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The Maryland Attorney General filed a February 2nd Complaint for Preliminary and Permanent Injunctive Relief and Civil Penalties (“Complaint”) against Valley Proteins, Inc. (“VPI”) for alleged violations of a Clean Water Act National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (“NPDES”) permit and an Air Emissions Permit.
VPI is stated to operate a poultry rendering facility (“Facility”) in Linkwood, Maryland.
NPDES violations are alleged to include:
- Discharge Monitoring Reports from April 2019 – October 2021 are stated to have indicated 40 effluent violations
- Inspections conducted by the Maryland Department of Environment (“MDE”) from January 2019 – January 2020 are stated to have identified additional effluent violations
- Failure to implement Stormwater Pollution Plan Best Management Practices
- Violations of total residual chlorine exceedances
- Unauthorized discharges of wastewater, sludge and solids
- Failure to operate the wastewater treatment plant with a certified operator
Air Emission Permit violations are alleged to include:
- MDE inspections are stated to have identified 89 parametric monitoring deviations on the air pollution control equipment
- Violations of continuous air monitoring
- MDE detection of odors beyond the property line
The Complaint notes that VPI has installed new monitoring equipment and performed maintenance on its scrubbers. Follow-up inspections are stated to confirm that the Facility has come into compliance with its Air Emissions Permit.
The Complaint asks that the Court enjoin VPI from further operations that violate permit conditions and order it to remediate any environmental harm caused by unlawful discharges. Also requested is a judgment assessing civil penalties for the conduct alleged in the Complaint.
A copy of the Complaint can be downloaded here.
