EPA reaches agreement with Lesaffre on clean-air violations

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has reached an agreement with Lesaffre Yeast Corp. on alleged clean-air violations at the company’s yeast manufacturing plant at 2702 W. Greves St., Milwaukee, Wis. EPA said the alleged violations occurred before the plant closed in December 2005.

The agreement, which includes a $202,500 penalty, resolves EPA allegations that Lesaffre made major changes to the plant in 1996 and 2000 that increased ozone-producing volatile organic compound emissions without getting permits requiring additional pollution controls. EPA also alleged a series of incidents between March 2002 and December 2003 during which the plant violated VOC emissions limits.

Volatile organic compounds contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone, or smog. Smog can cause a variety of respiratory problems, including coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and chest pain. People with asthma, children and the elderly are especially at risk, but these health concerns are important to everyone. The Milwaukee area does not meet national outdoor air quality standards for ozone.

Information about EPA Region 5’s air enforcement program is at http://www.epa.gov/region5/air/enforce/index.html. Potential environmental violations may be reported at http://www.epa.gov/compliance/complaints