IDNR to seek legal action against Muscatine's top polluter

Muscatine's largest environmental polluter -- Grain Processing Corporation (GPC) -- may finally face legal action for alleged air quality and wastewater violations, some dating back seven years.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is recommending the nine-member Environmental Protection Commission refer the violations to the Attorney General's Office "for appropriate legal action."

Commission members, appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state senate for four-year terms, will consider the recommended legal action at its April 19 meeting in Des Moines.

CLICK HERE to download the IDNR's referral recommendation on GPC air quality and wastewater violations:

The alleged violations include:

• Failure to obtain Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permits.
• Failure to comply with the emission limits of air quality construction permits.
• Failure to comply with the notification, reporting and emission reductions requirements associated with the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Miscellaneous Organic Chemical Manufacturing (known as MON).
• Failure to obtain a construction permit prior to the construction of a 1.9-million-gallon anaerobic settler of GPC's wastewater treatment system.

According to the IDNR report, "GPC has numerous air emission sources at its facility," and "is considered to be a major source of air pollutants under both the PSD and Title V Operating permit programs."

Pollutants emitted by GPC include particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5), particulate matter less than 10 microns (PM10), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), volatile organic compounds (VOC) and hazardous air pollutants (HAP's).

GPC emits more than 1,300 tons - 2.7 million pounds - of PM 2.5 annually, which has resulted in frequent exceedances of air quality standards monitored at the nearby Garfield Elementary School.

The GPC corn-processing facility in the city produces: maltodextrins; corn syrup solids and starches; ethyl alcohol; corn oil; and animal nutritional ingredients. According to its web site, the firm "remains privately-owned, with the third generation of the Kent family holding leadership positions in the management of the company. GPC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Muscatine Foods Corporation, Muscatine, Iowa. Additional affiliates include Kent Nutrition Group, Inc. and Precision Foods, Inc."

According to the report to the commission, GPC entered into a consent decree with the State of Iowa in 2007 for violations "similar to those in this referral but for different emission units at the facility." In that earlier litigation, GPC agreed to pay a $538,000 civil penalty.

"In addition, GPC has been issued numerous Notice of Violation letters relating to air quality and wastewater violations," the IDNR report said.

For more on GPC and air quality in Muscatine, click on the links below:

• GPC, Blackhawk Foundry pledge emission controls
• Scott, Clinton, Muscatine counties get failing grades from lung association
• 2010 a record year for air pollution 'exceedances' in Iowa