For Immediate Release: April 26th, 2011
Media Contact: Mary Simms, (415) 947-4270, simms.mary@epa.gov
U.S. EPA Fines Wood Veneer Manufacturer $75,000 for Federal Air Monitoring Violations
Biomass company is bordered by residential neighborhoods, located within a mile of several schools and senior centers
SAN FRANCISCO -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that Roseburg Forest Products in Weed, Calif., has agreed to pay a $75,000 penalty to resolve alleged violations of the federal Clean Air Act. This enforcement action comes as a result of the following violations of federal law:
· Roseburg did not monitor nitrogen oxides emitted by its biomass boiler for 48 days in 2008 and 2009.
· Roseburg failed to continuously monitor and record opacity of boiler emissions discharged to the atmosphere from June 15 to June 30, 2008.
· Roseburg submitted inaccurate 2008 semi-annual opacity reports.
“Our mission is to protect the public health, and the community deserves nothing less than full compliance with air quality regulations,” said Deborah Jordan, Director of the Air Division for the EPA’s Pacific Southwest office. “When a company violates the law by failing to monitor and report its air pollution, EPA will take action."
By settling this enforcement action, EPA expects Roseburg to improve its internal procedures so that the company will perform continuous monitoring and submit timely and accurate reports as required by the regulations. The violations were discovered as a result of an EPA information request.
The facility is bordered by residential neighborhoods and is located within a mile of several schools and senior centers.
The Clean Air Act regulates emissions to the atmosphere from steam generating units such as Roseburg’s boiler. The boiler at the facility combusts wood and is subject to the opacity standard. Regulations require the owner or operator to install, calibrate, maintain, and operate continuous monitoring systems for opacity and nitrogen oxide and record the output of these systems. The opacity data is used to assess how well the air pollution control device is working to reduce particulate matter. Nitrogen oxides react with other chemicals to form ozone. Particulate matter and ozone affect the human respiratory system and are linked to significant health problems ranging from aggravated asthma to premature death in people with heart and lung disease. Children and the elderly are especially susceptible to respiratory distress and air-quality related health problems.
For more information on the Clear Air Act, visit: http://www.epa.gov/region09/air/aboutus.html
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