STATE OF
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BEFORE THE
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COUNTY OF
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ENVIRONMENTAL
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COMMISSIONER
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OF
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, |
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Complainant, |
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2021-27829-A |
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LIPPERT
COMPONENTS, INC., |
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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 Lippert Components, Inc. (“Respondent”), which owns and operates the stationary
trailer frame fabrication and surface coating plant, known as “Plant 72” with Plant
ID No. 039-00498, located at 2501 Jeanwood Drive, in Elkhart,
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 Electronic Mail to:
Lippert Components, Inc. Attn: Erick Click, Vice President -
EHS Elkhart, IN 46514 eclick@lci1.com |
Corporation Service Company,
Registered Agent 135 North Pennsylvania Street Suite 1610 Indianapolis, IN 46204 sop@cscglobal.com |
5.
During
an investigation including an inspection on April 26, 2021
conducted by a representative of IDEM, the following violations were found:
a.
Pursuant
to 326 IAC 2-7-4, the owner or operator of each Part 70 source has a duty to
submit a timely and complete permit application. This includes other specific information may
be necessary to implement and enforce other applicable requirements of the CAA
or this rule and determine the applicability of the requirements.
Respondent failed to submit a complete Part 70 renewal to incorporate 326 IAC
8-2-6 (Metal Furniture Coating Operations) and
40 CFR 60 Subpart EE (Surface Coating of Metal Furniture NSPS) for the CARC1
and CARC2 Spray Booths and the Epoxy and Acrylic electro coating operation dip
tanks into Respondent’s Part 70 renewal, in violation of 326 IAC 2-7-4.
b.
Pursuant
to Part 70 Permit 039-41047-00498 (“Permit”) condition D.1.11(a), daily
inspections shall be performed to verify the placement, integrity and particle
loading of the dry filters used to control emissions from powder coating booth
PC-1.
Pursuant to Permit condition D.1.12(b), to document compliance with D.1.11, the
Permittee shall maintain a log of daily inspections.
Beginning January 23, 2018, Respondent
failed to perform the daily inspections of the dry filters used to control
emissions from the powder coating booth PC-1 and/or log results of those
inspections, in violation of Permit conditions D.1.11(a) and D.1.12(b).
6.
On
July 15, 2020, Respondent was issued Part 70 Permit 039-41047-00498
incorporating 326 IAC 8-2-6 and 40 CFR 60 Subpart EE.
7.
On
May 28, 2021, Respondent submitted information confirming that coatings were
compliant with 40 CFR 60.313(c)(1)(g)(i), meeting the
subpart limit of 0.9 kilograms of VOC/liter.
8.
On
May 28, 2021, Respondent submitted missing required semiannual reports.
9.
On
May 28, 2021, Respondent reported that following discovery it began inspection
and logging of the cartridge filters of PC-1.
10.
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 rules and
permit conditions listed in the findings of fact above.
3.
All submittals required by this Agreed Order, unless
IDEM notifies the Respondent otherwise in writing, shall be sent to:
Matthew
Chaifetz, Senior Enforcement Case Manager
Office of Air Quality
Indiana
Department of Environmental Management
100 North
Senate Avenue
Indianapolis,
IN 46204-2251
mchaifet@idem.IN.gov
4.
Pursuant to IC 13-30-4-1, Respondent is
assessed and agrees to pay a civil penalty of Ten Thousand Six Hundred Dollars
($10,600.00). 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.”
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:
Indiana
Department of Environmental Management
Accounts
Receivable
IGCN, Room
1340
100 North
Senate Avenue
Indianapolis,
IN 46204
6.
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.
7.
Signatories to this Agreed Order certify that
they are fully authorized to execute this Agreed Order and legally bind the
party they represent.
8.
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.
9.
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.
10.
Respondent shall ensure that all contractors,
firms, and other persons performing work under this Agreed Order comply with
the terms of this Agreed Order.
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.
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.
13.
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.
14.
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.
15.
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.
16.
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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Lippert Components, Inc. |
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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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2022. |
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For
the Commissioner: |
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Signed
on January 18,
2022 |
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Matthew
Stuckey |
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Assistant
Commissioner |
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Office
of Air Quality Indiana
Department of Environmental Management |
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