US EPA has entered into a Consent Agreement and Final Order (CAFO) with Linde Gas North America, LLC, Romeoville, Illinois, (Linde) to resolve alleged violations regarding the Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) and Non-attainment New Source Review (NANSR) Requirements Illinois SIP, as well as a construction and operating permit issued pursuant to the Illinois SIP. Specifically, EPA alleged that Linde constructed a new Reformer unit as part of a larger project in conjunction with the Citgo refinery located in Lemont, Illinois. Both facilities are located in an area which is designated as non-attainment for PM2.5. Linde improperly utilized netting credits from the Citgo Refinery to net out of PSD and NANSR for the project. Without the use of the netting credits, EPA alleged that the construction of the new Hydrogen Plant at the Linde facility, in conjunction with the associated modifications at the Citgo facility, resulted in significant net emissions increases of NOX, PM10 and PM2.5, triggering the applicability of the PSD and NANSR regulations. Additionally, on November 4, 2014 Linde submitted a self-disclosure notice of multiple violation of a Joint Construction and Operating Permit at its Romeoville facility. Linde first knew of the violations on October 6, 2014, and thus disclosed the violations outside the 21 days allowed by EPA?s Audit Policy.
This CAFO requires Linde to pay a penalty of $93,707, spend $18,000 to install 5 carbon monoxide (CO) monitors ar