Cardboard manufacturer to correct Clean Air Act violations or face $120K in daily fines
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reached an agreement with the Borinquen Containers Corporation. The company, which manufactures corrugated carboard and fiber drums, allegedly violated the Clean Air Act at its facility located in Hatillo, Puerto Rico. According to the EPA, the company failed to properly permit, operate and test boilers at the facility as required by law. The EPA investigation began after nearby residents complained about black smoke coming from the facility. After its inspection, the EPA determined that Borinquen Containers Corporation failed to perform the required tests to ensure its boilers were functioning correctly. As part of the agreement, the company must comply with emissions standards under the Clean Air Act and with Puerto Rico’s clean air regulations. The company must also correct eight issues found during the EPA’s inspection, including:
- Operating without the necessary permit.
- Failing to apply for a permit before building two boilers.
- Not submitting annual certification reports from 2018 to 2022.
- Not conducting annual tests and recording the results for the boiler stacks.
- Failing to carry out the required tune-up tests for the two boilers every six months.
Borinquen Containers Corporation has been given a deadline of February 15, 2025, to make all necessary upgrades to control pollution and reduce emissions. Additionally, the company must submit a final compliance report to the EPA by April 30, 2025. If these requirements are not met, the company could face fines of over $120,000 per day.
What people are saying
In a recent quote, EPA Region 2 Administrator Lisa F. Garcia said, “By not properly testing and operating its boilers, Borinquen Containers Corporation potentially exposed people to harmful pollutants such as particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides. Nearby residents initially flagged possible violations. EPA inspected the facility and with this order on consent is ensuring that the violations are corrected.”
EPA in the news
Borealis Compounds pays $450K for violating chemical safety requirements at New Jersey facility
According to the EPA, the company’s facility in Port Murray, New Jersey, violated the Toxic Substances Control Act.
RathGibson fined $150K for violating the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
During its investigation, the EPA discovered that RathGibson had violated several requirements under the RCRA statute.
PennEnergy Resources fined $2M for failing to capture and control air emissions
PennEnergy must implement projects to assess, modify and improve monitoring and maintenance of vapor control systems.
Manufacturers violating the Clean Air Act
PennEnergy Resources fined $2M for failing to capture and control air emissions
PennEnergy must implement projects to assess, modify and improve monitoring and maintenance of vapor control systems.
Grimmel Industries to pay $43K to resolve Clean Air Act violations at its metal shredding facility in Maine
The company’s scrap metal shredding facility in Topsham, Maine, failed to have the correct air emissions license for its shredder.
Metal shredding facility ordered to address Clean Air Act violations
"This action demonstrates that EPA will hold facilities accountable when they fail to take the actions necessary to meet health-based air quality standards.”