Document daa2me1jz9DrYnvgr3rnzea7G

09/26/90 06:23 616 274 9719 MONSANTO CO ib:33 2177S32BG1 Attj- Gan SPFLD >> > MONSANTO CO SEP 2 6 1990 Neil F. Hartigan ...... . 1 ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Further Information; Jim Leach or Ernie Slcttag (217) 782-1973 HARTIGAN AMO MONSANTO ENTER INTO CONSENT AGREEMENT TO ADDRESS AIR POLLUTION CONCERNS SPRINGFIELD, IL -- September 25, 1990 -- Illinois Attorney General Neil Hartigan has reached agreement with the Monsanto corporation which will require the company to pay a penalty and continue comprehensive Studios to correct deficiencies such an those which caused several serious air pollution incidents over the last two years. The agreement comes shout from a suit Hartigan filed against Monsanto over releases w C. Krijiranrich plant J*> the VMl*a* o Sauget, a heavily industrialised community in St. Clair county. The Krummrich plant has sustained at~least four major releases of chemicals into the air since April 1988; at least 12 people received medical treatment for respiratory difficulties and other problems resulting from the releases. "The most important part of this agreement is the provision which ensures that Monsanto will continue to undertake hazard operability studies of all systems with the potential to causa serious releases," Hartigan said. "kazop studies have become one of our most valuable tools in locating and defusing potential problems before they become real problems." Monsanto has already begun and completed one such HAZOP study on its phosphorus trichloride process end has two others underway. Phosphorus trichloride was released In three of the tom Incidents^ forming or. "acid cloud" discomfort to nearby residents. A work plan to correct deficiencies in that system has been submitted by Monsanto and approved by the state. DSW 136226 STLCOPCB4036194 . .. . I-,/ 09/26/90 08:23 618 274 9719 MONSANTO CO & 03 06/2S/S0 18; 3-1 S21778J255J Att.v Gen SPFLD MONSANTO CO 003/003 Monsanto has bean implementing that work plan, even while settlement negotiations wars ongoing. Among changes Monsanto has # v \.., ' madB are new air pollution control equipment and storage tanka'. . and improvements in tank car loading and unloading. The total coat for improvements under the work plan is expected to reach 44 to $5 million when work is completed later this year. Under the agreement with Hartigan, six other systems at the Krummrich plant will undergo a similar comprehensive review over the next year, and full reports will be submitted to the state, The agreement also calls for Monsanto to pay a $$0,000 penalty and an additional $20,000 remedial payment to the state's Environmental Trust Fund, where the money will go towards future environmental enforcement activities. The company has also donated computer equipment to the ot, Clair County x,ocl Emergency Planning Committee to assist in emergency response coordination. Hactigan's Office and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency will continue to have access to the plant operations named in the consent decree to ensure that terms of the* bgcem^Rt are ~ being met. (NOTE TO REPORTERS AND EDITORS: For information from Monsanto, contact Audi Smith, Communications Specialist, at 61B/4S2-6322) osw 11622:1 STLCOPCB4036195