Document ID: EPA-HQ-OECA-2009-0563-0001
Agency: epa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Clean Water Act Class II: Proposed Administrative Settlement, Penalty Assessment, and Opportunity To Comment Regarding Hydro Aluminum North America, Inc. and Hydro Aluminum Precision Tubing North America, LLC, wholly owned subsidiaries of Norsk Hydro Aluminum North America, Inc.
Posted Date: 2010-01-28T05:00Z

[Federal Register: January 28, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 18)]
[Notices]               
[Page 4552-4554]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28ja10-48]                         

[[Page 4552]]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-OECA-2009-0563; FRL-9107-4]

 
Clean Water Act Class II: Proposed Administrative Settlement, 
Penalty Assessment, and Opportunity To Comment Regarding Hydro Aluminum 
North America, Inc. and Hydro Aluminum Precision Tubing North America, 
LLC, wholly owned subsidiaries of Norsk Hydro Aluminum North America, 
Inc.

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: EPA has entered into a Consent Agreement with Hydro Aluminum 
North America, Inc. and Hydro Aluminum Precision Tubing North America, 
LLC, wholly owned subsidiaries of Norsk Hydro Aluminum North America, 
Inc. (Hydro) to resolve violations of the Clean Water Act (CWA), the 
Clean Air Act (CAA), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), 
and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), and 
their implementing regulations at 16 facilities listed below:

249 South 51st Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85043;
100 Gus Hipp Blvd., Rockledge, FL 32955-4701;
200 Riviera Blvd., St. Augustine, FL 32086;
Henry Street, North Liberty, IN 46554;
400 South Main Street, North Liberty, IN 46554;
5801 Riverport Road, Henderson, KY 42420;
1607 East Maumee Street, Adrian, MI 49221;
5375 North Riverview Drive, Kalamazoo, MI 49004;
Sale Barn Road, Cassville, MO 65625;
808 County Road, Monett, MO 65708;
401 North Stolle Avenue, Sidney, OH 45365;
2490 Ross Street, Sydney, OH 45363;
9 Aluminum Drive, Ellenville, NY 12428;
117 Blake Dairy Road, Belton, SC 29627;
171 Industrial Blvd., Fayetteville, TN 37334;
200 Economic Drive, Commerce, TX 75248.

    The Administrator is hereby providing public notice of this 
proposed Consent Agreement and Final Order (CAFO), and providing an 
opportunity for interested persons to comment on the CWA, EPCRA, RCRA, 
and CAA portions of this Consent Agreement, in accordance with CWA 
sections 309(g)(4)(A) and 311(b)(6)(C)(i), 33 U.S.C. 1319(g)(4)(A), and 
1321(b)(6)(C)(i).

DATES: Comments are due on or before March 1, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OECA-2009-0563, by one of the following methods:
     http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line 
instructions for submitting comments.
     E-mail: docket.oeca@epa.gov, Attention Docket ID No. EPA-
HQ-OECA-2009-0563.
     Fax: (202) 566-9744, Attention Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OECA-
2009-0563.
     Mail: Enforcement and Compliance Docket Information 
Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Mailcode: 2822T, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC, 20460, Attention Docket ID No. 
EPA-HQ-OECA-2009-0563.
     Hand Delivery: Enforcement and Compliance Docket 
Information Center in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room B 
3334, 1301 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC. The EPA Docket 
Center Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the 
Reading Room is (202) 566-1744, and the telephone number for the 
Enforcement and Compliance Docket is (202) 566-1927. Such deliveries 
are only accepted during the Docket's normal hours of operation, and 
special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed 
information.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OECA-
2009-0563. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included 
in the public docket without change and may be made available online at 
http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be 
Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose 
disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you 
consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through http://
www.regulations.gov. The http://www.regulations.gov Web site is an 
``anonymous access'' system, which means EPA will not know your 
identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of 
your comment. If you send an e-mail comment directly to EPA without 
going through http://www.regulations.gov, your e-mail address will be 
automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is 
placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If you 
submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name 
and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any 
disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to 
technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA 
may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid 
the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of 
any defects or viruses. For additional information about EPA's public 
docket, visit the EPA Docket Center homepage at http://www.epa.gov/
epahome/dockets.htm.
    Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the http://
www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some 
information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information 
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such 
as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy. 
Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically 
at http://www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the Enforcement and 
Compliance Docket Information Center in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), 
EPA West, Room B 3334, 1301 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC. 
The EPA Docket Center Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The 
telephone number for the Reading Room is (202) 566-1744, and the 
telephone number for the Enforcement and Compliance Docket is (202) 
566-1927.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Calhoun, Special Litigation 
and Projects Division (2248-A), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone (202) 
564-6031; fax: (202) 564-9001; e-mail: calhoun.michael@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    In July 2005, Hydro voluntarily disclosed violations of the CWA, 
CAA, RCRA, and EPCRA at 16 of its North American facilities pursuant to 
EPA's Incentives for Self-Policing: Discovery, Disclosure, Correction 
and Prevention of Violations Final Policy Statement (Audit Policy), 65 
FR 19618 (Apr. 11, 2000). Hydro also provided supplemental audit 
reports in 2006 and 2007. EPA and Hydro have signed an administrative 
Consent Agreement,

[[Page 4553]]

following the Consolidated Rules of Practice, 40 CFR 22.13(b) (In Re: 
Hydro Aluminum North America, Inc. and Hydro Aluminum Precision Tubing 
North America, LLC, Docket Nos. CWA-HQ-2009-8002, CAA-HQ-2009-8002, 
EPCRA-HQ-2009-8002, RCRA-HQ-2009-8002). In the settlement agreement, 
Hydro will pay a civil penalty of $119,365.

CWA Violations

    Respondents had inadequate and/or failed to prepare and implement 
Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) plans at four 
facilities listed below in violation of CWA section 311(j) and 40 CFR 
Part 112:

5801 Riverport Road, Henderson, KY 42420;
5375 North Riverview Drive, Kalamazoo, MI 49004;
808 County Road, Monett, MO 65708;
117 Blake Dairy Road, Belton, SC 29627.

    Under CWA section 311(b)(6)(A), 33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(6)(A), any owner, 
operator, or person in charge of a vessel, onshore facility, or 
offshore facility from which oil is discharged in violation of CWA 
section 311(b)(3), 33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(3), or who fails or refuses to 
comply with any regulations that have been issued under CWA section 
311(j), 33 U.S.C. 1321(j), may be assessed an administrative civil 
penalty of up to $177,500 by EPA. Class II proceedings under CWA 
section 311(b)(6) are conducted in accordance with 40 CFR Part 22.
    The procedures by which the public may comment on a proposed Class 
II penalty order, or participate in a CWA Class II penalty proceeding, 
are set forth in 40 CFR 22.45. The deadline for submitting public 
comment on this proposed final order is March 1, 2010. All comments 
will be transferred to the Environmental Appeals Board (EAB) of EPA for 
consideration. The powers and duties of the EAB are outlined in 40 CFR 
22.4(a).
    Pursuant to CWA section 311(b)(6)(C), EPA will not issue an order 
in this proceeding prior to the close of the public comment period.
    Hydro also disclosed that it had an inadequate Stormwater Pollution 
Prevention Plan (SWPPP) and/or failed to prepare and implement a SWPPP 
at the six facilities listed below in violation of federal/state Multi-
Sector General Stormwater Permits (MSGP) and 40 CFR Part 122.41:

249 South 51st Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85043;
5801 Riverport Road, Henderson, KY 42420;
1607 East Maumee Street, Adrian, MI 49221;
5375 North Riverview Drive, Kalamazoo, MI 49004;
117 Blake Dairy Road, Belton, SC 29627;
171 Industrial Blvd., Fayetteville, TN 37334.

    Hydro also failed to obtain coverage under an MSGP at four 
facilities below in violation of 40 CFR Part 122.26:

Henry Street, North Liberty, IN 46554;
400 South Main Street, North Liberty, IN 46554;
Sale Barn Road, Cassville, MO 65625;
401 N. Stolle Avenue, Sidney, OH 45365.

    Hydro also failed to prepare and submit annual operating reports, 
and did not submit timely quarterly monitoring reports for the Monett, 
MO facility as required by the state MSGP.
    Hydro also failed to comply with pretreatment regulations found at 
40 CFR 403.12(e), 40 CFR 467.35 and 40 CFR 467.53 at the Ellenville, NY 
facility by failing to submit semi-annual compliance reports since 1997 
and failing to document baseline or initial compliance reports. All of 
the above CWA violations are described in detail in Attachments A and B 
of the proposed Consent Agreement.
    EPA, as authorized by CWA 311(b)(6), 33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(6), and CWA 
309(g)(2)(B), 33 U.S.C. 1319(g)(2)(B), has assessed a civil penalty for 
the CWA violations described above.

EPCRA Violations

    Hydro also disclosed that it had failed to comply with EPCRA 
section 312, 42 U.S.C. 11022, and the regulations found at 40 CFR Parts 
355.30 and 370.25, when it failed to prepare and submit emergency and 
chemical inventory forms (Tier II) to the Local Emergency Planning 
Committee (LEPC), the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC), and/
or the fire department with jurisdiction over each facility for the 
five facilities listed below:

100 Gus Hipp Blvd., Rockledge, FL 32955-4701;
400 South Main Street, North Liberty, IN 46554;
1607 East Maumee Street, Adrian, MI 49221;
5375 North Riverview Drive, Kalamazoo, MI 49004;
401 N. Stolle Avenue, Sidney, OH 45365.

    Hydro also disclosed that it had failed to comply with EPCRA 
section 313, 42 U.S.C. 11023, and the regulations found at 40 CFR 
372.22 and 40 CFR 372.30, when it failed to report the annual estimated 
releases of various chemicals and/or metals in Form R reports in a 
timely manner for the five facilities listed below:

100 Gus Hipp Blvd., Rockledge, FL 32955-4701;
200 Riviera Blvd., St. Augustine, FL 32086;
1607 East Maumee Street, Adrian, MI 49221;
808 County Road, Monett, MO 65708;
117 Blake Dairy Road, Belton, SC 29627.

    The specific EPCRA violations above are described in Attachment A 
of the proposed Consent Agreement. EPA, as authorized by EPCRA section 
325, 42 U.S.C. 11045, has assessed a civil penalty for these 
violations. Under EPCRA section 325, 42 U.S.C. 11045, the Administrator 
may issue an administrative order assessing a civil penalty against any 
person who has violated applicable emergency planning or right to know 
requirements, or any other requirement of EPCRA. Proceedings under 
EPCRA section 325 are conducted in accordance with 40 CFR Part 22.

RCRA Violations

    Hydro also disclosed that it had failed to comply with RCRA and the 
regulations found at 40 CFR Parts 262 and 265 when it failed to perform 
inspections, maintain records, develop contingency plans, and conduct 
training with regard to stored hazardous wastes for the three 
facilities listed below. The specific violations are described in 
Attachment A of the proposed Consent Agreement. EPA, as authorized by 
RCRA sections 3008(a) and (g), 42 U.S.C. 6928(a) and (g), has assessed 
a civil penalty for these violations:

5801 Riverport Road, Henderson, KY 42420;
5375 North Riverview Drive, Kalamazoo, MI 49004;
9 Aluminum Drive, Ellenville, NY 12428.

CAA Violations

    Hydro also failed to comply with CAA section 112, 42 U.S.C. 7412, 
and 40 CFR Part 63, by having inadequate operation and maintenance 
plans, late submission of operation and maintenance plans, failure to 
have a startup, shutdown and malfunction plan, late submission of 
performance tests, lack of process monitoring, failure to keep records, 
failure to calibrate scales, and no documentation of an initial 
applicability determination for a boiler and process heater at three 
facilities listed below. The specific violations are described in 
Attachment A of the proposed Consent Agreement. EPA, as authorized by 
CAA sections 113(a)(3) and (d), 42 U.S.C.

[[Page 4554]]

7413(a)(3) and 7413(d), has assessed a civil penalty for these 
violations:

249 South 51st Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85043;
808 County Road, Monett, MO 65708;
200 Economic Drive, Commerce, TX 75248.

    EPA will not issue an order in this proceeding prior to the close 
of the public comment period.

    Dated: January 20, 2010.
Bernadette Rappold,
Director, Special Litigation and Projects Division, Office of 
Enforcement and Compliance Assurance.
[FR Doc. 2010-1741 Filed 1-27-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P