U.S. EPA settles with Chino polystyrene manufacturer $326,000 over Clean Air Act violations

LOS ANGELES - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today settled with Tacoma, Wash.-based Premier Industries, Inc., for $326,000 to resolve federal Clean Air Act violations at its polystyrene manufacturing facility in Chino, Calif.

Premier Industries failed to limit the manufacture and storage of volatile organic compounds used in their manufacturing process. The company also failed to adequately control emissions from their Chino facility located at 5635 Schaefer Avenue.

“Air emissions permits and regulations are required to ensure companies protect the health of surrounding communities,” said Deborah Jordan, the EPA’s air division director of the Pacific Southwest region. “Facilities that use volatile organic compounds must comply with state and federal air quality regulations with respect to their use.”

Regulations adopted by the South Coast Air Quality Management District, which has jurisdiction over air pollution sources in the greater Los Angeles area, requires that manufacturing and storage of emissions be limited to no more than 2.4 pounds of volatile organic compounds per 100 pounds of raw materials used in the manufacturing process or be controlled through the use of an approved emissions control system.

According to the EPA, Premier Industries failed to comply with this federally-enforceable requirement, thus violating the Clean Air Act.

In addition to paying the $326,000 civil penalty, Premier Industries and its successor, Insulfoam LLC, agreed to operate an approved emissions control system and restrict the pentane content of raw material used in the manufacturing process.

Premier Industries manufactures expanded polystyrene foam blocks for use in the construction industry by expanding polystyrene resin that contains pentane, a volatile organic compound.

Volatile organic compounds react with other pollutants such as nitrogen oxide and, in the presence of sunlight, can form ozone or smog. These compounds can cause eye, nose, and throat irritation and liver, kidney, and central nervous system damage.