EPA v. ADAMS PLATING

Case summary

THE U.S. EPA ISSUED NATIONAL REGULATIONS TO CONTROL AIR EMISSIONS OF CHROMIUM FROM CHROMIUM ELECTROPLATING AND ANODIZING TANKS. THE REGULATIONS BECAME EFFECTIVE ON JANUARY 25, 1995. ADAMS PLATING HAS VIOLATED SEVERAL RE- QUIREMENTS OF THE 40 C.F.R. 63.340, SUBPART N, NATIONAL EMISSIONS STANDARDS FOR HAZARDOUS AIR POLLUTANTS (NESHAP) FOR CHROMIUM ELECTROPLATERS. SPECIFICALLY, ADAMS HAS VIO- LATED THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS OF THE SUBPART N: (1) FAILURE TO KEEPING OPERATIONAL AND MAINTENANCE (O&M) PLAN; (2) FAILURE TO FOLLOW MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDATIONS; (3) FAILURE TO MONITORING SURFACE TENSION; (4) FAILURE TO MONITOR TOTAL PROCESS OPERATING TIME. MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ( MDEQ ) PER- FORMED AN INSPECTION OF THE ADAMS PLATING FACILITY ON NOV- EMBER 18, 1997, TO ASSESS THE FACILITY'S COMPLIANCE STATUS WITH NATIONAL EMISSION STANDARDS FOR HAZARDOUS AIR POLLU- TANTS FOR CHROMIUM ELECTROPLATING ( CHROME PLATING NESHAP). DURING THE INSPECTION, MDEQ FOUND VIOLATIONS AND SENT A LETTER OF VIOLATION ON JANUARY 9, 1998. MDEQ REFERRED THESE VIOLATIONS TO U.S. EPA. ON MAY 6, 1999, U.S. EPA ISSUED TO ADAMS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION UNDER SECTION 114 OF THE CLEAN AIR ACT, 42 U.S. 7414. BASED ON THE REVIEW OF INFORMATION GATHERED FROM ADAMS' RESPONSE TO THE AGENCY'S REQUEST FOR INFORMATION, MDEQ'S NOVEMBER 1997 INSPECTION, AND U.S. EPA'S REVIEW OF THE MDEQ'S COMPLIANCE FILES, U.S. EPA ISSUED A FINDING OF VIOLATION (FOV) TO ADAMS ON SEPTEMBER 20, 1999, FOR THE VIOLATIONS OF THE CHROME PLATING NESHAP. ON MARCH 14, 2000 U.S. EPA, FILED AN ADMINISTRATIVE COM- PLAINT AGAINST ADAMS PLATING COMPANY. THE ALLEGED VIOLATIONS OCCURRED FROM JANUARY 26, 1996 THROUGH FEBRUARY 2, 1998.

Defendants (1)

• ADAMS PLATINGNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• ADAMS PLATING

  521 N ROSEMARY, LANSING, MI, 48917

  Registry ID: 110007371502

Statutes cited

• CAA 112 — Hazardous Air Pollutants

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• ADAMS PLATING COMPANYentered 2000-07-26

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $6,250

Timeline (3 milestones)

• 1999-09-09Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2000-03-14Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 2000-07-26Final Order Issued