STATE OF
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BEFORE THE
INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF |
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COUNTY OF
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ENVIRONMENTAL
MANAGEMENT |
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COMMISSIONER
OF THE DEPARTMENT |
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OF
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, |
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Complainant, |
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Case No. 2017-24474-A |
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H&R
Industrial, LLC, |
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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 Indiana Code (“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 IC
13-13-1-1.
2.
Respondent
is H&R Industrial, LLC (“Respondent”), which owns and operates the stationery
steel fabrication plant with Plant ID No. 067-00083, located at 500 East
Wheeler Street, in Kokomo, Howard 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:
Steven A.
Hearn
President and
Registered Agent
H&R Industrial,
LLC
816 Millbrook
Lane
Kokomo, IN
46901
5.
During
an investigation including an inspection on May 8, 2017, conducted by a
representative of IDEM, the following violations were found:
a.
Pursuant
to 326 IAC 2-5.1-3 and 326 IAC 2-6.1-2, no person shall construct, operate, or
modify a source or emissions unit required to obtain a registration, permit,
modification approval, or operating permit revision prior to issuance of a
registration, permit, modification approval, or operating permit revision.
Respondent
constructed and operated a stationary steel fabrication plant prior to applying
for and obtaining a permit, in violation of 326 IAC 2-5.1-3 and 326 IAC
2-6.1-2.
b.
Pursuant
to 326 IAC 8-2-9, no owner or operator of a facility engaged in the surface
coating of miscellaneous metal parts and products may cause, allow, or permit
the discharge into the atmosphere of any VOC in excess of
3.5 pounds per gallon of coating.
During
2016 and 2017, Respondent engaged in the surface coating of miscellaneous metal
parts and products using coatings with VOC in excess of
3.5 pounds per gallon of coating, in violation of 326 IAC 8-2-9.
c.
Pursuant
to 326 IAC 8-2-9, all VOC containing coatings, thinners, coating related waste,
and cleaning materials shall be stored in closed containers.
On May 8, 2017, Respondent stored VOC containing materials
in open containers, in violation of 326 IAC 8-2-9.
6.
Respondent
applied for a permit on November 13, 2017 and was issued Minor Source Operating
Permit 067-39296-00083 on April 24, 2018.
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 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 MSOP Permit
067-39296-00083 unless superseded by a permit revision or renewal.
3.
Within 90 days of the Effective Date,
Respondent shall submit a permit application to correct Permit Condition D.1.2
of MSOP Permit 067-39296-00083.
4.
All submittals required by this Agreed Order,
unless IDEM notifies the Respondent otherwise in writing, shall be sent to:
Andrew Taylor,
Enforcement Case Manager
Office of Air Quality
Indiana
Department of Environmental Management
100 North
Senate Avenue
Indianapolis,
IN 46204-2251
5.
Pursuant to IC 13-30-4-1, Respondent is
assessed and agrees to pay a civil penalty of Twelve Thousand Dollars ($12,000). Said penalty amount shall be due and payable
to the Environmental Management Special Fund within thirty (30) days of the
Effective Date; the thirtieth 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 stipulated penalties in the following amounts:
Paragraph |
Violation |
Stipulated
Penalty |
3 |
Failure to submit Permit application |
$100 per week |
7.
Stipulated penalties shall be due and payable
no later than the thirtieth day after Respondent receives written notice that
Complainant has determined a stipulated penalty is due; the thirtieth 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
Accounts
Receivable
IGCN, Room
1340
100 North
Senate Avenue
Indianapolis,
IN 46204
9.
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.
10.
Signatories to this Agreed Order certify that
they are fully authorized to execute this Agreed Order and legally bind the
party they represent.
11.
This Agreed Order shall apply to and be binding
upon Respondent and all successors and assigns. Respondent shall provide a copy
of this Agreed Order, if in force, to any subsequent owners, successors, or
assigns before ownership rights are transferred.
12.
No change in ownership, corporate, or
partnership status of Respondent shall in any way alter the Respondent’s status
or responsibilities under this Agreed Order.
13.
Respondent shall ensure that all contractors,
firms, and other persons performing work under this Agreed Order comply with
the terms of this Agreed Order.
14.
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.
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 the obligation
to comply with the requirements of any applicable permits or any applicable
Federal or State laws or regulations.
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 violations specified in the NOV.
18.
Nothing in this Agreed Order shall prevent IDEM
or anyone acting on its behalf from communicating with the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (“U.S. 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 U.S. EPA or any other agency or
entity.
19.
This Agreed Order shall remain in effect until
Respondent has complied with all terms and conditions of this Agreed Order and
IDEM has issued a Resolution of Case letter to Respondent.
TECHNICAL
RECOMMENDATION: |
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RESPONDENT: |
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Department
of Environmental Management |
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H&R Industrial, LLC |
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By: |
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By: |
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David
P. McIver, Chief |
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Printed: |
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Enforcement
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Title: |
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Office
of Air Quality |
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Date: |
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COUNSEL
FOR COMPLAINANT: |
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COUNSEL
FOR RESPONDENT: |
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For
the Department of Environmental Management |
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By: |
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By: |
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Date: |
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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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2021. |
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For
the Commissioner: |
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Signed
on January 28, 2021 |
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Matthew
Stuckey Deputy Assistant |
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Commissioner |
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Office
of Air Quality |
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