The Department of Justice (DOJ), on behalf of EPA and the state of Illinois, reached an agreement with Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM) for violations of federal and state clean-air regulations at the company''s wet corn mill plant in Decatur, Ill.
The agreement, which includes a $1,463,500 penalty and installation of scrubbers costing $1,600,000 to cut air pollution from two feed dryers resolves a civil complaint filed at the same time.
The complaint alleged that ADM made a major modification to the plant without first getting a permit to prevent significant deterioration of air quality.
It also alleged ADM exceeded limits on capacity, or the amount of light obscured by emissions of particulates, at the plant.
"We are pleased that ADM has agreed to install scrubbers to control pollution from the two feed dryers," said EPA Region 5 Administrator Francis Lyons. "This will cut particulate emissions from the plant by 80 tons per year."
Companies must get permits that restrict their emissions and prevent significant deterioration of air quality before new air pollution sources can be built, or existing sources modified, in areas that meet national health-based air quality standards for all air pollutants.
Inhaling high concentrations of particulates can affect children, the elderly, and people with heart and lung disease the most.
by Virginia Sutcliffe