STATE OF INDIANA		)	SS:	BEFORE THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF
		)
COUNTY OF MARION		)		ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT					)
OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT,					)
					)
Complainant,					)
					)
	v.				)	Case No. 2023-29803-A
					)
THE COUNTRY WOODSHOP LLC,					)
					)
Respondent.					)

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 The Country Woodshop LLC (“Respondent”), which owns and operates the stationary wood furniture manufacturing and surface coating operation with Plant ID No. 039-00727, located at 62870 County Road 43, in Goshen, 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”) on December 26, 2024 via Electronic Mail to:

The Country Woodshop LLC

Attn: Noah Bontrager, President & Registered Agent

62870 County Road 43

Goshen, IN 46528

noahb@amishfusiondesigns.com

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

a. Pursuant to 326 IAC 2-6.1-6, Respondent shall apply for and obtain a permit prior to modifying existing emissions units or otherwise modifying the source as described in this section.

Pursuant to 326 IAC 2-5.1-3, prior to commencing construction of any emissions unit which has potential emissions of twenty-five (25) tons or more per year of the regulated pollutants as specified in 326 IAC 2-5.1-3(a)(1)(E)(i) through 326 IAC 2-5.1-3(a)(1)(E)(viii), a new source must obtain a construction permit.

Pursuant to 326 IAC 2-7-2, any major source is required to obtain a permit prior to the operation of equipment that produces regulated emissions.

Respondent constructed and operated a non-emergency generator, identified as NGG1A, without a permit, in violation of 326 IAC 2-6.1-6, 326 IAC 2-5.1-3, and 326 IAC 2-7-2.

b. Pursuant to 326 IAC 2-7-2, Respondent shall submit an application that provides all reasonable information needed to evaluate the compliance of the source with all permit terms and conditions, including the nature and amount of any pollutant to be emitted, and the operational parameters to establish proper estimate of the potential to emit of the pollutants.

Respondent incorrectly permitted a non-emergency generator, identified as NGG2 at 300 horsepower (“HP”), when it operates at 325 HP in violation of 326 IAC 2-7-2.

6. On March 8, 2023, Respondent submitted a permit application correcting the violations that was issued as Federally Enforceable State Operating Permit No. 039-46389-00727 on June 28, 2023.

7. Orders of the Commissioner are subject to administrative review by the Office of Administrative Law Proceedings 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 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:

Lisa Ward, Enforcement Case Manager

Office of Air Quality

Indiana Department of Environmental Management

100 North Senate Avenue

Indianapolis, IN 46204-2251

LHayhurs@idem.in.gov

4. Pursuant to IC 13-30-4-1, Respondent is assessed and agrees to pay a civil penalty of Nine Thousand Dollars ($9,000.00). 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:			RESPONDENT:
Department of Environmental Management			The Country Woodshop 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		, 2025.
			For the Commissioner:
			Signed on January 8, 2025
			Matthew Stuckey, Assistant Commissioner
			Office of Air Quality Indiana Department of Environmental Management