EPA v. 3M COTTAGE GROVE INCINERATOR - APO/CAFO

Case summary

3M owns and operates a hazardous waste incinerator (HWI) that it uses to dispose of wastes from all of the company's manufacturing operations in North America. On March 21, 2016, the emissions from 3M's HWI created a visible purple plume in violation of the good air pollution control practice requirement. On 54 days between April 7, 2013, and August 30, 2016, 3M exceeded the applicable carbon monoxide (CO) emission standard in the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants from Hazardous Waste Combustors, 100 parts per million, dry and corrected to 7 percent oxygen. The average CO concentration during the violations was 159.2 parts per million by volume, dry and corrected to 7 percent oxygen. The Consent Agreement and Final Order requires 3M to pay a civil penalty of $50,000. Under a separate Administrative Consent Order, 3M agreed to take various measures to prevent a repetition of the visible purple plume and to reduce the frequency and severity of CO emissions.

Defendants (1)

• 3M COTTAGE GROVE INCINERATORNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (60)

• 3M CHEMICAL OPERATIONS' COTTAGE GROVE FACILITY - INCINERATOR

  10746 INNOVATION RD, COTTAGE GROVE, MN, 550164600

  Registry ID: 110000423667

• 3M CHEMICAL OPERATIONS' COTTAGE GROVE FACILITY - INCINERATOR

  10746 INNOVATION RD, COTTAGE GROVE, MN, 550164600

  Registry ID: 110000423667

• 3M CHEMICAL OPERATIONS' COTTAGE GROVE FACILITY - INCINERATOR

  10746 INNOVATION RD, COTTAGE GROVE, MN, 550164600

  Registry ID: 110000423667

• 3M CHEMICAL OPERATIONS' COTTAGE GROVE FACILITY - INCINERATOR

  10746 INNOVATION RD, COTTAGE GROVE, MN, 550164600

  Registry ID: 110000423667

• 3M CHEMICAL OPERATIONS' COTTAGE GROVE FACILITY - INCINERATOR

  10746 INNOVATION RD, COTTAGE GROVE, MN, 550164600

  Registry ID: 110000423667

• 3M CHEMICAL OPERATIONS' COTTAGE GROVE FACILITY - INCINERATOR

  10746 INNOVATION RD, COTTAGE GROVE, MN, 550164600

  Registry ID: 110000423667

• 3M CHEMICAL OPERATIONS' COTTAGE GROVE FACILITY - INCINERATOR

  10746 INNOVATION RD, COTTAGE GROVE, MN, 550164600

  Registry ID: 110000423667

• 3M CHEMICAL OPERATIONS' COTTAGE GROVE FACILITY - INCINERATOR

  10746 INNOVATION RD, COTTAGE GROVE, MN, 550164600

  Registry ID: 110000423667

• 3M CHEMICAL OPERATIONS' COTTAGE GROVE FACILITY - INCINERATOR

  10746 INNOVATION RD, COTTAGE GROVE, MN, 550164600

  Registry ID: 110000423667

• 3M CHEMICAL OPERATIONS' COTTAGE GROVE FACILITY - INCINERATOR

  10746 INNOVATION RD, COTTAGE GROVE, MN, 550164600

  Registry ID: 110000423667

• 3M CHEMICAL OPERATIONS' COTTAGE GROVE FACILITY - INCINERATOR

  10746 INNOVATION RD, COTTAGE GROVE, MN, 550164600

  Registry ID: 110000423667

• 3M CHEMICAL OPERATIONS' COTTAGE GROVE FACILITY - INCINERATOR

  10746 INNOVATION RD, COTTAGE GROVE, MN, 550164600

  Registry ID: 110000423667

• 3M CHEMICAL OPERATIONS' COTTAGE GROVE FACILITY - INCINERATOR

  10746 INNOVATION RD, COTTAGE GROVE, MN, 550164600

  Registry ID: 110000423667

• 3M CHEMICAL OPERATIONS' COTTAGE GROVE FACILITY - INCINERATOR

  10746 INNOVATION RD, COTTAGE GROVE, MN, 550164600

  Registry ID: 110000423667

• 3M CHEMICAL OPERATIONS' COTTAGE GROVE FACILITY - INCINERATOR

  10746 INNOVATION RD, COTTAGE GROVE, MN, 550164600

  Registry ID: 110000423667

• …and 45 more

Statutes cited

• CAA 112C — Hazardous Air Pollutants

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• 3M COTTAGE GROVE INCINERATOR - APO/CAFOentered 2017-09-29

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $50,000

Timeline (3 milestones)

• 2017-09-29Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 2017-09-29Final Order Issued
• 2017-10-02Enforcement Action Data Entered