NEWS FROM THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
April 7, 2008
Vol. 38, No. 136
For further information, contact Paul Foster, Division of Air and Waste Management, 302-323-4542, or Joanna Wilson, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.
DNREC Issues $5,000 Notice of Penalty Assessment
to Buccini/Pollin Group for Air Pollution Violations
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 Buccini/Pollin Group (BPG) for violations of Delaware’s regulations governing the control of air pollution. The Order includes a cash penalty of $5,000 and an additional $750 as cost recovery reimbursement to the Department for expenses associated with its investigation.
BPG purchased the office building known as the I.M. Pei Building, located at 1105 North Market Street in Wilmington, in February 2007. The building included two 12.5 MMBTU/hour boilers that emit air pollutants, including nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide and particulate matter.
The previous owner was issued a Notice of Administrative Penalty Assessment and Secretary’s Order on Aug. 6, 2007 for operating the boilers without a permit. The previous owner subsequently applied for a permit for operation of the two boilers but sold the building to BPG before the Department could issue a permit.
The Department first learned of the sale of the property via an article in the newspaper. BPG had not applied for a permit to operate the boilers, so the Department immediately contacted BPG to inform them of the permit requirement.
The Notice of Violation dated May 31, 2007 was issued to BPG for violation of Delaware laws and regulations governing the control of air pollution for operating two boilers which may cause or contribute to the discharge of an air contaminant without a valid operating permit. The Department received a permit application for the boilers on April 11, 2007 and issued BPG a permit on June 14, 2007.
BPG has 30 days to request a public hearing before the Order becomes binding.
