Iowa's largest ethanol producer – POET, LLC – has agreed to fines totaling $53,000 for hazardous air emissions from its Shell Rock refinery over a two-year period.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) imposed a $10,000 fine – the most the department is allowed to levy without submitting the case to the Iowa Attorney General's office – and assessed a $43,000 fee – or $70 per ton for the more than 600 tons of volatile organic compounds (VOC's) the plant released during 2021 and 2022.
"Actual harm to the environment and public health likely occurred due to the amount of pollutants that were emitted above the PSD (Prevention of Significant Deterioration) threshold and emission limits set forth in construction permits. . .," the administrative consent order by IDNR stated. "POET Shell Rock has violated emission limits for VOC, acetaldehyde, total HAP (hazardous air pollutants), PM (particulate matter), and PM10 (particular matter less than 10 microns). These pollutants are known to cause adverse health effects."
"Furthermore, acetaldehyde is designated as a Hazardous Air Pollutant," according to the consent order. "HAPs are known or suspected to cause cancer or other serious health effects, such as reproductive effects or birth defects, or adverse environmental effects. The gravity of the violation is higher when excess HAP emissions are occurring."
Because the POET facility failed to determine actual emissions of VOC's and HAP's from one of its emission stacks, 610.66 tons of unreported VOC emissions and a total of 13 tons of unreported HAP emissions occurred, according to the IDNR.
"POET Shell Rock's actions threaten the integrity of the DNR's air quality program," the order stated.
POET has 12 ethanol plants in Iowa. POET acquired the Shell Rock ethanol refinery on June 1, 2021 from Flint Hills Resources, LLC.
CLICK HERE to download the full consent order by the IDNR.
