The Bullet:

Industrial Finishing Services, a metal coating company, has been cited for air quality and hazardous waste violations at its facility in Perham. The company had been emitting hazardous air pollutants in quantities larger than allowed by its permit and had also begun construction on a new expansion before receiving a required MPCA permit. IFS has agreed to changes that will bring the facility into compliance with regulations and will pay a $60,000 civil penalty.  View the MPCA News Release.

Who:

Industrial Finishing Services (IFS), a metal coating company.

MPCA, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is authorized to manage the hazardous waste program of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act in the State of Minnesota.

What:

Alleged violations include:

• Emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in excess of the facility’s permit thresholds.
• Failure to install and operate a thermal oxidizer to control the emissions of hazardous air pollutants associated with the company’s coatings.
• Failure to apply in a timely manner for a different category of air permit due to increasing levels of air emissions; should have applied in 2009 but did not do so until 2014.
• Begun construction on a new expansion before receiving a required MPCA permit.
• Issues with the RCRA Contingency Plan and emergency response planning.
• Initial (within 6 months) and annual training of Facility Personnel.
• Use of a non-licensed site for hazardous waste disposal.
• Pollution risks posed by hazardous waste at the facility.

The company has agreed to changes that will bring the facility into compliance with air pollution and hazardous waste regulations. Many of the corrective actions have been completed. The company has also agreed to pay a $60,000 civil penalty.

Where:

Industrial Finishing Services (IFS) facility subject to these violations is located in Perham, MN.

When:

Initial MPCA inspection conducted Fall of 2013.  News release dated July 3, 2014.

Why:

The mission of the MPCA is to protect and improve the environment and enhance human health

How:

In Minnesota, the MPCA has the authority to create and enforce its own state-specific hazardous waste regulations as long as they are at least as strict and as broad as those of the USEPA.

Conclusion:

The proper management of hazardous waste requires awareness of both Federal and State regulations.  Failure to comply can result in significant fines and penalties.  Consider the cost of my Onsite Training versus a civil penalty such as this.  Once you do, please contact me for a free training consultation.