and Mitchell Williams or the blog site publisher. The Between the Lines blog site should not be used as a substitute for legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your state.