The agreement includes a $425,000 penalty and a $705,000 environmental project. Vertellus has already taken steps to come back into compliance by installing a new incinerator to control hydrogen cyanide and benzene emissions and to implement a comprehensive set of leak detection and repair practices that go beyond regulatory requirements.
The leak detection and repair practices include an innovative program to replace valves with new low-leak valve technology and to monitor and repair equipment that is leaking at a lower rate than is required by regulations to further reduce fugitive hazardous air pollutant emissions.
For its environmental project, Vertellus has agreed to complete a two-year process to upgrade pumps with technology that will eliminate fugitive emissions of hazardous air pollutants.
Benzene is known to cause cancer in humans, and hydrogen cyanide may cause nausea, headaches and thyroid damage.
A notice of the agreement will soon be published in the federal register. The public will have 30 days to comment on the agreement after the notice is published.
