EPA v. AMERICAN SYNTHETIC RUBBER COMPANY

Case summary

4/28/14 - COMPLIANCE ORDER ISSUED. ON MARCH 13, 2012, EPA INSPECTORS CONDUCTED AN AIR COMPLIANCE INSPECTION OF THE ASRC FACILITY UTILIZING A FORWARD LOOKING INFRARED GAS FINDER CAMERA (FLIR). THE FLIR IS AN IMAGING TECHNOLOGY THAT USES RADIATION TO DETECT VARIOUS GASES AND HYDROCARBONS. AT THE TIME OF EPA'S MARCH 13, 2012, INSPECTION OF THE ASRC FACILITY, THE FLIR CAMERA IDENTIFIED RELEASES OF AIR POLLUTANTS, INCLUDING TOLUENE, FROM A COMPONENT LOCATED ON TOP OF TANK T-5B. THE COMPONENT IS A FLANGE COVERING AN OPENING AN OPENING IN THE TANK WHERE AN AGITATOR SHAFT WAS PREVIOUSLY LOCATED. ON DEC 17, 2013, EPA INSPECTORS CONDUCTED AN AIR COMPLIANCE INSPECTION OF THE ASRC FACILITY UTILIZING THE FLIR CAMERA. AT THE TIME OF EPA'S DEC 17, 2013, INSPECTION OF THE ASRC FACILITY, THE FLIR CAMERA IDENTIFIED RELEASES OF AIR POLLUTANTS, INCLUDING TOLUENE, FROM THE SAME COMPONENT LOCATEDON TOP OF TANK T-5B. THESE RELEASES DEMONSTRATE, AT A MINIMUM, RESPONDENT HAS FAILED, AT ALL TIMES, INCLUDING PERIODS OF STARTUP, SHUTDOWN, AND MALFUNCTION, TO OPERATE AND MAINTAIN AN AFFECTED, SOURCE IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH SAFETY AND GOOD AIR POLLUTION CONTROL PRACTICES FOR MINIMIZING EMISSIONS. THIS IS A VIOLATION OF SECTION 63.6(E)(1)(i) OF THE GENERAL PROVISIONS. ORDER: WITHIN 15 DAYS, RESPONDENT SHALL TAKE SUCH STEPS AS ARE NECESSARY TO MINIMIZE THE RELEASES OF HAPs REFERENCED ABOVE AND OPERATE TANK T-5B IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH SAFETY AND GOOD AIR POLLUTION CONTROL PRACTICES FIXING, REPAIRING, OR REPLACING THE COMPONENTS THAT LED TO THE RELEASE.

Defendants (1)

• AMERICAN SYNTHETIC RUBBER COMPANYNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• AMERICAN SYNTHETIC RUBBER

  4500 CAMPGROUND ROAD, LOUISVILLE, KY, 40216-4608

  Registry ID: 110000378546

Statutes cited

• CAA 112 — Hazardous Air Pollutants

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• AMERICAN SYNTHETIC RUBBER COMPANYentered 2014-04-28

  Primary law: CAA

Timeline (3 milestones)

• 2014-04-28Final Order Issued
• 2014-06-05Enforcement Action Closed
• 2014-07-09Enforcement Action Data Entered