# BORDEN CHEMICAL VCM-E PLANT
> **Judicial** · FY1983 · — · Combined With Another Case(s)
## Case
- **Activity ID:** `33752`
- **Case Number:** 06-1983-0009
- **Type:** Judicial
- **Lead:** EPA
- **Outcome:** Combined With Another Case(s)
- **Penalty assessed:** $417K
- **Cost recovery:** —
- **Compliance action $:** —
- **Multimedia (multi-env):** N
## Defendants
- BORDEN (complaint) (settlement)
## Summary

BORDEN CHEMICAL, A DIVISION OF BORDEN, INC., OPERATES A VINYL CHLORIDE MONOMER FACILITY AT GEISMAR, LOUISIANA KNOWN  AS THE VCM-E PLANT.  BORDEN ALSO OWNS AN ADJACENT VINYL      CHLORIDE FACILITY, THE VCM-A PLANT, WHICH WAS THE SUBJECT OF A SEPARATE REFERRAL.  EMISSIONS FROM THE VCM-E PLANT ARE     SUBJECT TO THE NATIONAL EMISSION STANDARDS FOR HAZARDOUS AIR POLLUTANTS (NESHAP) PROGRAM, 40 CFR PART 61.  CIVIL SUIT FOR PENALTIES AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF IS REQUESTED PURSUANT TO     SECTION 113(B) OF THE CLEAN AIR ACT.                              THE NATIONAL EMISSION STANDARD FOR VINYL CHLORIDE, 40   CFR 61.60 ET SEQ. WAS PROMULGATED OCTOBER 21, 1976.  AMONG   OTHER THINGS, THE REGULATIONS PROHIBIT DISCHARGE FROM ANY    RELIEF VALVE EXCEPT FOR EMERGENCIES, AND REQUIRE REPORTING   OF RELIEF VALVE DISCHARGES WITHIN TEN DAYS.  SINCE THE VINYL CHLORIDE NESHAP BECAME EFFECTIVE, BORDEN HAS REPORTED FORTY  ONE DISCHARGES TOTALING 23,978 POUNDS OF VINYL CHLORIDE FROM THE VCM-E PLANT.  REGION VI HAS DETERMINED THAT ALL FORTY    ONE DISCHARGES WERE PREVENTABLE AND, THEREFORE, VIOLATIONS   OF 40 CFR 61.65(A) UNDER CONDITIONS OF PREVENTABLE EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTION AND PREVENTABLE OPERATOR ERROR.  BORDEN FAILED   TO REPORT 18 DISCHARGES OCCURRING IN 1977, 1978, 1979, AND   1980 WITHIN 10 DAYS OF EACH DISCHARGE, A VIOLATION OF 40 CFR 61.65(A).  BORDEN FIRST NOTIFIED THE AGENCY OF THESE DIS-    CHARGES IN ITS SEPTEMBER 1982 RESPONSE TO EPA'S SECTION 114  LETTER.  ONE DISCHARGE, REPORTED JANUARY 

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