According to a Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) enforcement investigation, Boston Scientific Corp. added production equipment that increased its potential to emit pollutants on two occasions in 2022 without obtaining appropriate air permits prior to installing the equipment. The second addition resulted in actual methanol emissions above emission limits in September 2022 at the company’s medical supply production facility in Maple Grove, Minnesota.
MPCA staff confirmed that the company immediately reduced its production until it was able to install a temporary vapor recovery unit in early 2023. Other violations included failing to submit required emission inventory reports for 2021 and 2022.
In addition to paying the $11,186 civil penalty, Boston Scientific has obtained the required permit to cover its added equipment and has installed a regenerative thermal oxidizer which reduces hazardous emissions. The company has also submitted the missing emission inventory reports.
MPCA rules and regulations are designed to protect human health and the environment by limiting pollution emissions and discharges from facilities. When companies do not fully comply with regulatory requirements, the resulting pollution can be harmful to people and the environment.
When calculating penalties, the MPCA takes into account how seriously the violations affected or could have affected the environment and whether they were first-time or repeat violations. The agency also attempts to recover the economic benefit the company gained by failing to comply with environmental laws in a timely manner.
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