EPA v. CROWN ENAMELING, INC.

Case summary

NATURE OF CASE CROWN IS A COATER OF METALLIC SURFACES, IN PARTICULAR SMALL INTERIOR PARTS FOR AUTOMOBILES, WHICH USES VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS (VOC). CROWN EMITS APPROXIMATELY 171 TONS PER YEAR OF VOC. THE MICHIGAN STATE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN (SIP) REQUIRES CROWN TO EMPLOY COATING MATERIALS HAVING LESS THAN 3.0 POUNDS OF VOC PER GALLON. AT CROWN'S LEVEL OF PRODUCTION, THIS WOULD EQUATE TO 35 TONS PER YEAR. THIS WAS TO HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED BY DECEMBER 31, 1983. CAUSE OF ACTION CROWN'S EMISSIONS ARE IN VIOLATION OF THE MICHIGAN SIP AND, BECAUSE CROWN IS A MAJOR SOURCE, U.S. EPA IS REQUIRED TO BRING SUIT TO ASBATE THE VIOLATIONS AND RECOVER CIVIL PENALTIES, UNDER SECTION 113 OF THE CLEAN AIR ACT, 42 U.S.C. SECTION 7413. PROPOSED REMEDY IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE COMPLIANCE WITH THE MICHIGAN SIP, CROWN COULD EITHER INSTALL CONTROL EQUIPMENT SUCH AS AFTER- BURNERS OR CARBON ADSORPTION EQUIPMENT, OR REDUCE THE A- MOUNT OF VOC EMITTED BY REFORMULATING THE COATINGS USED. CROWN IS PROPOSING, HOWEVER, TO CLOSE THIS FACILITY AND BUY OR BUILD ANOTHER FACILITY. THE PROCESS WILL REQUIRE APPROXI MATELY TWO YEARS. REGION V RECOMMENDS A PENALTY FOR SETTLEMENT PURPOSES OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000 AND A CONSENT DECREE BE PROPOSED AS ATTACHED. ISSUES OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE NONE.

Defendants (1)

• CROWN ENAMELING INC.Named in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• CROWN GRP DETROIT PLT

  6300 E 7 MILE RD, DETROIT, MI, 48234

  Registry ID: 110038956902

Statutes cited

• CAA 110 — Implementation Plan for National Primary and Secondary Ambient Air Quality Standards
• CAA 113B — Clean Air Act

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• CROWN ENAMELING, INC.entered 1987-01-26

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $80,000

Timeline (8 milestones)

• 1984-09-28Referred To Headquarters
• 1984-11-05Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1985-01-08Referred TO U.S. Attorney
• 1985-01-16Complaint Filed With Court
• 1987-01-26Concluded
• 1987-01-26Final Order Lodged
• 1987-01-26Final Order Entered
• 1989-09-15Enforcement Action Closed