Boise, Idaho — The J.R. Simplot Co. must spend an estimated $42 million to install, upgrade, and operate pollution controls at all five of its sulfuric acid plants near Pocatello, Idaho, Rock Springs, Wyo., and Lathrop, Calif., plus pay an $899,000 civil penalty, under a settlement reached with the U.S. EPA and Department of Justice (DOJ). EPA and DOJ alleged that Simplot made modifications at the plants without applying for or obtaining needed Clean Air Act permits and obtaining “best available control technology” limits for sulfur dioxide (SO2), as well as sulfuric acid mist and fine particulates (PM2.5) at one of the sulfuric acid plants in Pocatello, where $15 million will be spent on upgrades. The agreement, announced on Dec. 3, also requires Simplot to fund a $200,000 wood stove replacement project in the San Joaquin Valley in California and implement a plan to monitor SO2 emissions continuously at all five plants. It is estimated the settlement will reduce SO2 emissions from the five plants by more than 50 percent, or about 2,540 tons per year. Denying EPA’s allegations, Simplot stated in a news release that the company agreed to meet lower emission limitations at all its plants rather than proceed with litigation, noting that the company had obtained air quality permits or approvals from state and/or local air quality agencies for the modifications, which EPA said were not enough. The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality and the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District are parties to the settlement. The consent decree formalizing the settlement was lodged with the U.S. District Court in Idaho and is subject to a 30-day public comment period.
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