# HOECHST CELANESE CORP
> **Judicial** · FY1993 · — · Final Order With Penalty
## Case
- **Activity ID:** `16347`
- **Case Number:** 03-1993-0345
- **Type:** Judicial
- **Lead:** EPA
- **Outcome:** Final Order With Penalty
- **Penalty assessed:** $300K
- **Cost recovery:** —
- **Compliance action $:** —
- **Multimedia (multi-env):** N
## Defendants
- HOECHST CELANESE CORP (complaint) (settlement)
## Summary

HOECHST CELANESE INTERPRETED THE EXEMPTION AT 40 C.F.R.    SECT. 61.110(C)(2) SUCH THAT THEY BELIEVED THEIR OPERATIONS  AT THE CELLO PLANT IN NARROWS, VA, WEREN'T SUBJECT TO THE    REQUIREMENTS OF 40 C.F.R. PART 61, SUBPARTS A, J, AND V.     ACCORDINGLY THEY MADE NO SYSTEMATIC EFFORTS TO COMPLY.       EPA BELIEVES THAT HOECHST CELANESE'S INTERPRETATION OF THE   EXEMPTION IN QUESTION WAS ERRONEOUS.  EPA IS SEEKING         PENALTIES FOR THE PERIOD OF NON-COMPLIANCE WITHIN THE        STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS 8/88 - 5/91.                            SUPPLEMENTAL REFERRAL 9/30/93 REQUESTING AN ADDITIONAL     CLAIM FOR RELIEF.  THE BULK OF THE CASE WAS PREVIOUSLY       REFERRED ON 6/30/93.  THE CASE STEMS FROM HOECHST CELANESE'S FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE BENZENE NESHAP FOR EQUIPMENT      LEAKS.  BY LETTER DATED 7/26/93, IN RESPONSE TO AN EPA       INFORMATION REQUEST, HOECHST CELANESE IDENTIFIED ITS         VIOLATION OF 40 C.F.R. 61.242-11.  EPA HAD NOT BEEN AWARE OF THIS VIOLATION AT THE TIME OF THE ORIGINAL REFERRAL.  THE    SUPPLEMENTAL REFERRAL ALSO INCLUDES A RECALCULATED           SETTLEMENT PENALTY BASED ON NEW INFORMATION.

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*Source: [EPA ECHO](https://echo.epa.gov/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*