STATE OF INDIANA

COUNTY OF MARION

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BEFORE THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT
OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

 

COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT
OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT,

Complainant,

v.

VECTREN CORPORATION,

Respondent.

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Case No. 2017-24412-A




 

 

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 Vectren Corporation (“Respondent”), which owns and operates Southern Indiana Gas and Electric Company (SIGECO), A.B. Brown Generating Station, a stationary electric power plant with Plant ID No. 129-00010, located at 8511 Welborn Road, in Mount Vernon, Posey 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”) in conjunction with this Agreed Order via Certified Mail to:

 

Carl L. Chapman, President          CT Corporation System, Registered Agent

Vectren Corporation                     150 West Market Street, Suite 800

211 N.W. Riverside Drive             Indianapolis, IN 46204

Evansville, IN 47713

 

5.             During an inspection on March 13, 2017 conducted by a representative of IDEM, the following violations were found:

 

a.    Pursuant to Part 70 Permit No. 129-35974-00010 (“Permit”), Condition D.2.8, a Continuous Emission Monitoring System (“CEMS”) measuring particulate matter (PM) emissions discharged from Unit No. 2 shall be installed, certified, operated, and maintained.

 

Respondent failed to maintain the Unit No. 2 CEMS measuring particulate matter (PM) for a period from January 1, 2016 to February 28, 2016, in violation of Permit Condition D.2.8.

 

b.    Pursuant to 40 CFR 63, Subpart UUUUU, §63.10030(e) and Permit Condition E.5.2, the source must submit a Notice of Compliance Status (NOCS) within thirty (30) days of compliance testing which summarizes the results of all performance tests and fuel analysis and calculations conducted to demonstrate initial compliance with the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS).

 

Respondent failed to submit the Notice of Compliance Status (NOCS) which demonstrated initial compliance with the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) within thirty (30) days of compliance testing, in violation of 40 CFR 63, Subpart UUUUU, §63.10030(e) and Permit Condition E.5.2.

 

6.             The Respondent provided documentation to show they submitted the Notice of Compliance Status (NOCS) report to the EPA on April 30, 2017.

7.             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 the 40 CFR 63, Subpart UUUUU, §63.10030(e) and Permit conditions above at issue.

 

3.             All submittals required by this Agreed Order, unless Respondent is notified otherwise in writing by IDEM, shall be sent to:

 

Jennifer Bailey, Case Manager

Compliance and Enforcement Branch – Mail Code 61-53

Indiana Department of Environmental Management

100 North Senate Avenue

Indianapolis, IN 46204-2251

 

4.             Respondent is assessed and agrees to pay a civil penalty of Ten Thousand, Two Hundred Dollars ($10,200).  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”.

 

5.             Civil 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:

 

IDEM Office of Legal Counsel

IGCN, Rm  N1307

100 N Senate Ave

Indianapolis, IN  46204

 

6.             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.

 

7.             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 5, above.

 

8.             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.

 

9.             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.

 

10.          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.

 

11.          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.

 

12.          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 the NOV.

 

13.          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.

 

14.          This Agreed Order shall remain in effect until IDEM issues a Resolution of Case letter to Respondent.

 

 

TECHNICAL RECOMMENDATION:

 

RESPONDENT:

Department of Environmental Management

 

Vectren Corporation

 

 

 

By:

 

 

By:

 

 

David P. McIver, Chief

 

Printed:

 

 

Enforcement Section

 

Title:

 

 

Office of Air Quality

 

 

 

Date:

 

 

Date:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COUNSEL FOR RESPONDENT:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date:

 

 

 

 

 

 

APPROVED AND ADOPTED BY THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL

MANAGEMENT THIS

 

DAY OF

 

, 2017.

 

 

For the Commissioner

 

 

 

Signed on September 26, 2017

 

Keith Baugues, Assistant Commissioner

 

Office of Air Quality

 

Indiana Department of Environmental Management