EPA v. SOUTHWEST GENERAL HEALTH CENTER

Case summary

Southwest General Health Center (SWGHC) is a non profit hospital that owns and operated a hospital/medical/infectious waste incinerator (HMIWI) at its facility in Middleburg Heights, Ohio. This HMIWI qualifies as a medium HMIWI pursuant to 40 C.F.R. �� 62.14490. SWGHC is subject to, inter alia, the emission limit, testing, monitoring, record keeping, and reporting requirements of the Federal Plan Requirements for Existing Hospital/Medical/Infectious Waste Incinerators. On March 31, 2003, Region 5 of the U.S. EPA issued a Finding of Violation (FOV) to SWGHC, alleging that SWGHC had violated Sections 111 and 129 of the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. ���� 7411 and 7429, and the Federal Plan Requirements for Existing Hospital/Medical/Infectious Waste Incinerators, 40 C.F.R. 62, Subpart HHH (hereinafter, the HMIWI FP). Specifically, SWGHC violated the dioxin/furan emission standard in 40 C.F.R. �� 62.14411. SWGHC has conducted two performance tests for dioxin/furan using Reference Method 23 in 40 C.F.R. 60, Appendix A (RM 23). During a RM 23 performance test conducted on May 20 and 21, 2002, the average emission concentration was 513.2 ng total/dscm at 7% O2 and 11.1 ng TEQ/dscm at 7% O2. The emission standard for a medium HMIWI for dioxin/furan is 125 ng total/dscm at 7% O2 or 2.3 ng TEQ/dscm at 7% O2. SWGHC shut down its HMIWI in order to come into compliance.

Defendants (1)

• Southwest General Health CenterNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• SOUTHWEST GENERAL HEALTH CENTER

  18697 EAST BAGLEY ROAD, MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS, OH, 44130-3497

  Registry ID: 110004623088

Statutes cited

• CAA 111 — New Source Performance Standards

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• SOUTHWEST GENERAL HEALTH CENTERentered 2004-03-31

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $12,500 · SEP: $43,816

Timeline (4 milestones)

• 2004-03-31Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 2004-03-31Final Order Issued
• 2004-04-08Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2005-04-04Enforcement Action Closed