Research Organics LLC (Research Organics), under the trade name MilliporeSigma, owns and operates a batch specialty chemical manufacturing facility (facility) in Cleveland, Ohio. At its facility, Research Organics manufactures biological buffer and amino acids. Research Organics emits methanol, hydrochloric acid, and other hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) in a combined quantity of over 25 tons per year, and is thus a major source of HAPs, as defined in Section 112(a) of the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. 7412(a).
On June 28, 2018, EPA issued a Finding of Violation (FOV) to Research Organics, alleging violations of the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Miscellaneous Organic Chemical Manufacturing at 40 C.F.R. Part 63, Subpart FFFF (Subpart FFFF) and the NESHAP for Closed Vent Systems, Control Devices, Recovery Devices and Routing to a Fuel Gas System or a Process, at 40 C.F.R. Part 63, Subpart SS (Subpart SS). Specifically, Research Organics incorrectly classified their enclosed combustion device as a flare and failed to meet the applicable requirements for an enclosed combustion device.
In settlement of this case, Research Organics agreed to comply with all applicable requirements of the NESHAP Subpart A, Subpart SS, and Subpart FFFF. Specifically, Research Organics will re-classify its control device, referred to as a flare in its current Title V permit, as an enclosed combustion device, and install a temperature monitoring device.
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