All News Releases By Date

Warren, RI, Co. Will Pay $240,000 and Reduce Emissions in RI to Settle Claims of Violations

Release Date: 07/24/2000
Contact Information: Amy Miller, EPA Press Office (617-918-1042) Christine Romano, DOJ Press Office (202-514-2008)

BOSTON - A Warren, RI, manufacturer has agreed to pay $240,000 in fines and spend at least $148,000 to help reduce air pollution in Rhode Island to settle claims by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Justice that the company violated the Clean Air Act.

In an agreement filed today, Lloyd Manufacturing Corp. agreed to buy 247 tons of excess air emissions to offset 247 tons of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that the company emitted illegally between 1993 and 1997. The company plans to offset this violation by spending $148,000 to buy nitrogen oxide (NOX) credits from Massachusetts. By purchasing these "emission reduction credits," the company will effectively remove this amount of pollution from the environment.

The purchase and sale of emission reduction credits is part of a new method of controlling pollution. Under this system, polluting facilities that have taken measures to reduce their emissions of VOCs or NOx below permitted levels may generate emission reduction credits to use or sell. In this innovative settlement of an enforcement action, Lloyd has agreed to purchase such credits to offset the illegal pollution that it created.

VOCs and nitrogen oxides are components of ground-level ozone, or smog. High concentrations of ozone are known to cause difficulties in breathing, especially for children, asthmatics and people with impaired lungs.

"Air pollution from industry is a significant threat to public health in Rhode Island, a state that is prone to unhealthy smog levels, especially in the summer," said Mindy S. Lubber, Regional Administrator for EPA New England. "After violating Clean Air Act laws, Lloyd Manufacturing has moved to correct its mistakes by taking advantage of an innovative vehicle for reducing air pollution. The company has purchased emission credits, thus making the environment safer and healthier for Rhode Island residents in the future."

"This settlement is about restoring the harm that this company did to the air that we all have to breathe," said Lois J. Schiffer, Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division. "Those who violate our environmental laws cannot just pay a penalty and walk away, they bear the burden of repairing the damage that they did to our shared environment."

According to EPA's complaint, Lloyd failed to get the necessary air permits for one of its two fabric coating lines and failed to meet air pollution limits for the other coating line. The complaint also says the company failed to install air controls on the second line that would achieve the lowest achievable emissions rates, as required by federal law. At the time of an inspection, Lloyd's two surface coating lines both applied adhesive coatings that contained volatile organic compounds.

The action stems from a joint inspection by EPA and the RI Department of Environment Management in October 1997.

Since the inspection, the company has dismantled the coating line that was not permitted and is in compliance with VOC emission limits on the other coating line.