NEWS FROM THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
June 23, 2008
Vol. 38, No.293
For further information, contact Paul Foster, Division of Air and Waste Management, 302-323-4542 or Melanie Rapp, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.
DNREC Issues $10,000 Penalty to Hanover Foods of Clayton for Air Pollution Violations
DOVER, Del. - Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary John A. Hughes has issued a Notice of Administrative Penalty Assessment and Secretary’s Order to Hanover Foods Corporation for violations of its operating permit. The Order includes a cash penalty of $10,000 and an additional $1,500 as cost recovery reimbursement to the department for expenses associated with its investigation.
Hanover Foods Corporation owns and operates a frozen food processing facility located at Del. Route 6 and Duck Creek Road in Clayton, Del. The facility processes various types of fresh vegetables for sale and distribution and is required to comply with its operating permit, conduct annual visible emissions tests and tune-ups for two boilers and report results.
On January 31, 2007, Hanover Foods submitted 2006 annual compliance and semi-annual reports and stated the company failed to conduct annual visible emissions tests. During DNREC’s annual inspection of the facility on May 4, 2007, the department discovered that Hanover Foods also failed to conduct tune ups of its boilers in 2006. The company had not reported this violation in reports submitted January 31, 2007.
The department issued a Notice of Violation dated November 15, 2007 for violations of Delaware laws and regulations governing air pollution for operating two boilers which may cause or contribute to the discharge of air contaminants. The company’s permit requirements to conduct visible emissions testing and annual tune ups on its boilers and reporting requirements have been conditions of the permit since its issuance on September 20, 1998, and subsequent renewals.
Hanover Foods Corporation has thirty days to request a public hearing.
