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EPA reaches agreement with Hercules on clean-air violations

Release Date: 07/15/2008
Contact Information: William Omohundro, 312-353-8254, omohundro.william@epa.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 08-OPA119


CHICAGO (July 15, 2008) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has reached an agreement with Hercules Inc. on alleged clean-air violations at the company's chemical plant at 5228 N. Hopkins St., Milwaukee, Wis.

The agreement, which includes a $22,500 penalty, resolves EPA allegations that Hercules failed to comply with regulations requiring the facility to control leaks of hazardous air pollutants from its equipment.

EPA said Hercules had an uncapped open-ended line, had delayed repair of another line and had not tagged relevant equipment. The company has since demonstrated compliance with these requirements and improved its leak-management system.

Hazardous air pollutants may cause serious health effects including birth defects and cancer. They may also cause harmful environmental and ecological effects.

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