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Maine Military Authority Agrees to Pay $23,500 Penalty and Spend $82,900 on Environmental Projects to Settle EPA Claims

Release Date: 01/13/2005
Contact Information:

Contact: Sheryl Rosner, EPA Office of Public Affairs, (617) 918-1865, rosner.sheryl@epa.gov

For Immediate Release: January 13, 2005; Release # sr050103

Boston - The Maine Military Authority (MMA) in Limestone, Maine will pay a $23,500 penalty and spend an additional $82,900 on two environmental projects to settle claims by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that it violated clean air laws.

The violations cited in a June 2004 EPA complaint, occurred at the Maine Readiness Sustainment Maintenance Center where the authority maintains, rebuilds, stores, and paints, vehicles and equipment for the U.S. Department of Defense. EPA cited MMA for violations of Maine's federally enforceable State Implementation Plan under the Clean Air Act. EPA found that the authority violated the Act when it failed to renew air emission licenses for nine boilers and two spray painting booths at the facility. EPA also contends that MMA failed to obtain a permit for a new spray-painting booth installed in 2000.

The violations were discovered after EPA conducted a federal facility inspection under the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act ( hazardous waste) and Emergency Planning and Community Right-To -Know Act, at three facilities at the Loring Commerce Centre in June 2002.

In addition to finding air violations that were cited in the current case, EPA also found violations of state and federal hazardous waste laws at the facility. Shortly after being notified of the hazardous waste violations, MMA came into compliance with the requirements.

MMA’s failure to obtain valid air emission licenses resulted in the illegal release of environmentally significant air pollutants, like volatile organic compounds. VOCs contribute to ground-level ozone (smog) and are known to irritate the respiratory system – causing coughing and asthma. The worst effects of smog are generally experienced by children and other sensitive populations.
MMA’s operation without a license also hindered the State’s ability to meet its air quality standards, as the illegal emissions are unaccounted for in Maine’s State Implementation Plan. Since Limestone is located in an ozone transport region, Maine’s SIP must limit ozone in that area.

“This settlement reflects EPA’s commitment to pursuing violators who fail to comply with clean air requirements,” said New England EPA Regional Administrator Robert W. Varney. “It is important that all regulated industries, including federal facilities, live up to their obligations and work to reduce emissions of harmful air contaminants.”

To the settle the case, MMA agreed to a $23,500 cash penalty, and provide an additional $82,900 in funding for two environmentally beneficial projects – known as “Supplemental Environmental Projects.”

The first environmental project requires MMA to retrofit eleven diesel-powered vehicles with diesel oxidation catalyst kits which will result in a 40 percent reduction of air pollutants and will cost the authority $20,900, or $1,900 per vehicle. MMA also agreed to replace existing lighting with energy efficient fixtures in two of its buildings for a cost of $62,000. The reduction in energy use for the second project is estimated to be 3,538 kilowatt-hours per year.

For more information about EPA’s enforcement programs, visit: https://www.epa.gov/ne/enforcement/index.html

Related Information:
Compliance Assistance and Enforcement
Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs)