EPA v. Continental Carbon Company-TX OK-CAA Consent Decree (Lead) (National Case)-2015

Case summary

On May 7, 2015, a Consent Decree was entered between the United States and the states of Alabama and Oklahoma, and Continental Carbon Company (Continental). Continental has agreed to install pollution control technology that will significantly cut emissions of harmful air pollutants at manufacturing facilities in Alabama, Oklahoma and Texas. The settlement will resolve claims that Continental violated the Clean Air Act by modifying their facilities in a way that caused the release of excess sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx). The settlement requires Continental to pay a civil penalty of $650,000, which will be shared with Alabama and Oklahoma, co-plaintiffs in the case. Continental must also spend $550,000 on environmental projects to help mitigate the harmful effects of air pollution on the environment and to benefit local communities, including at least $25,000 on energy efficiency projects in the communities near each of the three facilities. Amendment: Changes the date by which the Wet Gas Scrubber (WGS), which controls sulfur dioxide emissions, and the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR), which controls nitrogen oxide emissions, would be installed and operated at Continental's Ponca City, OK, facilities by about 2.5 years later, to April 1, 2021.

Defendants (1)

• Continental Carbon CompanyNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (3)

• CONTINENTAL CARBON CO / CARBON BLACK PRODUCTION FACILITY

  1006 E OAKLAND AVE, PONCA CITY, OK, 74601

  Registry ID: 110000455766

• CONTINENTAL CARBON CO / CARBON BLACK PRODUCTION FACILITY

  1006 E OAKLAND AVE, PONCA CITY, OK, 74601

  Registry ID: 110000455766

• CONTINENTAL CARBON SUNRAY PLANT

  11702 CARBON BLACK RD, SUNRAY, TX, SUNRAY, TX, 79086

  Registry ID: 110000465728

Statutes cited

• CAA 110 — Implementation Plan for National Primary and Secondary Ambient Air Quality Standards
• CAA 502 — Operating Permits (Title V)
• CAA 111 — New Source Performance Standards
• CAA 165 — Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD)

Enforcement conclusions (2)

• Continental Carbon Company-CAA Consent Decree (Lead) (National Case)-1st Amendentered 2018-05-25

  Primary law: CAA

• Continental Carbon Company-TX OK-CAA Consent Decree (Lead) (National Case)-2015entered 2015-05-07

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $303,000 · State/local: $97,500

Timeline (5 milestones)

• 2010-03-23Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 2010-04-01Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2015-03-23Complaint Filed With Court
• 2017-12-22Final Order Lodged
• 2018-05-25Final Order Entered