Geismar, La. — In response to an earlier report by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (GM June 10, p. 12), Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan Inc. acknowledges that PCS Nitrogen Fertilizer LP has agreed to pay a penalty of $198,825 for an alleged violation of the Clean Air Act at its Geismar, La., phosphoric acid facility. In addition to the fine, the company will make process changes to the site to address EPA’s concerns. The changes will be completed by the end of 2013 at an estimated cost of $105,000. However, PotashCorp does not believe either the fine or modifications are warranted, saying it chose to settle the matter rather than pursue litigation. PotashCorp said it is unable to confirm the government’s statement about the amount of hydrogen fluoride (HF) that will be controlled by the settlement. It said the statement appears to be based on a misunderstanding of the company’s processes. Before the process changes being implemented as a result of the settlement, the amount of HF that could have gone from the scrubbers to the cooling tower was much lower than the amount the government suggests will be controlled by the settlement. PotashCorp said it is committed to environmental compliance at all of its facilities and continually makes significant investments to ensure its sites meet or exceed all air and water quality standards. The company said recent investments at the Geismar facility are reducing greenhouse gas emissions by about 1 million mt/y. Each year the company sets specific environmental and safety goals to ensure continuous progress in these areas. It said these goals, and the resulting performance toward achieving them, are reported publicly each year.
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