Cargill to pay $110,000 civil penalty for Clean Air Act violations
The facility uses hazardous air pollutants methanol, methyl tertiary butyl ether, and formaldehyde to produce Vitamin E and similar compounds from soybean by-products.
Facility inspections and record reviews by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) showed Cargill breached the act’s National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Pharmaceutical Production.
Violations included failure to comply with regulations designed to prevent leaks of air pollutants from equipment and failure to identify wastewater subject to air pollutant emission control requirements.
A Cargill spokeswoman told us: "Cargill Incorporated has reached an agreement with US EPA Region VII to resolve alleged violations of pharmaceutical manufacturer requirements of the federal Clean Air Act at its Vitamin E facility in Eddyville, Iowa.
"Cargill fully cooperated with the investigation which began in 2007 and promptly addressed the alleged violations. Cargill remains committed to preserving and protecting the air, water and other natural resources within our Communities."
Under the administrative civil settlement, Cargill will perform an Enhanced Leak Detection and Repair project, subject to third party auditing, at the facility for one year.
The EPA said this will raise the quality and effectiveness of the plant’s hazardous air pollutant leak detection program, reducing unanticipated emissions of hazardous air pollutants.
Cargill has agreed to spend $155,000 on an environmental project which will be completed in one year to incorporate sealless pump technology.
The firm will replace certain mechanical seal pumps that have the potential to leak hazardous air pollutants and/or volatile organic compounds, such as ethanol.
