EPA’s inspection of Bituminous Roadways raises more concerns about Clean Air Act violations in East Phillips
Photo of Bituminous Roadways from EPA inspection.
It’s right next door to the Smith Foundry, which the EPA recently cited for excess air pollution.
By Scott Russell via Healing Minnesota Stories
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducted an unannounced inspection of Bituminous Roadways in Minneapolis’ East Phillips neighborhood May 26 and came away with concerns the plant was violating the U.S. Clean Air Act, according to an internal memo from the EPA’s regional office in Chicago.
“EPA Inspectors observed fumes coming from the oil tank vent,” said the memo, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request and shared with Healing Minnesota Stories. “There were significant visible PM [particulate matter] emissions coming from the mixer and loader, every time a truck was loaded with asphalt … There were also visible PM emissions from both incoming and outgoing trucks: this
occurred in different parts of the parking lot, and on the west property line adjacent to an apartment building. There were also visible PM emissions from aggregate piles.”
The EPA sent a letter to Bituminous Roadways Aug. 15 asking for numerous pieces of information, including documents on staff training, the plant’s annual air emissions inventory, and more.
The information will be used to determine if the company has been complying with the Clean Air Act, the letter said.
“We may use any information submitted in response to this request in an administrative, civil, or criminal action. Failure to comply fully with this information request may subject Bituminous Roadways to an enforcement action” under the Clean Air Act.”