Tampa-Kinder Morgan Port Manatee Terminal LLC has been working with state and federal enforcers to resolve four separate Clean Air Act violations involving operation of the dry bulk material handling and storage facility where it receives and ships granular fertilizer and other products. According to the U.S. attorney’s office here, Kinder Morgan agreed to plead guilty, pay a $750,000 criminal fine, and make a $250,000 community service payment to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. In addition, the company has agreed to serve a two-year probation and implement an extensive environmental compliance plan. A parallel enforcement action brought by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection resulted in a $331,000 civil penalty. The complaints state that from about 2001 through March 2008, Kinder Morgan operated “baghouse” air pollution control systems in poor condition, and in some cases not fully operational. During this time, the charges state, local managers and supervisors reported in state permit applications that the equipment would be operated and maintained as required when they knew otherwise.
Transparency Across the Fertilizer Value-Chain