[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 105 (Friday, May 30, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 31146]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-12037]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


Notice of Lodging of Consent Decree Pursuant to the Clean Air Act

    Notice is hereby given pursuant to the Clean Air Act (the ``Act''), 
42 U.S.C. 7413(g), and 28 CFR 50.7, that on May 15, 2008, a proposed 
Consent Decree, in United States v. Michigan Sugar Co., Civil No. 08-
12125 (E.D. Mich.), was lodged with the United States District Court 
for the Eastern District of Michigan, Bay City, Michigan Division. In 
this action, the United States sought injunctive relief and civil 
penalties against Michigan Sugar for violations of the Prevention of 
Significant Deterioration (``PSD'') provisions of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 
7470-7492, and the Plan Requirements for Nonattainment Areas (``NSR'') 
of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 7501-7515, and the federally approved and 
enforceable Michigan SIP. Michigan Sugar commenced construction of a 
new natural gas-fired Pulp Dryer No. 3 at its Bay City Facility in 1984 
without obtaining a PSD permit that addressed carbon monoxide (``CO'') 
emissions as required by section 165 of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 7475, 40 CFR 
52.21(I), and the Michigan SIP. At the same time, because Bay County 
was nonattainment for ozone, Michigan Sugar failed to obtain an NSR 
permit that addressed volatile organic compounds (``VOC'') emissions, 
as required by section 173 of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 7503, and R 336.1201 
of the Michigan Air Pollution Control Rules that are part of the 
federally enforceable Michigan SIP. Further, in 1995, Michigan Sugar 
increased its annual hours of operation at its Bay City facility beyond 
the federally enforceable permit conditions for all its Pulp Dryers, 
Nos. 1, 2, and 3, triggering emissions increases, without obtaining a 
PSD permit addressing CO emissions, and an NSR permit addressing VOC 
emissions as required by the Act, federal regulations and the Michigan 
SIP.
    Under the Consent Decree, Michigan Sugar shall: (1) Operate and 
maintain a Steam Dryer (or alternative non-air pollutant emitting sugar 
beet pulp drying technology) for processing sugar beet pulp at its Bay 
City Facility; (2) permanently shut down and decommission its three 
natural gas-fired Pulp Dryers on a schedule that commenced in December 
2007 and will end in May 2014; (3) submit application(s) for a Title V 
permit modification and/or other appropriate permits under the Act for 
its Bay City Facility and cooperate fully with Michigan Department of 
Environmental Quality (``MDEQ'') officials processing the 
application(s); (4) comply with terms and conditions of the MDEQ 
approved permit(s); and, (5) pay a civil penalty of $210,000.
    The Department of Justice will receive, for a period of thirty (30) 
days from the date of this publication, comments relating to the 
proposed Consent Decree. Comments should be addressed to the Assistant 
Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources Division, and 
either e-mailed to [email protected] or mailed to United 
States Department of Justice, P.O. Box 7611, Washington, DC 20044-7611, 
and should refer to United States v. Michigan Sugar Co., Civil No. 08-
12125 (E.D. Mich.), and DOJ Reference No. 90-5-2-1-08726.
    The proposed Consent Decree may be examined at: (1) The Office of 
the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, Bay 
City, Michigan Division, 101 First St., Suite 200, Bay City, MI 48708 
(989-895-5712); and (2) the United States Environmental Protection 
Agency (Region 5), 77 West Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60604-3507 
(contact: Nidhi O'Meara (312-886-0568).
    During the public comment period, the proposed Consent Decree may 
also be examined on the following U.S. Department of Justice Web site, 
http://www.usdoj.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html. A copy of the proposed 
Consent Decree may also be obtained by mail from the Consent Decree 
Library, U.S. Department of Justice, P.O. Box 7611, Washington, DC 
20044-7611 or by faxing or e-mailing a request to Tonia Fleetwood 
([email protected]), fax no. (202) 514-0097, phone confirmation 
no. (202) 514-1547. In requesting a copy from the Consent Decree 
Library, please refer to the referenced case and DOJ Reference Number 
and enclose a check in the amount of $9.25 for the Consent Decree and 
Appendix A (37 pages, at 25 cents per page reproduction costs), made 
payable to the U.S. Treasury or, if by email or fax, forward a check in 
that amount to the Consent Decree Library at the stated address.

William D. Brighton,
Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment and Natural Resources 
Division.
[FR Doc. E8-12037 Filed 5-29-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-15-P