EPA v. Orion Engineered Carbons-TX LA-CAA Consent Decree (National Case)(Lead)

Case summary

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a settlement of Clean Air Act claims, by the United States and the state of Louisiana, against Orion Engineered Carbons, LLC. Under the settlement, the company has agreed to install and operate state-of-the-art pollution control technologies to reduce emissions of harmful air pollutants. In addition to the controls, estimated to cost over $100 million, Orion will pay civil penalties of $800,000, and perform environmental mitigation projects valued at $550,000. This settlement resolves claims, alleged in a complaint filed today in federal court, that Orion failed to obtain permits and install and maintain appropriate emissions reduction technology at its four carbon black production facilities located in Franklin, Louisiana; Belpre, Ohio; Orange, Texas; and Borger, Texas, as required under the Prevention of Significant Deterioration provisions of the Clean Air Act.

Defendants (1)

• Orion Engineered Carbons, LLCNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (3)

• ORANGE CARBON BLACK PLANT

  1513 ECHO RD ORANGE TX 77632 N OF ORANGE ON HWY 87, ORANGE, TX, 77630

  Registry ID: 110000463944

• BORGER CARBON BLACK PLANT

  2 MILES WEST OF BORGER ON HIGHWAY 136 THEN NORTH 0, BORGER, TX, 79007

  Registry ID: 110041008101

• ORION ENGINEERED CARBONS LLC - IVANHOE CARBON BLACK PLANT

  7095 HWY 83 S, FRANKLIN, LA, 70538

  Registry ID: 110071499254

Statutes cited

• CAA 110 — Implementation Plan for National Primary and Secondary Ambient Air Quality Standards
• CAA 165 — Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD)

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• Orion Engineered Carbons-TX LA-CAA Consent Decree (National Case)(HQ Lead)-2018entered 2018-06-08

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $533,333 · State/local: $266,667

Timeline (5 milestones)

• 2016-11-30Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 2017-04-05Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2017-12-22Complaint Filed With Court
• 2017-12-22Final Order Lodged
• 2018-06-08Final Order Entered