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EPA reaches agreement with Goldschmidt Chemical

Release Date: 02/08/2007
Contact Information: CONTACT: William Omohundro, (312) 353-8254, omohundro.william@epa.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 07-OPA023

CHICAGO (Feb. 8, 2007) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has reached an agreement with Goldschmidt Chemical Corp. on alleged clean-air violations at the company's chemical plant at 8300 W. Route 24, Mapleton, Ill., near Peoria.

The agreement, which includes a $600,000 environmental project and a $25,000 penalty, resolves EPA allegations that Goldschmidt violated its state operating permit and state air pollution regulations by emitting too much organic material from tanks and reactors at the plant.

For its environmental project, Goldschmidt will remove and properly dispose of material in its sludge lagoon and then permanently close the lagoon.

Companies that violate the Clean Air Act may voluntarily propose environmental projects as part of their settlements. EPA may reduce monetary penalties if it believes a project will cut pollution significantly and goes beyond what is required by EPA regulations.

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.