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EPA, DOJ and state of Illinois reach agreement with Smurfit-Stone container on clean-air violations

Release Date: 03/15/2007
Contact Information: William Omohundro, (312) 353-8254, omohundro.william@epa.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 07-OPA37

CHICAGO (March 15, 2007) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Justice and the state of Illinois have reached an agreement with Smurfit-Stone Container Enterprises Inc. on alleged clean-air violations at a printing plant formerly owned by the company at 1228 E. Tower Road, Schaumburg, Ill.

The agreement resolves a complaint filed in November alleging Smurfit failed to control smog-producing volatile organic compound emissions from its printing lines and failed to meet state VOC emission credit requirements. The company agreed to pay penalties totaling $325,000 - $162,500 to EPA and $162,500 to the state of Illinois.

Smurfit has installed a thermal oxidizer to destroy its VOC emissions and has demonstrated compliance through testing. It has also met its state VOC emission credit requirements.

Schaumburg is in the Chicago metropolitan area, which fails to meet national outdoor air quality standards for ground-level ozone (smog). Smog is formed when a mixture of air pollutants is baked in the summer sun. Smog can cause a variety of respiratory problems, including coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and chest pain. People with asthma, children and the elderly are especially at risk, but these health concerns are important to everyone.

Information on EPA Region 5's air enforcement program is at www.epa.gov/region5/air/enforce/. Potential environmental violations may be reported at https://www.epa.gov/compliance/complaints.