EPA v. BUFFELEN WOODWORK CO

Case summary

NATURE OF THE CASE: BUFFELEN WOODWORKING CO PRODUCES HARDWOOD VENEERS & PLYWOOD DOORS AT A FACILITY LOCATED NEAR TACOMA, WA. THE UNIT OF CONCERN AT THIS SOURCE IS THE HOG FUEL BOILER. INSPECTORS FOR THE PUGET SOUND AIR POLLUTION CONTROL AG- ENCY(PSAPCA) HAVE OBSERVED THIS UNIT TO BE IN VIOL OF AP- PLICABLE OPACITY STANDARDS ON 6 OCCASIONS SINCE 30 DAYS AFTER EPA ISSUED A NOTICE OF VIOL(NOV) ON 4/27/82. THE AREA IN WHICH BUFFELEN IS LOCATED IS DESIGNATED NONATTAINMENT FOR PARTICULATE MATTER. BUFFELEN IS CONSID- ERED TO BE A MAJOR (A-1) SOURCE & IS ON EPA'S SIGNIFICANT VIOLATOR LIST. THE VIOL'S ISSUED BY PSAPCA & THE NOV IS- SUED BY EPA INVOLVE EXCEEDENCES OF VISABLE EMISSION STAN- DARDS(OPACITY) BY THE BOILER. EPA'S AUTHORITY TO BRING THIS ACTION IS SEC 113(A)(4) OF THE CAA(42 USC SEC 7413 (A)(4)). BUFFELEN HAS EXPERIENCED BOILER PROBLEMS FOR WELL OVER A YR. EPA & PSAPCA MET INFORMALLY W/BUFFELEN ON 11/12/81 TO DISCUSS BOILER OPERATION. SUBSEQUENT TO THAT CONFERENCE BUT PRIOR TO ISSUANCE OF THE NOV BY EPA, THE CO WAS CITED 8 TIMES BY PSAPCA FOR VIOL OF APPLICABLE OPACITY REQUIREMENTS. THE CO'S FAILURE TO IMPLEMENT COR- RECTIVE ACTIONS RESULTED IN LOCAL & STATE AGENCY SUPPORT FOR FED ENFORCEMENT ACTION.

Defendants (1)

• BUFFELEN WOODWORK CONamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• BUFFELEN WOODWORKING CO

  1901 TAYLOR WAY, TACOMA, WA, 98421

  Registry ID: 110005313810

Statutes cited

• CAA 113 — Clean Air Act

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• BUFFELEN WOODWORKING COentered 1982-12-30

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $4,953

Timeline (8 milestones)

• 1982-03-30Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1982-10-01Referred To Headquarters
• 1982-11-08Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1982-12-29Complaint Filed With Court
• 1982-12-30Final Order Lodged
• 1982-12-30Final Order Entered
• 1982-12-30Concluded
• 1985-05-23Enforcement Action Closed