EPA v. Guardian Industries Corp. (NC)(NLP)

Case summary

During EPA investigations under the Glass Initiative, the Defendant offered to voluntarily install BACT control devices in its float glass manufacturing facilities nation-wide, including the Geneva Float Glass facility located in Geneva NY. Region 6, the lead Region, submitted a general referral requesting DOJ to seek injunctive relief requiring BACT installation at all float glass facilities and penalties for any CAA violation. Region 2 is requesting participation in the civil action. The settlement resolves allegations that the Defendant violated the CAA and state air pollution control plans when it made major modifications to its flat glass furnaces that significantly increased harmful air emissions. This settlement is part of EPA's ongoing National Enforcement Initiative addressing CAA New Source Review and Prevention of Significant Deterioration program violations, and is the agency's first settlement involving the flat glass manufacturing sector. Flat glass, also known as float glass, is used as windows for office buildings and homes as well as for automobile windshields. EPA expects that the pollution controls required by the settlement will reduce harmful emissions by 7,300 tons per year, including approximately 6,400 tons per year of NOx, 550 tons per year of SO2, 200 tons per year of PM and 140 tons of H2SO4. The mitigation project in California will yield additional reductions of PM. These emissions reductions will result in significant human health and environmental benefits for communities. The Defendant's flat glass manufacturing facilities are located in Kingsburg, Calif., DeWitt, Iowa, Carleton, Mich., Geneva, NY, Floreffe, Pa., Richburg, SC, and Corsicana, TX.

Defendants (1)

• Guardian Industries Corp.Named in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (2)

• GUARDIAN GENEVA FLOAT GLASS FACILITY

  GENEVA INDUSTRIAL PARK, GENEVA, NY, 14456

  Registry ID: 110004541434

• GUARDIAN GENEVA FLOAT GLASS FACILITY

  GENEVA INDUSTRIAL PARK, GENEVA, NY, 14456

  Registry ID: 110004541434

Statutes cited

• CAA 173 — New Source Review Permit Requirements
• CAA 165 — Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD)

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• Guardian Industries Corp. (NC)(NLP)entered 2016-01-13

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $22,285 · State/local: $78,000

Timeline (7 milestones)

• 2014-09-26Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2014-09-26Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 2015-09-29Complaint Filed With Court
• 2015-09-29Final Order Lodged
• 2016-01-13Final Order Entered
• 2016-01-13Concluded
• 2021-07-15Enforcement Action Closed