EPA v. POET BIOREFINING - LAKE CRYSTAL - ACO

Case summary

POET operates an ethanol plant in Lake Crystal, Minnesota. EPA issued a Notice and Finding of Violation on September 30, 2015, alleging that POET violated permit conditions established in a federally enforceable state operating permit and a Title V permit. Specifically, from October 2010 through May 2015, the facility operated fermentation units during scrubber downtime, in violation of their permit. In addition, POET exceeded permit limits on the beer feed rate, failed to operate the scrubber as required by the permits, failed to take and record corrective action upon discovering deviations, and failed to establish an O&M Plan that met permit requirements. To resolve the allegations, an Administrative Consent Order requires POET to install ductwork modifying the facility such that, during scrubber downtime, emissions from the fermentation process will be controlled by a thermal oxidizer and brings the facility into compliance. A concurrent Consent Agreement and Final Order requires POET to pay civil penalty of $150,000.

Defendants (1)

• POET BIOREFININGNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• POET BIOREFINING LAKE CRYSTAL LLC

  19200 499TH AVE, LAKE CRYSTAL, MN, 560554590

  Registry ID: 110018853409

Statutes cited

• CAA TITLE5 — Title V Permits
• CAA 110 — Implementation Plan for National Primary and Secondary Ambient Air Quality Standards
• CAA 502 — Operating Permits (Title V)

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• POET BIOREFINING - LAKE CRYSTAL - ACOentered 2016-05-10

  Primary law: CAA

Timeline (2 milestones)

• 2016-05-10Final Order Issued
• 2016-05-20Enforcement Action Data Entered