The U.S. EPA recently reached a settlement worth more than $2 million with Evergreen Packaging over Clean Air Act violations.
The consent agreement and final order (CAFO) alleged that Evergreen failed to do three main actions at its kraft pulp and paper mill in Pine Bluff, Arkansas: control hazardous air pollutants, meet fuel specifications for boilers and close washer windows and hoods during operation.
These findings are based on EPA’s on-site inspections at the facility from Jan. 14-17, 2020. The agency issued its final inspection report on March 6, 2020, and from October 2020 to October 2022 Evergreen submitted additional information about corrective actions it took to address the violations.
At the time, Evergreen Packaging was a subsidiary of Reynolds Group Holdings. The company is now part of Pactiv Evergreen, following an initial public offering in September 2020. Pactiv Evergreen could not be reached for comment prior to publication.
Under the conditions of the settlement, Evergreen Packaging “neither admits nor denies the specific factual allegations contained in this CAFO.” Evergreen is required to pay a $256,973 civil penalty and to take corrective actions at the facility, including:
- Maintain a digester capping valve repair and replace program
- Hire an independent inspector to conduct an inspection of the bleach plant and all pieces of bleaching equipment
- Prepare and submit a report to EPA identifying each instance that a hood opening or enclosure is found to be open
- Submit a Notification of Compliance status update
The company agreed to the pay the penalty within 30 days of the CAFO finalization, which occurred Sept. 27.
In addition, Evergreen must complete a $2.1 million supplemental environmental project within 30 months to reduce hazardous air pollutants in the wastewater treatment system. The project involves installing 10 new mechanical aerators and relocating the water discharge point, which the EPA said will create a “more accurate and reliable flow monitoring, decrease in total suspended solids at the outfall, and the wastewater flow will be more stabilized.”
“This settlement demonstrates EPA holding companies accountable for failing to meet crucial Clean Air Act standards,” said EPA Region 6 Administrator Earthea Nance in a statement. “Hazardous air pollutants not only pose a threat to the environment, but they also affect nearby communities as well. With the corrective actions of the settlement and the supplemental environmental project, Pine Bluff residents will have cleaner air quality in their area.”
According to Joe Robledo, press officer for EPA Region 6, this case was initiated by a Clean Air Act inspection. Since 2018, the region has inspected seven pulp and paper facilities and taken five related enforcement actions.
Earlier this year, Pactiv Evergreen also ran into environmental concerns at its Canton, North Carolina mill. The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality said the site violated water quality requirements. The company denied the claims. In 2021 and 2022 that same mill faced air quality violations. The mill permanently closed in June as part of a restructuring plan.
