The EPA and U.S. Department of Justice announced Dec. 3 a settlement with the J.R. Simplot Company that resolves alleged Clean Air Act violations related to modifications made at Simplot’s five sulfuric acid plants near Lathrop, Calif., Pocatello, Idaho and Rock Springs, Wyo.
Under the settlement, Simplot will spend an estimated $42 million to install, upgrade and operate pollution controls that will significantly cut sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions at all five plants, fund a wood stove replacement project in the area surrounding the Lathrop plant, and pay an $899,000 civil penalty.
In addition to the pollution controls, Simplot will implement a plan to monitor SO2 emissions continuously at all five plants. Additionally, Simplot will spend $200,000 on a wood stove replacement mitigation project in the San Joaquin Valley, the location of Simplot’s Lathrop facility, to reduce emissions of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), as well as emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO), and hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). Once fully implemented, the settlement will reduce SO2 emissions from Simplot’s five sulfuric acid plants by more than 50 percent for approximately 2,540 tons per year of reductions.
“This settlement helps address public health risks for local communities in California, Idaho and Wyoming, and furthers EPA’s commitment to reduce harmful air pollution from the largest sources,” said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “The system-wide pollution controls Simplot will install will significantly reduce sulfur dioxide emissions, which can cause serious respiratory problems and exacerbate asthma.”
“Under this proposed settlement, Simplot must upgrade its pollution controls and cut harmful air pollution in half at its acid plants, bringing lasting benefits to communities in three states,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Sam Hirsch for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “The Justice Department will continue to vigorously enforce the Clean Air Act, which protects public health and air quality for Americans each and every day.”
“The people of southeastern Idaho will receive significant benefits from the cleaner air and better health produced by this settlement,” said Wendy J. Olson, U.S. Attorney for Idaho. “I am pleased that the federal government and the J.R. Simplot Company are able to reach this agreement that serves Idahoans so well.”
EPA and DOJ alleged that Simplot made modifications at its five sulfuric acid plants without applying for or obtaining the necessary Clean Air Act permits and obtaining “best available control technology” limits for SO2, as well as for sulfuric acid mist and PM2.5 at one of the sulfuric acid plants in Pocatello, Idaho.
Short-term exposures to SO2 can lead to serious respiratory problems, including constriction of airways in the lungs and increased asthma symptoms. Additionally, SO2 is a precursor to the formation of PM2.5, which causes a wide variety of health and environmental impacts, including asthma attacks, reduced lung function, and aggravation of existing heart disease. Simplot’s Lathrop sulfuric acid plant is located in the San Joaquin Valley in California, which is currently classified as nonattainment for the PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standards and has some of the most difficult challenges meeting those standards in the country.
The consent decree formalizing the settlement was lodged with the U.S. District Court in the District of Idaho and is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval. For more information on this settlement or for a copy of the consent decree, visit http://www2.epa.gov/enforcement/jr-simplot-company-clean-air-act-caa-settlement.