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Owner of Fertilizer and Feed Supplement Maker in Fairbury, Neb., to Pay $30,000 Penalty for Violations of Clean Water Act

Release Date: 08/11/2010
Contact Information: Chris Whitley, 913-551-7394, whitley.christopher@epa.gov


Environmental News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Kansas City, Kan., August 11, 2010) - International Minerals Technology, LLC, of The Woodlands, Texas, has agreed to pay a $30,000 civil penalty to the United States to settle allegations that it violated the federal Clean Water Act at its Tetra Micronutrients production facility in Fairbury, Neb.

Tetra Micronutrients produces zinc and manganese fertilizers and feed supplements at the facility located at 71025 569^th Avenue in Fairbury. According to an administrative complaint and consent agreement filed in Kansas City, Kan., a March 2009 inspection found that Tetra Micronutrients exceeded the effluent limits of its stormwater permit for the years 2005 through 2009.

Tetra Micronutrients’ facility also violated inspection and review requirements of its Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP), the inspection found.

Permit effluent limits are imposed to protect aquatic life and water quality. Runoff from the Tetra Micronutrients facility contained pollutants, including cadmium, copper, lead and zinc. Polluted runoff can harm or kill fish and wildlife, and impact the quality of drinking water.

Runoff from Tetra Micronutrients is discharged into Brawner Creek, a tributary of the Little Blue River.

The Clean Water Act requires that industrial facilities such as Tetra Micronutrients have controls and pollution prevention procedures in place to prevent pollutants from being discharged with stormwater into nearby waterways.

The company has recently installed a containment basin to capture stormwater runoff to prevent the discharge of pollutants. Captured stormwater is then used as part of the company’s production process.

EPA’s settlement with International Minerals Technology is subject to a 40-day public comment period before it becomes final.