NH3 violations lead to penalty for ethanol producer

Denver — Yuma Ethanol LLC has agreed to pay a $5,850 civil penalty and to correct violations relating to the storage and use of anhydrous ammonia at its ethanol plant in Yuma, Colo., according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. An EPA inspection in October 2011 found the company had violated Risk Management Program regulations
under the Clean Air Act. By agreeing to the settlement, Yuma has certified that the facility is now in compliance with these regulations. Under the Clean Air Act, the Yuma facility was required to maintain a risk management plan because it exceeded the 10,000-pound storage threshold for anhydrous ammonia. Yuma was storing approximately 97,000 pounds of ammonia at the time of the inspection.