EPA v. CLEAN RENTALS INC

Case summary

On September 30, 2014, Region 1 forwarded a Clean Air Act (CAA) civil judicial referral to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding Clean Rentals, Inc. (Clean Rentals) for violations of the CAA and the Massachusetts state air pollution control regulations. Clean Rentals operates an industrial laundry facility in New Bedford, Massachusetts and launders, among other things, solvent-laden shop towels. This type of laundering has the potential to emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) over the major source threshold of 50 tons per year. Region 1 alleges that Clean Rentals failed to obtain a New Source Review (NSR) permit that included the Lowest Achievable Emissions Rate (LAER) and to obtain VOC offsets prior to installing and operating the washers and dryers at its facility. Region 1 also alleges that Clean Rentals failed to apply for and obtain a Title V operating permit for the facility. This action is expected to lead to a reduction in the emissions from the facility of VOCs and hazardous air pollutants, which have short- and long-term health effects on humans, and therefore reducing the exposure to the surrounding community 11/02/2017: Clean Rentals operates an industrial laundry facility in New Bedford, Massachusetts. In the process of laundering print, furniture and shop towels, this industrial laundry facility emits substantial amounts of uncontrolled volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Clean Rentals did not obtain a NSR permit addressing the VOC emissions from its washers and dryers prior to constructing the facility in 1998. As a major source of VOCs, Clean Rentals also failed to apply for and obtain a Title V operating permit for the facility. Under the Consent Decree, Clean Rentals will spend approximately $1.1 million to install a capture and control system (including a thermal oxidizer) at its facility that will reduce VOC emissions from its industrial laundry operations by at least 85%. In addition, Clean Rentals will apply for an amendment to its CAA state permit and pay a penalty of $200,000.

Defendants (1)

• CLEAN RENTALSNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• CLEAN RENTALS INC

  355 CHURCH STREET, NEW BEDFORD, CITY OF, MA, 027410000

  Registry ID: 110001997493

Statutes cited

• CAA 110 — Implementation Plan for National Primary and Secondary Ambient Air Quality Standards

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• CLEAN RENTALS INCentered 2017-11-02

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $200,000

Timeline (7 milestones)

• 2013-10-30Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2014-09-30Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 2014-09-30Referred To Headquarters
• 2017-03-13Final Order Lodged
• 2017-03-13Complaint Filed With Court
• 2017-11-02Final Order Entered
• 2017-11-02Concluded