EPA v. MILBANK ALFALFA PRODUCTS, INC.

Case summary

MILBANK ALFALFA PRODUCTS, INC. OWNS AN ALFALFA PROCESSING PLANT APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE WEST OF MECKLING, S. D. SOUTH DAKOTA SIP REGULATION ARSD 74:26:03:05 PROHIBITS ANYPERSON OPERATING AN ALFALFA PELLETIZING OR DEHYDRATING FACILITY FROM DISCHARGING INTO THE AMBIENT AIR ANY AIR CONTAMINANT OF A SHADE OR DENSITY EQUAL TO OR OF A SHADE OR DENSITY EQUAL TO OR DARKER THAN ... THIRTY PERCENT OPACITY. TWO VIOLATIONS WERE OBSERVED BY S. D. DEPT. OF ENVIR. PROTECTION, JANUARY 20, 1983 - 41% OF OPACITY OCTOBER 3, 1983 - 55% OF OPACITY. REGION 8 ISSUED A SECTION 120 NON ON 06-11-84. ON FEBRUARY 28, 1985, MIKE RISNER OF REGION 8 SENT EPA HQ A SAMPLE CONSENT AGREEMENT WHICH HE PROPOSED WOULD ADEQUATELY SETTLE ALL FIVE OF THE REGION 8 ALFALFA CASE: JENSEN BROTHERS, NATIONAL ALFALFA, SIOUX ALFALFA, BARNES HAY AND FEED, AND MILBANK ALFALFA. HQ RESPONDED AT THE END OF MARCH, 1985, STATING THAT THERE WERE ONLY TWO EXPLICIT WAYS OF SETTLING A SECT. 120 PROCEEDING SHORT OF OBTAINING THE FULL ECONOMIC BENEFIT PENALTY, EITHER THROUGH WITHDRAWL OR MODIFICATION OF NON BECAUSE THE SOURCE IS NOT IN VIOLATION OR IS ENTITLED TO AN EXCEPTION UNDER 40 C. F. R. SECTIONS 66.31-66.33. HQ RESPONDED THAT THE PROPOSED CONSENT AGREEMENT WAS INADEQUATE. REGION 8 AND AED AND SSCD PARTICIPATED IN A CONFERENCE CALL (05-07-85) IN WHICH A RESOLUTION OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE PROPOSED GENERIC CONSENT AGREEMENT WERE RESOLVED. PART OF THE RESOLUTION CONCERNED A THIRD METHOD OF SETTLING SECTION 120 ACTIONS WHICH, UNDER EPA POLICY GUIDANCE, PERMISSABLE GROUNDS FOR SETTLEMENT OF... SECTION 120 {ACTIONS} MARCH 19, 1985, ALLOWS RECOVERY OF LESS THAN THE FULL ECONOMIC AMOUNT WHERE EPA'S CHANCES OF PREVAILING AT THE SECTION 120 HEARING ARE LESS THAN %100. A SUMMARY OF THE HQ/REGION 8 05-07-85 CONFERENCE CALL WAS SENT TO THE REGION ON 07-12-85.

Defendants (1)

• MILBANK ALFALFA PRODUCTS, INC.

Statutes cited

• CAA 110 — Implementation Plan for National Primary and Secondary Ambient Air Quality Standards

Timeline (4 milestones)

• 1984-06-11Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1984-06-11Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 1987-01-02Compliance Achieved
• 1987-01-02Enforcement Action Closed