Du Pont to Reduce Harmful Emissions in Four Plants

A press release from the U.S. Department of Justice today announced that due to a settlement between it and E.I. Du Pont de Nemours & Co, Du Pont will reduce over 13,000 harmful emissions from their sulfuric acid production plants.

The company will spend over $66 million on the plants, located in Louisiana, Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky. They will also pay a $4.125 million civil penalty under the Clean Air Act settlement. Louisiana, Virginia, and Ohio will receive a portion of the payment.

Ronald J. Tenpas, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department's Environmental and Natural Resources Division said, "This agreement demonstrates our commitment to a level playing field and compliance with the law in the sulfuric acid industry. Today's settlement shows the high level of cooperation possible among the federal government, our local and state partners, and industry when all are committed to compliance and meaningful improvement of the environment."

Granta Y. Nakayama, EPA assistant administrator for the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance also agrees with the decision. "Today's settlement will reduce harmful air pollutants by more than 13,000 tons per year," said Nakayama. "The actions taken today will ensure that those affected will be able to breathe a little easier knowing these pollutants will no longer be in the air."

According to the press release, Du Pont's Burnside plant in Durrow, LA will receive state-of-the-art dual absorption pollution control equipment. The installation is set to be completed by September 9, 2009, costing an estimated $66 million. Du Pont has the choice of installing more pollution control methods in the three other, smaller plants, or closing them all together. If they do install more equipment, the additional cost is estimated to be $87 million and must meet the lower emission rates by March 1, 2012.

The press release mentions that Du Pont is the second sulfuric acid manufacturer to have to undergo this type of plant revamp, the first being Rhodoa, Inc. The two settlements will reduce the tons of sulfur dioxide emissions in the air by 32,000. Du Pont's emissions will be reduced by 90 percent.

The harmful emissions (most harmful to seniors, children, and people with heart and lung conditions) are created when unconverted sulfur dioxide and sulfuric acid mist are released to the atmosphere.

The government complained that Du Pont made unauthorized modifications to their plants that increased these emissions. Any large pollution source that is about to make a modification needs to obtain a permit, according to the Clean Air Act.

Sources:

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