This Consent Decree (CD) will result in full controls on all eight of Guardian's float glass furnaces in the country, including one Region 5 facility in Carleton, Michigan, and is EPA's first global settlement with a float glass company. Guardian will also implement an environmental mitigation project valued at $150,000 to reduce particulate matter pollution in the San Joaquin Valley in California. The company will pay a civil penalty of $312,000.
This CD is part of EPA's National Enforcement Initiative addressing New Source Review (NSR) and PSD within the glass manufacturing sector. Under the terms of the settlement, Guardian will install air pollution control equipment so that all eight of its float glass furnaces will control emissions of nitrogen oxide (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), sulfuric acid mist (H2SO4), and particulate matter (PM) at an estimated cost of $70.6 million. Upon full implementation of the proposed CD, NOx emissions will be reduced by more than 7,800 tons per year (tpy), SO2 emissions will be reduced by more than 760 tpy, and PM will be reduced by more than 120 tpy. These emissions reductions will result in significant human health and environmental benefits.