Louisiana Plant Chemicals Company Pays the Price for Polluting: Settles for $75K Over Hazardous Emissions

Louisiana [United States]: As part of a special monitoring and enforcement initiative conducted following the visit of EPA Administrator Michael Regan to the area as part of his Journey to Justice tour, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) officials discovered alleged violations by Evonik Corporation at their Reserve facility in St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana. In response to this, an agreement has been reached between the EPA and Evonik Corporation that will lead to a reduction of 5.6 tons per year of hazardous air pollutants and Ethylene oxide emissions from the facility.

Evonik Corporation Fined $75,000 for Facility Violations under Settlement Agreement. The inspections were carried out in April 2022 under the Pollution Accountability Team project, which was launched by EPA enforcement teams due to concerns raised by nearby residents. This innovative initiative involved a combination of advanced air pollution monitoring techniques, including real-time inspections by EPA's. Moreover, teams of inspectors from EPA and LDEQ were available to carry out on-site inspections at specific facilities without prior notice, if necessary, based on monitoring results indicating elevated emissions.

In response to the alleged violations, Evonik Corporation has taken steps to address the issue, including replacing their scrubber with a more efficient flare that can destroy 98% of emissions routed to it. As an additional measure, the company will install a thermal oxidizer that operates with a minimum destruction efficiency of 99.9%, which will be demonstrated through an initial performance test.

Finally, Evonik has committed to implementing an enhanced leak detection and repair program aimed at reducing the amount of fugitive emissions of Ethylene oxide and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

According to the settlement agreement, the measures taken by Evonik Corporation will lead to a reduction of approximately 5.6 tons per year of hazardous air pollutant emissions, including 2.16 tons of Ethylene oxide, which is a dangerous organic pollutant and VOC known to cause cancer in humans. Exposure to VOCs can contribute to the formation of smog, or ozone, which can lead to several health problems such as asthma, lung infections, bronchitis, and even cancer.