Wis. DOJ nets $200K settlement for air pollution violations

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Graymont LLC, a limestone processing facility in Superior, recently agreed to pay $200,000 to settle a lawsuit alleging violations of air pollution control permits and Wisconsin air pollution laws.

Graymont allegedly missed five of its required visible emissions tests and failed to report certain hydrogen chloride and carbon dioxide emissions in a timely fashion. In addition, Graymont allegedly fed limestone into a kiln at a rate greater than its permitted limit and exceeded sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and particulate matter limitations of various kilns at the facility.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, “the conditions of such permits protect public health by restricting emissions of chemicals that can affect respiratory health, particularly people who are already sensitive to air pollution due to asthma, emphysema and other respiratory illnesses. Also, emissions of compounds such as sulfur and nitrogen dioxides contribute to acid rain, which can harm fish populations and have other harmful environmental effects.”

The settlement consisted of: forfeitures of $145,892.34, a 26 percent penalty surcharge of $37,932.01, a 10 percent environmental surcharge of $14,589.23, a 1 percent jail surcharge of $1,458.92 and other surcharges dictated by state statute.

Graymont was to pay $60,000 by Nov. 1, an additional $60,000 by Nov. 1, 2013, and the final $80,000 by Nov. 1, 2014.