Manufacturing company to pay $172K to resolve violations of state air laws

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A Wisconsin manufacturing company will pay nearly $172,000 over violations of state air laws at its Janesville operation.

The Rock County Circuit Court approved the settlement on Jan. 29. The State of Wisconsin alleged that County Materials Corp., which manufactures concrete blocks and girders, built and operated its Janesville center without obtaining required air permits from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

The state said County Materials also failed to report annual air emissions at the operation, didn’t pay annual air-emission fees, submitted overdue applications for the permits and then violated one of the permits by emitting too much particulate matter.

The agreement requires County Materials Corp. to pay $171,750, including $81,722.62 in past-due fees to DNR and $90,027.38 in forfeitures, surcharges and court costs. The agreement also requires County Materials to dismiss the administrative and judicial-review actions that it filed challenging the 2018 air permits and DNR’s invoice for those permits.

Emily M. Ertel, Wisconsin Department of Justice Public Protection Unit Assistant Attorney General, represented the State of Wisconsin. Follow @WLJReporter