STATE
OF INDIANA |
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BEFORE THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT |
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COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT Complainant, v. ALCOA INC. – LAFAYETTE OPERATIONS, Respondent. |
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AGREED ORDER
Complainant
and Respondent desire to settle and compromise this action without hearing or
adjudication of any issue of fact or law, and consent to the entry of the
following Findings of Fact and Order.
Pursuant to IC 13-30-3-3, entry into the terms of this Agreed Order does
not constitute an admission of any violation contained herein. Respondent's entry into this Agreed Order
shall not constitute a waiver of any defense, legal or equitable, which
Respondent may have in any future administrative or judicial proceeding, except
a proceeding to enforce this order.
I. FINDINGS OF FACT
1.
Complainant
is the Commissioner (“Complainant”) of the Indiana Department of Environmental
Management (“IDEM”), a department of the State of Indiana created by Indiana
Code (“IC”) 13-13-1-1.
2.
Respondent
is Alcoa Inc. – Lafayette Operations (“Respondent”), which owns and operates
the stationary secondary aluminum production facility with Plant ID No. 157-00001,
located at 3131 East Main Street, in Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana
(“Site”).
3.
IDEM
has jurisdiction over the parties and the subject matter of this action.
4.
Pursuant
to IC 13-30-3-3, IDEM issued a Notice of Violation (“NOV”) via Certified Mail
to:
Klaus
Kleinfeld, President |
CT
Corporate System, Registered Agent |
Alcoa,
Inc. |
251
E. Ohio Street |
390
Park Avenue |
Suite
1100 |
New
York, NY 10022 |
Indianapolis,
IN 46204 |
5.
As
a result of an investigation conducted by a representative of IDEM, IDEM found the
following violations:
a.
Pursuant
to Part 70 Permit (“Permit”) 157-30914-00001 Conditions D.1.1(3) and D.1.8 and
the Operating and Maintenance (“O&M”) Plan required under 40 CFR 63 Subpart
RRR, the charge to furnace #2-6 shall consist of only alloys, pig, slabs,
purchased scrap, or process scrap and chips that are essentially free of
contaminants.
Respondent charged furnace #2-6 with painted scrap on September 26, 2011, in
violation of Permit 157-30914-00001 Conditions D.1.1(3) and D.1.8 and the
Operating and Maintenance (“O&M”) Plan required under 40 CFR 63 Subpart
RRR.
b.
Pursuant
to Condition D.3.4 of the Permit, Permittee shall maintain records once per day
when the emission unit EUDAC#1 is to operate during that day to establish
compliance with the hours of operation limit and NOx emission limit established
in Condition D.3.1.
Respondent failed to record the daily log of the hour meter readings for two
(2) days in December 2011, in violation of Condition D.3.4 of the Permit.
6.
In
recognition of the settlement reached, Respondent waives any right to
administrative and judicial review of this Agreed Order.
II. ORDER
1.
This
Agreed Order shall be effective (“Effective Date”) when it is approved by
Complainant or Complainant’s delegate, and has been received by
Respondent. This Agreed Order shall have
no force or effect until the Effective Date.
2.
Respondent
shall comply with Permit 157-30520-00001.
3.
Within
thirty (30) days of the Effective Date, Respondent shall submit:
a.
A
certified copy of the email sent to scrap suppliers reiterating that only bare
scrap is to be shipped to Alcoa Lafayette.
b.
A
certified copy of written communication with Alcoa employees regarding compliance
with the Permit regarding the processing of scrap free or largely free of
contaminants.
4.
All
submittals required by this Agreed Order, unless Respondent is notified
otherwise in writing by IDEM, shall be sent to:
Matthew
Chaifetz, Compliance and Enforcement Manager |
Compliance
and Enforcement Branch – Mail Code 61-53 |
Indiana
Department of Environmental Management |
100
North Senate Avenue |
Indianapolis,
IN 46204-2251 |
5.
Respondent
is assessed and agrees to pay a civil penalty of Six Thousand, Two Hundred
Dollars ($6,200.00). Said penalty amount
shall be due and payable to the Environmental Management Special Fund within thirty
(30) days of the Effective Date; the 30th day being the “Due Date”.
6.
In
the event the terms and conditions of the following paragraphs are violated,
Complainant may assess and Respondent shall pay a stipulated penalty in the
following amount:
Paragraph |
Violation |
Stipulated
Penalty |
3a |
Failure to
submit certified copy of communications with scrap suppliers. |
$100/week or
part thereof |
3b |
Failure to
submit certified copy of written communication with Alcoa Lafayette
employees. |
$100/week or part
thereof |
7.
Stipulated
penalties shall be due and payable no later than the 30th day after
Respondent receives written notice that Complainant has determined a stipulated
penalty is due; the 30th day being the “Due Date”. Complainant may notify Respondent at any time
that a stipulated penalty is due.
Failure to notify Respondent in writing in a timely manner of a
stipulated penalty assessment shall not waive Complainant’s right to collect
such stipulated penalty or preclude Complainant from seeking additional relief
against Respondent for violation of this Agreed Order. Neither assessment nor payment of stipulated
penalties shall preclude Complainant from seeking additional relief against
Respondent for a violation of this Agreed Order; such additional relief
includes any remedies or sanctions available pursuant to Indiana law,
including, but not limited to, civil penalties pursuant to IC 13-30-4.
8.
Civil
and stipulated penalties are payable by check to the “Environmental Management
Special Fund.” Checks shall include the
Case Number of this action and shall be mailed to:
Indiana
Department of Environmental Management |
Cashier
– Mail Code 50-10C |
100
North Senate Avenue |
Indianapolis,
IN 46204-2251 |
9.
This
Agreed Order shall apply to and be binding upon Respondent and its successors
and assigns. Respondent’s signatories to this Agreed Order certify that they
are fully authorized to execute this Agreed Order and legally bind the party
they represent. No change in ownership,
corporate, or partnership status of Respondent shall in any way alter its status
or responsibilities under this Agreed Order.
10.
In
the event that the monies due to IDEM pursuant to this Agreed Order are not
paid on or before their Due Date, Respondent shall pay interest on the unpaid
balance at the rate established by IC 24-4.6-1.
The interest shall be computed as having accrued from the Due Date until
the date that Respondent pays any unpaid balance. Such interest shall be payable to the
Environmental Management Special Fund, and shall be payable to IDEM in the
manner specified in Paragraph 8, above.
11.
In
the event that any terms of this Agreed Order are found to be invalid, the
remaining terms shall remain in full force and effect and shall be construed
and enforced as if this Agreed Order did not contain the invalid terms.
12.
Respondent
shall provide a copy of this Agreed Order, if in force, to any subsequent
owners or successors before ownership rights are transferred. Respondent shall ensure that all contractors,
firms and other persons performing work under this Agreed Order comply with the
terms of this Agreed Order.
13.
This
Agreed Order is not and shall not be interpreted to be a permit or a
modification of an existing permit. This
Agreed Order, and IDEM’s review or approval of any submittal made by Respondent
pursuant to this Agreed Order, shall not in any way relieve Respondent of its
obligation to comply with the requirements of its applicable permit or any
applicable Federal or State law or regulation.
14.
Complainant
does not, by its approval of this Agreed Order, warrant or aver in any manner
that Respondent’s compliance with any aspect of this Agreed Order will result
in compliance with the provisions of any permit, order, or any applicable
Federal or State law or regulation.
Additionally, IDEM or anyone acting on its behalf shall not be held
liable for any costs or penalties Respondent may incur as a result of
Respondent’s efforts to comply with this Agreed Order.
15.
Nothing
in this Agreed Order shall prevent or limit IDEM’s rights to obtain penalties
or injunctive relief under any applicable Federal or State law or regulation,
except that IDEM may not, and hereby waives its right to, seek additional civil
penalties for the same violations specified in paragraphs I.5a & I.5b.
16.
Nothing
in this Agreed Order shall prevent IDEM or anyone acting on its behalf from
communicating with the EPA or any other agency or entity about any matters
relating to this enforcement action.
IDEM or anyone acting on its behalf shall not be held liable for any
costs or penalties Respondent may incur as a result of such communications with
the EPA or any other agency or entity.
17.
This
Agreed Order shall remain in effect until IDEM issues a Resolution of Case
letter to Respondent. IDEM shall not
unduly delay the issuance of Resolution of Case letter, once it determines the
Respondent has met its obligations under this Agreed Order.
TECHNICAL
RECOMMENDATION: |
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RESPONDENT: |
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Department
of Environmental Management |
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Alcoa Inc. – Lafayette Operations |
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By: |
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By: |
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Janusz Johnson, Chief |
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Printed: |
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Compliance
and Enforcement Section 1 |
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Office
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COUNSEL
FOR RESPONDENT: |
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APPROVED
AND ADOPTED BY THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL |
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MANAGEMENT THIS |
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DAY OF |
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,
2013. |
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For
the Commissioner |
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Signed
on June 18, 2013 |
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Keith
Baugues, Assistant Commissioner |
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Office
of Air Quality |
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Indiana
Department of Environmental Management |
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