EPA v. STONE CONTAINER CORPORATION

Case summary

EPA HAS DETERMINED THAT STONE VIOLATED A VARIETY OF FEDERALLY ENFORCEABLE NSPS REQUIREMENTS. STONE CONTAINER CORPORATION VIOLATED PROVISION OF THE CLEAN AIR ACT'S NEW SOURCE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS BY: (i) FAILING TO MAINTAIN AND OPERATE CONTINUOUS MONITORING SYSTEMS FOR MEASURING SULFUR DIOXIDE EMISSIONS, NITROGEN OXIDES EMISSIONS AND THE OPACITY OF ITS EMISSIONS FROM THE HOPEWELL FACILITY'S COMBINATION BOILER; (ii) DISCHARGING INTO THE ATMOSPHERE FROM THE HOPEWELL FACILITY'S MULTIPLE EFFECT EVAPORATOR SYSTEM GASES CONTAINING TOTAL REDUCED SULFUR ( TRS ) IN EXCESS OF THE 5 PARTS PER MILLION REGULATORY LIMIT; (iii) OPERATING THE HOPEWELL FACILITY IN A MANNER NONT CONSISTENT WITH GOOD AIR POLLUTION CONTROL PRACTICE BY FAILING TO COMPORT WITH THE INDUSTRY PRACTICE OF INSTALLING AND USING AT LEAST ONE BACKUP INCINERATION POINT TO CONROL THE RELEASE OF TRS EMISSIONS INTOT HE ATMOSPHERE FROM THE HOPEWELL FACILITY'S NON-CONDENSIBLE GAS ( NCG ) COLLECTION SYSTEM ON OCCASIONS WHEN THE HOPEWELL FACILITY'S LIME KILN BECAME UNAVAILABLE AS A RESULT OF SHUTDOWN, MALFUNCTION AND/OR MAINTENANCE; (iv) FAILING TO INSTALL, CALIBRATE, MAINTAIN, AND OPERATE A CONTINUOS EMISSION MONITORING SYSTEM ( CEMS ) TO MONITOR TRS COMPOUND EMISSIONS FROM THE HOPEWELL FACILITY'S MULTIPLE EFFECT EVAPORATOR SYSTEM, UPON COLLECTION AND DISCHARGE TO THE ATMOSPHERE FROM THE HOPEWELL FACILITY'S LIME KILN BYPASS STACK, DURING PERIODS WHEN THE LIME KILN WAS UNAVAILABLE TO INCINERATE MIXED NCG GASES; (v) DISCHARGING EXCESS PARTICULATE MATTER EMISSIONS INTO THE ATMOSPHERE FROM THE HOPEWELL FACILITY'S SMELT DISSOLVING TANK; (vi) FAILING TO OPERATE A CEMS TO MONITOR AND RECORD THE CONCENTRATION OF TRS EMISSIONS, AND THE PERCENT OF OXYGEN, IN GASES DISCHARGED INTO THE ATMOSPHERE FROM THE HOPEWELL FACILITY'S RECOVERY BOILER; (vii) FAILING TO COMPLY WITH PROVISIONS OF ITS CONSOLIDSATED PSD PERMIT BY EXCEEDING THE PARTICULATE MATTER EMISSIONS STANDARD FROM THE HOPEWELL FACILITY'S SMELT DISSOLVING TANK; AND (viii) FAILING TO COMPLY WITH PROVISIONS OF ITS CONSOLIDATED PSD PERMIT BY EXCEEDING THE TRS EMISSIONS STANDARD FROM THE HOPEWELL FACILITY'S SMELT DISSOLVING TANK. WAS THERE AN EPA MEDIA OR SETION INITIATIVE? Y OPTION IS OTHER (PULP & PAPER).

Defendants (1)

• STONE CONTAINER CORPORATIONNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (6)

• STONE CONTAINER CORP

  910 INDUSTRIAL ST, HOPEWELL, VA, 23860

  Registry ID: 110012503781

• STONE CONTAINER CORP

  910 INDUSTRIAL ST, HOPEWELL, VA, 23860

  Registry ID: 110012503781

• STONE CONTAINER CORP

  910 INDUSTRIAL ST, HOPEWELL, VA, 23860

  Registry ID: 110012503781

• STONE CONTAINER CORP

  910 INDUSTRIAL ST, HOPEWELL, VA, 23860

  Registry ID: 110012503781

• STONE CONTAINER CORP

  910 INDUSTRIAL ST, HOPEWELL, VA, 23860

  Registry ID: 110012503781

• STONE CONTAINER CORP

  910 INDUSTRIAL ST, HOPEWELL, VA, 23860

  Registry ID: 110012503781

Statutes cited

• CAA 112 — Hazardous Air Pollutants

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• STONE CONTAINER CORPORATIONentered 2004-10-14

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $501,000 · State/local: $334,000

Timeline (6 milestones)

• 1997-09-30Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1997-10-01Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2004-08-05Complaint Filed With Court
• 2004-08-05Final Order Lodged
• 2004-10-14Final Order Entered
• 2005-01-27Enforcement Action Closed