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State, Columbus Refinery Settle Air Pollution Violations

3/6/2012

(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and Ohio EPA Director Scott J. Nally announced today that the State of Ohio has entered into a Consent Order and final judgment with Heartland Refinery Group LLC (4001 E. Fifth Ave., Columbus). The order was filed in Franklin County Environmental Court before Judge Harland Hale in lieu of a previously scheduled trial. The order resolves the oil re-refinery’s violations of Ohio’s air pollution control laws and rules, including releasing uncontrolled emissions and causing substantial public odor nuisances.

"I am pleased that all parties agreed to a settlement that will protect nearby workers and residents, enforce Ohio’s emission laws, and allow continued operations at the facility,” said Attorney General DeWine.

"Ohio EPA recognizes the improvements Heartland has made in its efforts to be a good neighbor," said Ohio EPA Director Nally, who also applauded the significant efforts of Heartland, Ohio EPA, and the Ohio Attorney General’s office in reaching today’s agreement. “Our Agency will continue to work with the company as it strives to improve equipment and operations, control emissions and odors and be a responsible environmental steward.”

As part of today's settlement, Heartland has agreed to comply with its permit; abide by and implement improvements required by four previous court orders from 2010 and 2011; implement a public notification system to alert nearby businesses, agencies and safety forces about events at the facility; provide the public non-trade secret and non-confidential documents and other information about facility improvements and progress on the company’s website; and pay a civil penalty, enforcement costs to the Ohio Attorney General and certain stipulated penalties for failure to comply in the future.

A portion of the penalty will go to Ohio EPA's Clean Diesel School Bus Program Fund. This fund helps retrofit older school buses with pollution control equipment to reduce particulate emissions from their diesel engines and thereby protect the children who ride the buses.

Since December 2009, Heartland Petroleum has operated a refinery on the eastside of Columbus which reprocesses spent petroleum products such as used motor oil.

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Documents

Copy of Consent Order (PDF)

Media Contacts

Dan Tierney, Ohio Attorney General's Office, 614-466-3840
Erin Strouse, Ohio EPA, 614-644-2160

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