Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Media Contact: Anne Moore, (218) 723-2356 Technical Contact: Bob Beresford, (218) 723-4664 Toll-free (all MPCA staff and TTY): (800) 657-3864 Duluth, Minn. -- USG Interiors Inc., a ceiling tile manufacturer in Cloquet, Minn., has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $13,150 and complete two environmental projects totaling $555,791, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) announced today. The March 15, 2005 agreement resolves the company's alleged violations for failing to comply with state and federal air quality emission limits and permitting rules. In 2004, tests conducted on a board dryer and spray booth at the USG facility documented violations of air quality permit emission limits. USG also made modifications to the facility's equipment without first obtaining the required air quality permits. USG has agreed to apply for a permit for the already-completed equipment modifications. The permitting process will determine whether additional air pollution control equipment is needed. In addition to paying the civil penalty, USG will complete two projects beneficial to the surrounding community. MPCA air quality inspector Bob Beresford states, "Not only will this settlement resolve past violations, it is also good for the environment. The two environmental projects USG has agreed to complete will benefit air quality in Cloquet and water quality in Lake Superior." USG will install air pollution control leak detectors, valued at $37,900, to reduce airborne perlite emissions and dust fallout into the nearby residential neighborhood. The company will also install a system of tanks, valves and controls costing approximately $517,891 to reduce the amount of wastewater discharged to the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District. The wastewater contains perlite, a floating contaminant that has been hard for the WLSSD to treat. Minnesota law requires owners and operators of facilities with the potential to release air pollutants to have MPCA permits. They must also carefully monitor and maintain equipment because emissions exceeding state standards can degrade air quality. The MPCA offers outreach and training to help facilities meet their permit requirements. For more information on air quality permits and emission standards, call Bob Beresford at (218) 723-4664 or (800) 657-3864. Agreements such as this are one of the MPCA's many tools used to achieve compliance with environmental laws. When calculating penalties, MPCA staff take into account how seriously the violation(s) affected the environment, whether it is a first time or repeat violation and how promptly the violation was reported to appropriate authorities. Staff also attempt to recover the calculated economic benefit gained by failure to comply with environmental laws in a timely manner. For a comprehensive list of enforcement actions by the MPCA, refer to the agency Web site at hhref="/newscenter/enforcement.html