Carmeuse is a leading lime producer with 35 manufacturing facilities throughout the U.S. and eastern Canada that produce various types of lime products, limestone, and silica sand products. Its North American headquarters are located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, while its international parent company is based in Belgium and oversees operations in 13 countries.
This Consent Decree applies to Carmeuse�s lime manufacturing facility at 3245 East 103rd Street, Chicago, Illinois, known to Carmeuse as the South Chicago Operation. The plant has been operating since at least the 1920s and is located in a mixed residential/industrial neighborhood that is identified as an Environmental Justice area of concern. EPA Region 5 and the former City of Chicago Department of Environment (CDOE) had received ongoing citizen complaints of fugitive dust from Carmeuse covering cars, homes, roads, and nearby personal property. The inspection revealed poor maintenance of Carmeuse�s manufacturing operations and associated dust control equipment, which led to fugitive dust emissions affecting the residents nearby. EPA issued a Notice of Violation on March 20, 2008, to Carmeuse for violations of the Fugitive Dust Operating Program required by its Title V Permit, and for exceedences of its opacity limit at its Kiln No. 5.
CONSENT DECREE
The case was referred to the U.S. Department of Justice on September 11, 2008. As part of settlement negotiations between EPA and Carmeuse following the referral to