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.

CENTRAL INDIANA ETHANOL, LLC,

Respondent.

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Case No. 2014-22513-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 Central Indiana Ethanol, LLC (“Respondent”), which owns and operates the ethanol production plant with Plant ID No. 053-00062, located at 2955 West Delphi Place in Portland Marion, Grant 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 is issuing a Notice of Violation (“NOV”) in conjunction with this Agreed Order via Certified Mail to.

 

Ryan Drook, President

Central Indiana Ethanol, LLC

2955 West Delphi Place

Marion, Indiana 46952

 

5.               During an investigation conducted by a representative of IDEM, the following violations were found:

 

a.               Pursuant to 326 IAC 8-5-6 and condition D.2.4 of permit 053-32070-00062 an owner or operator of a fuel grade ethanol production plant that is a dry mill shall install and operate at least one of the following control devices for VOC emissions from the plant:  “…(2) A wet scrubber with an overall control efficiency of not less than ninety-eight percent (98%) or resulting in a volatile organic compound concentration of not more than twenty (20) parts per million (ppm)”  and the VOC emissions from the fermentation and distillation processes shall be controlled by a scrubber when venting to the emergency stack. Condition D.2.4 specifically requires the scrubber to be in operation and control distillation and fermentation at all times the fermentation and distillation processes are in operation.

Respondent failed to operate a wet scrubber to control the VOC and HAP emissions from the fermentation process on May 13, 2014 through May 16, 2014 for approximately 72 hours during a plant shutdown, in violation of 326 IAC 8-5-6 and conditions D.2.4 of permit 053-32070-00062.

 

b.               Pursuant to 326 IAC 8-5-6 and Conditions D.1.6, D.1.7, D.1.9, D.2.6, D.2.8, D.3.13 and D.4.7 of both permits 053-32070-00062 and 053-30294-00062; D.3.9, D.4.6, and D.4.9 of permit 053-32070-00062; D.3.10, D.4.8 and D.4.10 of permit 053-30294-00062, Respondent shall take and record visible emission notations from emission unit stacks stated in the conditions, pressure drop readings across baghouses controlling those units and scrubber flow rate readings.

 

Respondent failed to take and record visible emissions notations, pressure drop readings and scrubber flow rate readings for several days in 2012, 2013 and 2014 in violation of 326 IAC 8-5-6 and conditions D.1.6, D.1.7, D.1.9, D.2.6, D.2.8, D.3.13 and D.4.7 of both permits 053-32070-00062 and 053-30294-00062; D.3.9, D.4.6, and D.4.9 of permit 053-32070-00062; D.3.10, D.4.8 and D.4.10 of permit 053-30294-00062.

 

c.               Pursuant to Conditions D.1.7 and D.2.6 of permits 053-32070-00062 and 053-30294-00062 and D.4.8 of permit 053-30294-00062, when for any one reading the pressure drop of any scrubber is outside the minimum established during the latest stack test, Respondent shall take reasonable response steps in accordance with section C.16.

Respondent failed to take sufficient reasonable response steps for scrubber pressure drop readings that were out of range on several days from 2012
to 2014, in violation of Conditions D.1.7 and D.2.6 of permits 053-32070-00062 and 053-30294-00062 and D.4.8 of permit 053-30294-00062.

 

d.               Pursuant to 326 IAC 8-5-6 and Conditions D.2.5 of permit 053-32070-00062 the Respondent shall perform VOC and acetaldehyde testing of  scrubbers CE005 and CE010 once every five years from the date of the most recent valid compliance demonstration.


Respondent failed to perform stack testing for the scrubbers by the due date of April 2014 which is the five year mark, in violation of 326 IAC 8-5-6 and Condition D.2.5 of permit 053-32070-00062.

 

e.               Pursuant to Condition D.5.7 of permit 053-32070-00062 the Respondent shall maintain records of temperature or other parameters sufficient to demonstrate the presence of a pilot flame when loading racks EU045A and/or EU045B are in operation.


Respondent failed to maintain records of the pilot flame temperature for several days in 2014, in violation of Condition D.5.7 of permit 053-32070-00062.

 

6.               The Respondent completed a VOC and acetaldehyde testing of scrubber CE005 on July 29, 2014 and scrubber CE010 on September 26, 2014.

 

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 rules and permit conditions listed in the findings of facts.

 

3.               Respondent shall perform stack testing of the fermentation scrubbers CE005 and CE010 for VOC and acetaldehyde in accordance with 326 IAC 3-6 during the next plant shutdown process using a method acceptable to IDEM in order to evaluate compliance with these limits during shutdown. Respondent shall submit to IDEM the required notification prior to the test and note all operational conditions such as the age of the mash in the fermentation tanks, the scrubber additive injection rate, scrubber flow rate and all other parameters of relevance during the period of testing.

 

4.               If the VOC and acetaldehyde emission limit requirements are met during the testing conducted per condition 3 of this order, Respondent shall apply to IDEM permits branch for a significant permit modification to include an alternative operating scenario in the permit in accordance with the operational conditions established during the stack test within 60 days of IDEM’s receipt of the test report.

 

5.               If the VOC and acetaldehyde emission limit requirements are not met during the testing conducted per condition 4 of this order, Respondent shall provide to IDEM a detailed alternative plan of action for collecting and transporting the scrubber water to the City of Marion and a timeline for the implementation of the plan within 30 days of IDEM’s receipt of the stack test report.

 

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

 

Nandi Tissing, 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

 

7.               Respondent is assessed and agrees to pay a civil penalty of Eighteen Thousand Dollars ($18,000).  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”.

 

8.               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

 

 

 

4

Failure to apply to permits branch for a permit modification within 60 days of IDEM’s receipt of test report if the VOC and acetaldehyde emissions requirements are met during plant shutdown.

 

$500 per week

5

Failure to submit an alternative compliance plan of action within 30 days of IDEM’s receipt of the test report if the emission requirements are not met.

$500 per week

 

9.               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.

 

10.           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

 

11.           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 their status or responsibilities under this Agreed Order.

 

12.           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 11 above.

 

13.           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.

 

14.           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.

 

15.           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.

 

16.           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.

 

17.           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 this Agreed Order.

 

18.           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.

 

19.           This Agreed Order shall remain in effect until the Respondent has complied with all terms and conditions of this Agreed Order and IDEM issues a Resolution of Case letter to the Respondent.

 

 

TECHNICAL RECOMMENDATION:

 

RESPONDENT:

Department of Environmental Management

 

Central Indiana Ethanol, LLC

 

 

 

By:

 

 

By:

 

 

Lynne J. Sullivan, Chief

 

Printed:

 

 

Compliance and Enforcement Section 2

 

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

 

, 2014.

 

 

For the Commissioner

 

 

 

Signed on October 29, 2014

 

Keith Baugues, Assistant Commissioner

 

Office of Air Quality

 

Indiana Department of Environmental Management