A South Carolina paper and pulp factory agreed to pay a $1.1 million consent decree to eliminate an imminent and substantial endangerment to public’s health and the environment as the result of elevated hydrogen sulfide (H2S) emissions.
According to a Nov. 17 news release from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, New Indy Containerboard Catawba LLC must ensure H2S emissions remain below levels that potentially cause health impacts for at least three sequential years or it will be charged with additional penalties. The current high levels is in violation of Section 303 of the Clean Air Act.
“This settlement provides significant environmental benefits to the surrounding communities by ensuring they are protected from pollution from this facility through mandatory long-term improvements designed to ensure cleaner air," Acting Assistant Administrator for EPA Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Larry Starfield said in the release.
The release states the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina approved a consent decree Nov. 16. The U.S. filed the complaint in 2021 on EPA’s behalf.
“We are thankful for the great work of the EPA and our state partners and remain committed to protecting our communities through tough enforcement of the nation’s environmental laws,” U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina Adair F. Boroughs said in the release.
“Thanks to EPA’s swift action, the facility has not had an exceedance of the health-based standard for H2S since September 2021 and this settlement ensures that protection will be extended long-term,” EPA Region 4 Administrator Daniel Blackman said, according to the release.
