The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has settled claims alleging Clean Air Act violations against Carmeuse Lime, Inc., which has a lime manufacturing facility located at 3245 E. 103rd Street in Chicago.
According to EPA’s press release announcing the terms of the Consent Decree, “EPA and the city of Chicago conducted a joint investigation at the Carmeuse facility in response to complaints from nearby residents about excessive dust. The investigation revealed that poor maintenance at the facility allowed dust to be released to the surrounding neighborhood.”
Under the terms of the consent decree, the company will pay $350,000 as a civil penalty. In addition, the company will complete a supplemental environmental project (“SEP”) designed to protect families from lead-based paint hazards by replacing windows in a number of residential properties in the Englewood, West Englewood, or East Side neighborhoods of Chicago. The company will spend at least $125,000 to replace windows that pose lead hazard in low income residences whose occupants are unable to afford the replacement cost.
The consent decree also requires the company “to upgrade and replace equipment and to improve maintenance and housekeeping practices. These changes will be incorporated in the facility’s air permit to dramatically reduce the amount of dust released into the neighborhood.”
Stay tuned to the Illinois Environmental Law Blog for more news and developments. To subscribe to this blog and sign up for my free newsletter, go to http://illinoisenvironmentallaw.com/subscribe/. To set up a free initial consultation to discuss your legal matter, please contact Chicago environmental attorney Dave Scriven-Young at (312) 239-9722 or dscriven-young@pecklaw.com.
