EPA v. QUEBECOR PETTY PRINTING COMPANY

Case summary

BECAUSE THE COMPANY DID NOT BELIEVE THAT ITS 2 FACILITIES CONSTITUTED A SINGLE SOURCE, THE RESPONDENT FAILED TO OBTAIN PSD CONSTRUCTION PERMITS BEFORE INSTALLING 3 PRINTING PRESSES. ON DECEMBER 30, 1998, U.S. EPA ISSUED AN ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY ORDER ASSESSING A PENALTY OF $60,500 TO QUEBECOR- PETTY PRINTING COMPANY (QUEBECOR) OF EFFINGHAM, ILLINOIS. THE ORDER WAS ISSUED TO QUEBECOR FOR VIOLATIONS OF FEDERAL RULES REQUIRING PREVENTION OF SIGNIFICANT DETERIORATION (PSD) PERMITS TO BE ISSUED PRIOR TO CONSTRUCTION OF APPLI- CABLE SOURCES. IN 1994, 1995, AND 1997, QUEBECOR RECEIVED STATE CONSTRUCT- ION PERMITS FOR THREE PRESSES WHICH WERE NOT REQUESTED OR ISSUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PSD PERMIT PROGRAM. THIS WAS RESULT OF A CLASSIFICATION BY IEPA OF THE QUEBECOR FACILITY AS TWO SEPARATE SOURCES OPERATING UNDER TWO SEPARATE STATE OPERATING PERMITS. PRESENTLY, U.S. EPA AND IEPA HAVE AGREED THAT THE TWO QUEBECOR BUILDINGS ARE ONE STATIONARY EMISSION SOURCE. HOWEVER, A REVISED TITLE V PERMIT APPLI- CATION HAS NOT BEEN SUBMITTED. QUEBECOR ALSO VIOLATED OPERATING CONDITIONS OF THE CON- STRUCTION PERMIT (FOR PRESS OP-30201) ISSUED IN 1994, BE- LIEVING THAT PERMIT HAD BEEN SUPERSEDED BY A 1996 REVISED OPERATING PERMIT ISSUED BY IEPA. PRESENTLY, THE 1994 CON- STRUCTION PERMIT HAS NOT BEEN REVISED OR RE-ISSUED TO RE- FLECT THE MAXIMUM OPERATING CONDITIONS FOR THAT PRESS. QUEBECOR MET WITH U.S. EPA ON MARCH 3, 1999 AND OFFERED TO SETTLE THE CASE. AS PART OF THE SETTLEMENT OFFER, QUEBECOR HAS PROPOSED THE INSTALLATION OF A THERMAL INCINERATOR ON THREE OF ITS PRINTING PRESSES, RESULTING IN A REDUCTION OF OVER 100 TONS PER YEAR OF ACTUAL VOLATILE ORGANIC MATERIAL (VOM) EMISSIONS. QUEBECOR ALSO STATED THAT SETTLEMENT WOULD BE CONDITIONAL ON THE RESOLUTION OF THE PERMIT ISSUES WITH IEPA. IT SEEMS LIKELY THAT THE SETTLEMENT WILL BE PACED BY IEPA'S ABILITY TO RE-ISSUE PERMITS FOR THIS SOURCE. QUEBECOR HAS SINCE INSTALLED THE CONTROL EQUIPMENT AND IS OPERATING IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CONSENT ORDER. CONTACT: SHAUN BURKE AT 312/353/5713.

Defendants (1)

• QUEBECOR PETTY PRINTING COMPANYNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (2)

• QUEBECOR PETTY PRINTING COMPANY

  420 W. INDUSTRIAL AVENUE, EFFINGHAM, IL, 62401

  Registry ID: 110001802167

• QUEBECOR PETTY PRINTING COMPANY

  420 W. INDUSTRIAL AVENUE, EFFINGHAM, IL, 62401

  Registry ID: 110001802167

Statutes cited

• CAA 165 — Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD)

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• QUEBECOR PETTY PRINTING COMPANYentered 2000-03-06

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $9,740

Timeline (4 milestones)

• 1998-12-30Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 1999-02-01Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2000-03-06Final Order Issued
• 2000-04-25Enforcement Action Closed