EPA v. General Mills-Albuquerque, NM-GDC CAFO-FY2021

Case summary

On March 27, 2020, General Mills contractor utility technicians and General Mills operations noted there was a strong smell of ammonia in the cereal processing area. Plant personnel immediately evacuated the facility and called the City of Albuquerque fire department. General Mills personnel discovered the gasket on a compressor oil filter extending outside of the flange, which caused the leak of oil and ammonia. The release event resulted in tapproximately 2,989 pounds ammonia released to the atmosphere, a violation of the General Duty Clause, Clean Air Act 112(r)(1) - Failure to minimize the consequences of an accidental release when it occurred. Certain monitoring and personal protective equipment which would have allowed trained facility personnel to mitigate the duration and quantity of the release more quickly were located in the area of the release, and therefore not immediately available.

Defendants (1)

• General Mills Operations LLCNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• GENERAL MILLS OPERATIONS INC. - ALBUQUERQUE

  3501 PASEO DEL NORTE NE, ALBUQUERQUE, NM, 87113

  Registry ID: 110004279129

Statutes cited

• CAA 112[R][1] — Prevention of Accidental Release/General Duty Clause

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• General Mills-Albuquerque, NM-GDC CAFO-FY2021entered 2021-03-24

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $40,000

Timeline (6 milestones)

• 2021-03-22Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 2021-03-24Final Order Issued
• 2021-03-25Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2021-04-08Compliance Achieved
• 2021-04-09Air Resolved
• 2021-04-13Enforcement Action Closed