EPA v. Hexion, Inc.

Case summary

On September 4, 2019, Region 10 filed a consent agreement and final order that resolves 14 data quality violations of EPCRA Section 313 and the Pollution Prevention Act by Hexion Inc. at its resin production facility in Springfield, Oregon. EPA alleged that Hexion Inc. failed to report to EPA and the State of Oregon the on-site waste treatment of formaldehyde, phenol, and methanol for calendar years 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017. EPCRA Section 313 and the Pollution Prevention Act require subject facilities to report releases and on-site and off-site waste treatment, reuse, and recycling of toxic chemicals used at the facilities. The information reported is made available to the public through the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI). The information the Springfield facility reported to TRI was inconsistent with emission controls required by the facility?s air permit. Hexion Inc. agreed to correct the TRI reports, pay a $60,000 penalty and spend $134,900 to implement a Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) to reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including methanol, phenol, and formaldehyde.

Defendants (1)

• Hexion, Inc.Named in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (2)

• MOMENTIVE SPECIALTY CHEMICALS INC

  470 S 2ND ST, SPRINGFIELD, OR, 97477

  Registry ID: 110000488491

• MOMENTIVE SPECIALTY CHEMICALS INC

  470 S 2ND ST, SPRINGFIELD, OR, 97477

  Registry ID: 110000488491

Statutes cited

• EPCRA 313 — Toxic Chemical Release Reporting (TRI)

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• Hexion, Inc.entered 2019-09-04

  Primary law: EPCRA

  Federal penalty: $60,000 · SEP: $134,908

Timeline (3 milestones)

• 2019-09-04Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 2019-09-04Final Order Issued
• 2019-09-12Enforcement Action Data Entered