The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and FiberPro, Inc. (“FI”) entered into a January 22nd Consent Agreement and Final Order (“CAFO”) addressing alleged violations of a Clean Air Act Title V Permit. See Docket No. CAA-05-2026-0018 .
The CAFO provides that FI operates a reinforced plastic composites manufacturing facility in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
The facility operates pursuant to a Clean Air Act Title V Permit.
EPA is stated to have conducted an inspection of the facility on May 16, 2024, to evaluate compliance with the Clean Air Act and the Title V Permit.
Resin mixing was stated to be occurring with the mixture cover open during the inspection and that the gap around the mixer shaft exceeded one inch.
Facility personnel stated that they needed to mix with the cover open after a forklift accidentally hit and damaged the mixer the previous week, preventing it from closing properly.
Between May 16, 2024, to July 9, 2024, FI is stated to have completed the following actions to resolve certain violations and return to compliance:
- Repaired the damage to the resin cover as identified during the 2024 Inspection;
- Installed a dual brush unit that provides coverage around the mixer shaft during all mixing stages;
- Deconstructed the auger pump drainage rack and began storing all auger pumps in the barrels of resin for which they are intended to be used.
The CAFO alleges the following violations:
- By failing to store all VOC-containing materials, including waste resin, in a manner that will prevent evaporation to the atmosphere, and failing to keep all containers that contain VOCcontaining materials (including waste resin) closed or covered, AFP violated Section A.1.(1) of the AFP Title V Permit.
- By failing to use mixer covers with gaps of less than one inch around the mixer shaft, and failing to keep mixer covers closed whenever mixing is occurring, AFP violated Section A.2.(2)(d)(i) and (iii) of the AFP Title V Permit.
FI neither admits nor denies the allegations in the CAFO.
A civil penalty of $62,698 is assessed.
A copy of the CAFO can be found here.
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