EPA v. COSMED OF ILLINOIS (NATIONAL CASE)

Case summary

Cosmed Group Inc. was found in violation of the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants, Ethylene Oxide Standards for Sterilization Facilities, at 6 Cosmed sterilization facilities in Regions 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 9. This Decree is a result of a multi-regional enforcement action. The $500,000 penalty is the total cash penalty for all Regions; for bookkeeping purposes, Region 5 is credited with $130,000 of the cash penalty. Specifically, at Cosmed's Waukegan, Illinois, facility, Cosmed failed to timely test its aeration room control equipment and when they tested they were found to be exceeding the ethylene oxide limit on the aeration rooms. The Waukegan facility came into compliance with the emission limit by upgrading the acid scrubbers on the aeration rooms. In addition Cosmed Waukegan was found to be in violation of monitoring and recordkeeping requirements for the aeration room air pollution control equipment, and has now come into compliance. Cosmed Group is spending $1 million on SEPs to be performed in Regions 2, 4, 5, and 9.

Defendants (1)

• COSMED OF ILLINOISNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (2)

• MEDLINE INDUSTRIES INC NORTHPOINT SERVICES DIV

  1160 S NORTHPOINT BLVD, WAUKEGAN, IL, 60085-6757

  Registry ID: 110018354010

• MEDLINE INDUSTRIES INC NORTHPOINT SERVICES DIV

  1160 S NORTHPOINT BLVD, WAUKEGAN, IL, 60085-6757

  Registry ID: 110018354010

Statutes cited

• CAA 112D — MACT Standards
• CAA 112 — Hazardous Air Pollutants

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• COSMED OF ILLINOIS (NATIONAL CASE)entered 2005-11-21

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $130,000 · SEP: $260,000

Timeline (5 milestones)

• 2003-09-24Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 2003-10-09Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2005-08-18Final Order Lodged
• 2005-08-18Complaint Filed With Court
• 2005-11-21Final Order Entered