Altivia Petrochemicals LLC will pay a $1,112,500 civil penalty for alleged violations of the Clean Air Act at its manufacturing facility in Haverhill, Ohio, as part of a settlement agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The company also must improve its leak detection and repair work practices, a Sept. 23 news release said.
“This consent decree will benefit communities in Ohio by reducing hazardous air pollution,” EPA Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore said in the release. “The settlement, which resolves years of Clean Air Act violations, will require Altivia to improve its Clean Air Act compliance efforts and to implement monitoring and repair best practices.”
A seven-count complaint, filed Oct. 5, 2021, said Altivia allegedly violated Clean Air Act “requirements to monitor and repair leaking equipment, demonstrate compliance with regulations applicable to chemical plants and control HAP (hazardous air pollutants) emissions from equipment,” the release said. HAPs, such as phenol, from leaking equipment can harm the environment and may cause health problems, including blood and liver ills, anorexia and vertigo.
Altivia’s case shows how the Department of Justice “vigorously” litigates against companies violating federal environmental law, Todd Kim, assistant attorney general for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, said in the release.
“The significant civil penalty obtained will serve as deterrent against future non-compliance and the compliance program will require Altivia to upgrade its monitoring and maintenance practices to help prevent future violations due to fugitive emissions,” Kim said in the release.
