Respondent Name: Indiana Galvanizing, LLC

Case Number:         2019-26251-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 Indiana Galvanizing, LLC (“Respondent”), which owns and operates a stationary hot dip galvanizing operation for a variety of fabricated steel parts used primarily in the energy, structural, and transportation industries with Plant ID No. 039-00741 located at 51702 Lovejoy Drive in Middlebury, Elkhart 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:

Jason Monnig, Manager

Northwest Registered Agent, LLC, Registered Agent

Indiana Galvanizing, LLC

Indiana Galvanizing, LLC

541 East Orchard Drive

5534 Saint Joe Road

Glasgow, MO 65254

Fort Wayne, IN 46835

 

5.             Based on IDEM’s review, the following violations were in existence or identified by a representative of IDEM’s Office of Air Quality (“OAQ”).

 

a.             Pursuant to Federally Enforceable State Operating Permit (FESOP) No. 039-33180-00741 (FESOP 33180) condition B.11 and FESOP No. 039-39120-00741 (FESOP 39120) condition B.9, Respondent is responsible for submitting an Annual Compliance Certification (“ACC”) for each year to IDEM no later than April 15 of the following year.


Respondent was late submitting the Annual Compliance Certifications for the years 2013, 2015, and 2018, in violation of FESOP 33180 condition B.11 and FESOP 39120 condition B.9.

 

b.             Pursuant to FESOP 33180 condition C.18 and FESOP 39120 condition C.17, Respondent shall submit the Quarterly Deviation and Compliance Monitoring Report no later than thirty (30) days after the reporting period.


Respondent was late submitting the Quarterly Deviation and Compliance Monitoring Reports for the first, second, third, and fourth quarters of 2018, and the first quarter of 2019, in violation of FESOP 33180 condition C.18 and FESOP 39120 condition C.17.

 

c.              Pursuant to FESOP 39120 condition D.1.6, Respondent shall perform PM, PM10, and PM2.5 testing of the abrasive blasting units, identified as EU1 and EU2, utilizing methods as approved by the Commissioner at least once every five (5) years from the date of the most recent valid compliance demonstration.


Respondent failed to perform PM, PM10, and PM2.5 testing of the abrasive blasting units, identified as EU1 and EU2, utilizing methods as approved by the Commissioner at least once every five (5) years from the date of the most recent valid compliance demonstration, in violation of FESOP 39120 condition D.1.6.

 

6.             Abrasive blasting units EU1 and EU2 were permanently removed from the facility, and a new permit (Registration No. 039-41654-00741) was issued on August 20, 2019 to reflect the emission unit change.

 

7.             Orders of the Commissioner are subject to administrative review by the Office of Environmental Adjudication under IC 4-21.5; however, in recognition of the settlement reached, Respondent acknowledges notice of this right and 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 adopted via signature by Complainant or Complainant’s delegate, and the adopted Agreed Order has been received by Respondent.  This Agreed Order shall have no force or effect until the Effective Date.  This offer to settle the allegations contained in this Agreed Order does not bind or obligate the parties of this enforcement action if the Agreed Order is not adopted.

 

2.             Respondent is assessed a civil penalty of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00).  Respondent shall pay said penalty amount no later than fifteen (15) days after the Effective Date (“Due Date”).  In the event that the civil penalty is not paid by the Due Date, Respondent shall pay interest on the unpaid balance at the rate established by IC 24-4.6-1-101.

 

3.             In the event the terms and conditions of this Agreed Order are violated, Complainant may seek additional relief.

4.             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:

 

Indiana Department of Environmental Management

Accounts Receivable

IGCN, Room 1340

100 North Senate Avenue

 

5.             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.

 

6.             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.

 

7.             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.

 

8.             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.

 

9.             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.

 

10.          Nothing in this Agreed Order shall prevent IDEM or anyone acting on its behalf from communicating with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“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.

 

11.          The parties were free to consult with their respective counsel regarding entry into this Agreed Order to the extent each deemed necessary.

 

 

TECHNICAL RECOMMENDATION:

 

RESPONDENT:*

Department of Environmental Management

 

Indiana Galvanizing, LLC

 

 

 

By:

 

 

By:

 

 

David P. McIver, Chief

 

Printed:

 

 

Enforcement Section

 

Title:

 

 

Office of Air Quality

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

APPROVED AND ADOPTED BY THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL

MANAGEMENT THIS

 

DAY OF

 

, 2019.

 

 

For the Commissioner:

 

 

 

Signed on October 17, 2019

 

Matthew Stuckey, Deputy Assistant Commissioner

 

Office of Air Quality

 

 

 

 

_____________________

* In the event that Respondent does not accept the settlement offer contained in this Agreed Order, IDEM notes that this document is a qualified offer of settlement, and therefore Rule 408 of Indiana Rules of Evidence applies to this document, rendering it inadmissible.