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The Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality (“MCEQ”) and Farmers Grain Terminal, Inc. (“Farmers”) entered into a June 14th Agreed Order (“AO”) addressing alleged violations of a Synthetic Minor Operating Permit (“Permit”). See Order No. 7259- 23.
The AO addresses a grain terminal in Greenwood, Mississippi.
MCEQ is stated to have contacted Farmers by letters dated March 22, 2022, and June 3, 2022, alleging certain violations of the Permit.
Such violations are alleged to include:
- Permit Condition 5.4: Respondent failed to conduct monthly visible emissions observations for Emission Points AA-001, AA-002, AA-005, AA-006, and AA-007.
- Permit Condition 5.5: Respondent failed to log daily pressure drop readings for Emission Points AB-001 through AB-006.
- Permit Condition l .C.1: Respondent failed to submit a timely application for the renewal of the permit (renewal application). Respondent was required to submit a renewal application to the Mississippi Environmental Quality Permit Board (Permit Board) by no later than April 3, 2022. Respondent has also subsequently operated without the required synthetic minor permit since Synthetic Minot Operating Permit No. 1560-00007 expired on September 30, 2022.
Farmers is stated to have submitted a renewal application for the renewal of the Permit on April 26, 2022. Further, by documentation submitted via email on March 5th and letter dated April 4th, Farmers asserted the monthly visible emissions observations and daily pressure drop readings were being conducted and properly documented.
The AO assesses a civil penalty of $73,125. Further, the Facility is required to submit by June 30th a Dust Management Plan to the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. Upon approval by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, Farmers shall comply with the Dust Management Plan until the renewal application is acted upon.
In addition, Farmers is required to comply with all terms and conditions of the Permit issued on October 23, 2017, until the renewal application is acted upon.
A copy of the AO can be downloaded here.
