EPA v. THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY

Case summary

1. SECTION 113(D) OF THE CLEAN AIR ACT ( CAA ), 42 U.S.C. SECTION 7413(D). SECTION 309(G)(2) OF THE CLEAN WATER ACT ( CWA ), 33 U.S.C. SECTION 1319(G)(2). SECTION 325(C) OF THE EMERGENCY PLANNING AND COMMUNITY RIGHT-TO-KNOW ACT ( EPCRTKA ), 42 U.S.C. SECTION 11045. SECTION 3008(A) OF THE RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND RECOVERY ACT ( RCRA ), 42 U.S.C. SECTION 6928. 2. THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY, A DELAWARE CORPORATION 2301 BRAZOSPORT BLVD. FREEPORT, BRAZORIA COUNTY, TEXAS 77541 3. RESPONDENT WAS IN VIOLATION OF SECTION 112 OF THE CAA BY 1) FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH STANDARDS FOR OPEN-ENDED VALVES OR LINES (NESHAPS), 2) FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH STANDARDS FOR OPEN-ENDED VALVES OR LINES (HON), 3) FAILURE TO DE- TERMINE THE NET HEATING VALUE OF COMBUSTED FLARE GAS (NE- SHAPS), 4) FAILURE TO DETERMINE FLARE EXIT VELOCITY (NE- SHAPS), 5) FAILURE TO DETERMINE THE NET HEATING VALUE OF COMBUSTED FLARE GAS (HON), AND 6) FAILURE TO DETERMINE FLARE EXIT VELOCITY (HON). RESPONDENT WAS IN VIOLATION OF SECTION 301 OF THE CWA BY EXCEEDING THE EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS OF ITS PERMIT. RESPONDENT WAS IN VIOLATION OF THE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 312(A) OF EPCRTKA BY FAILING TO REPORT STORAGE OR USAGE OF ACETYLENE, COMPRESSED AIR, AMMONIUM HYDROX- IDE, AZTRON HEC, BETZ 35010, CARBON BLACK PASTE, DABCO 33 LV, DER 353, DICALITE SPEEDPLUS, DIETHANOLAMINE, DOWFAX 2 EP, 1,1,1,2-TETRAFLUOROETHANE, AND 1,1-DICHLORO-1-FLUORO- ETHANE ABOVE THE THRESHOLD TO THE FREEPORT FIRE DEPT., TX. DEPT. OF HEALTH, AND THE BRAZORIA COUNTY LEPC. RESPONDENT WAS IN VIOLATION OF SECTION 3005 OF RCRA BY 1) FAILURE TO ANALYZE AND HAVE ANALYTICAL DATA FOR THE BIF METALS, 2) FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE 90-DAY STORAGE EX- EMPTION (FAILING TO LABEL AND/OR DATE EACH CONTAINER, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN REQUIRED AISLE SPACE), AND 3) STORING HAZARDOUS WASTES RESTRICTED FROM LAND DISPOSAL IN EXCESS OF ONE YEAR. 4. RELIEF SOUGHT PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 113(D) OF THE CAA, 309 (G)(2) OF THE CWA, 325(C) OF EPCRTKA, AND 3008 OF RCRA, EPA PROPOSES A CIVIL PENALTY OF $145,000 FOR THE CAA VIO- LATIONS, $55,000 FOR THE CWA VIOLATIONS, $20,000 FOR THE EPCRTKA VIOLATIONS, AND $97,100 FOR THE RCRA VIOLATIONS. EPA ALSO ISSUED A RCRA COMPLIANCE ORDER REQUIRING THE RE- SPONDENT TO 1) SUBMIT TO EPA, FOR REVIEW, COMMENT AND AP- PROVAL, WITHIN 30 DAYS RECEIPT OF THE COMPLAINT, WRITTEN STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES WHICH INCLUDE A WRITTEN DESCRIPTION OF ACTION TAKEN TO DETERMINE WHICH WASTE STREAMS WILL BE ANALYZED FOR BIF METALS, AND 2) SUBMIT TO EPA, FOR REVIEW, COMMENT, AND APPROVAL, WITHIN 45 DAYS OF RECEIPT OF THE COMPLAINT, WRITTEN STANDARD OPERATING PRO- CEDURES WHICH INCLUDE A WRITTEN DESCRIPTION OF ACTION TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT THE DRUMS IN THE PERMITTED STORAGE AREA HAVE BEEN PROPERLY DISPOSED OF AND THAT WASTE STORED IN THE AREA DO NOT EXCEED THE EXEMPTION. 5. TECH. CONTACTS: CAA: JOHN JONES - 214-665-7233 CWA: ALAN VAUGHN - 214-665-7487 RCRA: SAMUEL TATES - 214-665-2243 EPCRA: STEVE MASON - 214-665-2292

Defendants (1)

• THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANYNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (6)

• DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY FREEPORT TEXAS

  2301 N. BRAZOSPORT BLVD. BUILDING B-101, FREEPORT, TX, 775413257

  Registry ID: 110008170237

• DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY FREEPORT TEXAS

  2301 N. BRAZOSPORT BLVD. BUILDING B-101, FREEPORT, TX, 775413257

  Registry ID: 110008170237

• DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY FREEPORT TEXAS

  2301 N. BRAZOSPORT BLVD. BUILDING B-101, FREEPORT, TX, 775413257

  Registry ID: 110008170237

• DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY FREEPORT TEXAS

  2301 N. BRAZOSPORT BLVD. BUILDING B-101, FREEPORT, TX, 775413257

  Registry ID: 110008170237

• DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY FREEPORT TEXAS

  2301 N. BRAZOSPORT BLVD. BUILDING B-101, FREEPORT, TX, 775413257

  Registry ID: 110008170237

• DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY FREEPORT TEXAS

  2301 N. BRAZOSPORT BLVD. BUILDING B-101, FREEPORT, TX, 775413257

  Registry ID: 110008170237

Statutes cited

• EPCRA 312A — Emerg. Plan. & Commun. Right To Know Act
• RCRA 3005 — Permits for Treatment, Storage, or Disposal of Hazardous Waste
• CWA 301 — NPDES Discharge without a Permit
• CAA 112 — Hazardous Air Pollutants

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY - TEXAS OPERATIONSentered 1998-01-12

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $288,100

Timeline (5 milestones)

• 1997-09-16Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 1997-09-17Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1998-01-12Final Order Issued
• 1999-06-30Compliance Achieved
• 1999-06-30Enforcement Action Closed