EPA v. ATOFINA (F/K/A ATOCHEM NORTH AMERICA), AXIS, AL REFERRAL (3 FACILITIES IN SETTLEMENT)

Case summary

Case Summary (04-1998-0400), Axis AL Facility: NATIONAL INITIATIVE, MULTIPLE FACILITIES. MULTI-MEDIA -- RCRA/WATER/AIR. THIS IS THE PORTION FOR AXIS, ALABAMA. RCRA: TWO VIOLATIONS OF 40 CFR PART 264, SUBPART BB -- AIR EMISSION STANDARDS FOR EQUIPMENT LEAKS 1. FAILURE TO MARK EQUIPMENT; 2. FAILURE TO KEEP RECORDS. RELIEF REQUESTED - COMPLIANCE AND PENALTY ($24,000). SIGNIFICANT HISTORY OF NONCOMPLIANCE. CAA: 200/300 AREA. FAILURE TO INSTALL LOWEST ACHIEVABLE EMISSIONS RATE CONTROL TECHNOLOGY IN VIOLATION OF NONATTAINMENT NEW SOURCE REVIEW REGULATIONS. ELF/M&T AVOIDED APPLICATION OF LAER BY FAILING TO INCLUDE BUTANE EMISSIONS IN PERMIT APPLICATION, AND BY UNDERREPRESENTING THE TOTAL EMISSIONS OF OTHER VOCS IN THE PERMIT APPLICATION. TGA PROCESS. FAILURE TO INSTALL LOWEST ACHIEVABLE EMISSIONS RATE CONTROL TECHNOLOGY IN VIOLATION OF NONATTAINMENT NEW SOURCE REVIEW REGULATIONS. ELF/M&T FAILED TO INSTALL CORRECT CONTROL TECHNOLOGY WHICH INITIAL CONTROL EQUIPMENT WAS DESTROYED IN A FIRE. IM UNITS. FAILURE TO INSTALL LOWEST ACHIEVABLE EMISSIONS RATE CONTROL TECHNOLOGY IN VIOLATION OF NONATTAINMENT NEW SOURCE REVIEW REGULATIONS; SUBSEQUENT FAILURES TO INSTALL BEST AVAILABLE CONTROL TECHNOLOGY IN VIOLATION OF PREVENTION OF SIGNIFICANT DETERIORATION REGULATIONS; VIOLATIONS OF APPLICABLE OPERATING PERMITS. SEVEN VIOLATIONS: 1. FAILURE TO INSTALL CORRECT CONTROL TECHNOLOGY DURING CONSTRUCTION OF METABLEN 1 AND DRYER A UNITS. 2. FAILURE TO PERFORM CONTROL TECHNOLOGY ANALYSIS WHEN DRYER A WAS SUBJECTED TO A MAJOR MODIFICATION. 3. FAILURE TO INSTALL CORRECT CONTROL TECHNOLOGY DURING CONSTRUCTION OF METABLEN II UNIT. 4. FAILURE TO INSTALL CORRECT CONTROL TECHNOLOGY DURING CONSTRUCTION OF DRYER B UNIT. 5. FAILURE TO OPERATE IM UNITS WITHIN THE CONDITIONS SPECIFIED IN THE 1984 ALABAMA-ISSUED PERMIT. 6. FAILURE TO OPERATE IM UNITS WITHIN THE CONDITIONS SPECIFIED IN THE 1994 ALABAMA-ISSUED PERMIT. 7. FAILURE TO OPERATE IM UNITS WITHIN THE CONDITIONS SPECIFIED IN THE 1996 ALABAMA-ISSUED PERMIT. IM FLARE. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH NSPS REGULATIONS. ELF/M&T FAILED TO MEET NSPS CONTROL TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENT FOR FLARE USED TO COMPLY WITH SUBPART RRR REQUIREMENTS FOR CHEMICAL PLANTS. EPCRA: FORM RS SUBMITTED BY ELF TO THE ADMINISTRATOR OF EPA AND TO THE STATE OF ALABAMA FOR THE 1993 REPORTING YEAR FAILED TO IDENTIFY ANY RELEASE OF HYDROGEN SULFIDE AT THE ELF FACILITY. EPCRA SECTION 313 REQUIRES THE REPORTING OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF A REPORTABLE TOXIC CHEMICAL THAT IS RELEASED FROM A FACILITY DURING THE CALENDAR YEAR. TOTAL RELEASES OF ONE POUND OR MORE PER YEAR MUST BE REPORTED (RELEASES OF 0.5 POUND ARE ROUNDED UP TO 1 POUND, AND ARRE CONSIDERED REPORTABLE). INSPECTORS WHO HAVE SEEN THE AXIS THIOGLYCOLIC ACID PROCESS CONSIDER IT HIGHLY UNLIKELY ELF COULD USE MORE THAN TWO MILLION POUNDS OF HYDROGEN SULFIDE PER YEAR WITHOUT ANY RELEASES OF THIS VOLATILE CHEMICAL. Case Summary for 04-1998-0579 (Calvert City, KY) - PART OF A NATIONAL ENFORCEMENT CASE SCREENING STRATEGY AGAINST ELF-ATOCHEM. VARIETY OF CWA VIOLATIONS, INCLUDING EFFLUENT LIMIT VIOLATIONS, OPERATIONS, MAINTENANCE, AND MANAGEMENT, UNPERMITTED BYPASSES, INADEQUATE BMPS FOR STORMWATER DISCHARGES, INADEQUATE SPCC, FAILURE TO MONITOR. Case Summary for 04-1998-0519 (Carrollton, KY): PART OF A NATIONAL ENFORCEMENT CASE OUT OF HQS MULTI-MEDIA DIVISION AGAINST OTHERELF FACILITIES. THERE WILL ALSO BE AN AIR AND MAYBE A WATER REFERRAL AT THIS FACILITY. THIS FACILITY AHS A SIGNIFICANT HISTORY OF NONCOMPLIANCE. RCRA VIOLATIONS (1) FAILURE TO INSTALL 40 CFR PART 265, SUBPART CL AIR EMISSION CONTROL EQUIPMENT; (2) FAILURE TO MARK EQUIPMENT AND KEEP RECORDS FOR 40 CFR PART 265 SUBPART BB; (3) FAILURE TO COMPLY W/RCRA PERMIT IN VIOLATION OF 40 CFR 270.30(A) BY FAILING TO UPDATE CONTINGENCY PLAN IN VIOLATION OF 40 CFR 264.54(C) AND FAILING TO KE

Defendants (1)

• ATOFINA CHEMICALS (F/K/A)ELF ATOCHEM NORTH AMERICANamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (14)

• ATOFINA (F/K/A ELF ATOCHEM NA)

  4444 INDUSTRIAL PKWY, CALVERT CITY, KY, 42029

  Registry ID: 110000380061

• ATOFINA CHEMICALS INCORPORATED

  2810 GULF STATES ROAD, BEAUMONT, TX, 777011427

  Registry ID: 110000464168

• ATOFINA CHEMICALS INCORPORATED

  2810 GULF STATES ROAD, BEAUMONT, TX, 777011427

  Registry ID: 110000464168

• ATOFINA (F/K/A ELF ATOCHEM NORTH AMERICA, INC.)

  2316 HIGHLAND AVENUE, CARROLLTON, KY, 41008

  Registry ID: 110000379563

• ATOFINA (F/K/A ELF ATOCHEM NORTH AMERICA, INC.)

  2316 HIGHLAND AVENUE, CARROLLTON, KY, 41008

  Registry ID: 110000379563

• ATOFINA (F/K/A ELF ATOCHEM NORTH AMERICA, INC.)

  2316 HIGHLAND AVENUE, CARROLLTON, KY, 41008

  Registry ID: 110000379563

• ATOFINA (F/K/A ELF ATOCHEM NORTH AMERICA, INC.)

  2316 HIGHLAND AVENUE, CARROLLTON, KY, 41008

  Registry ID: 110000379563

• ATOFINA (F/K/A ELF ATOCHEM NORTH AMERICA, INC)

  US HWY 43 N, AXIS, AL, 36505

  Registry ID: 110025376448

• ATOFINA (F/K/A ELF ATOCHEM NA)

  4444 INDUSTRIAL PKWY, CALVERT CITY, KY, 42029

  Registry ID: 110000380061

• ATOFINA (F/K/A ELF ATOCHEM NORTH AMERICA, INC.)

  2316 HIGHLAND AVENUE, CARROLLTON, KY, 41008

  Registry ID: 110000379563

• ATOFINA (F/K/A ELF ATOCHEM NORTH AMERICA, INC)

  US HWY 43 N, AXIS, AL, 36505

  Registry ID: 110025376448

• ATOFINA (F/K/A ELF ATOCHEM NORTH AMERICA, INC.)

  2316 HIGHLAND AVENUE, CARROLLTON, KY, 41008

  Registry ID: 110000379563

• ATOFINA (F/K/A ELF ATOCHEM NA)

  4444 INDUSTRIAL PKWY, CALVERT CITY, KY, 42029

  Registry ID: 110000380061

• ATOFINA (F/K/A ELF ATOCHEM NA)

  4444 INDUSTRIAL PKWY, CALVERT CITY, KY, 42029

  Registry ID: 110000380061

Statutes cited

• RCRA 3005 — Permits for Treatment, Storage, or Disposal of Hazardous Waste
• EPCRA 313 — Toxic Chemical Release Reporting (TRI)
• CAA 173 — New Source Review Permit Requirements
• EPCRA 304 — Emergency Release Notification Section 313 Program
• EPCRA 312 — Emergency and Hazardous Chemical Inventory Forms
• CAA 110 — Implementation Plan for National Primary and Secondary Ambient Air Quality Standards
• CAA 165 — Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD)

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• ATOFINA CHEMICALS (F/K/A ATOCHEM)entered 2002-08-05

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $1,900,000 · SEP: $300,000

Timeline (7 milestones)

• 1998-09-01Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1998-09-29Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 2001-12-28Complaint Filed With Court
• 2001-12-28Final Order Lodged
• 2002-08-05Concluded
• 2002-08-05Final Order Entered
• 2007-06-19Enforcement Action Closed