Document xzNo7NowbxY0VkpKM2MvLz7m6

REGION 6 DALLAS, TX 75270 May 24, 2024 TRANSMITTED VIA E-MAIL Clint Penrose Braskem America Inc. 8811 Strang Road La Porte, TX 77571 clint.penrose@braskem.com RE: Administrative Order; Docket Number: CWA-06-2024-1752 TPDES Permit Number: TX0074276 Dear Mr. Penrose: Enclosed is an Administrative Order (AO) issued to Braskem America, Inc., for violations of the Clean Water Act (CWA) (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.). Violations were identified during a review of the permit file and discharge monitoring reports submitted for the La Porte wastewater treatment plant. The violations alleged are for failure to meet permit effluent and monitoring requirements. The EPA requests that you immediately confirm receipt of this e-mail and the attached order by a response e-mail to vaughn.alan@epa.gov. This AO does not assess a monetary penalty; however, it does require compliance with applicable federal regulations. The first compliance deadline is within thirty days of the effective date of the AO. The Environmental Protection Agency is committed to ensuring compliance with the requirements of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program and my staff will assist you in any way possible. Please reference AO Docket Number CWA-06-2024-1752 and TPDES Permit Number TX0074276 on your response. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Alan Vaughn. of my staff, at (214) 665-7487 or vaughn.alan@epa.gov. Sincerely, Digitally signed by MARGARET OSBOURNE Date: 2024.05.24 11:53:54 -05'00' Cheryl T. Seager, Director Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division ec: kristy.deaver@tceq.texas.gov UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Region 6 FINDINGS OF VIOLATION AND COMPLIANCE ORDER Docket Number: CWA-06-2024-1752; TPDES Permit Number: TX0074276 STATUTORY AUTHORITY The following findings are made, and Order issued, under the authority vested in the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Section 309(a) of the Clean Water Act (the Act), 33 U.S.C. 1319(a). The Administrator of EPA delegated the authority to issue this Order to the Regional Administrator of EPA Region 6, who delegated this authority to the Director of the Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division. FINDINGS 7. Section 402 of the Act, 33 U.S.C. 1342, authorizes states to request approval from EPA to administer their own permit programs for discharges into navigable waters within their jurisdiction. Pursuant to this provision, the State of Texas requested approval from EPA to administer its own permit program for discharges into navigable waters within Texas, and such approval was granted by EPA on September 14, 1998. Therefore, pursuant to the State's permit program, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) issued Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) permits. Violation of a TPDES permit is a violation of Section 301(a) of the Act, 33 U.S.C. 1311(a). 1. Braskem America, Inc. (Respondent) is a "person," as that term is defined at Section 502(5) of the Act, 33 U.S.C. 1362(5), and 40 C.F.R. 122.2. 2. At all times relevant to this Order (all relevant times), Respondent owned or operated the Braskem America La Porte Plant (facility) located at 8811 Strang Road, approximately 3.5 miles northwest of the City of La Porte, in Harris County, TX 77571, and was, therefore, an "owner or operator" within the meaning of 40 C.F.R. 122.2. 3. At all relevant times, the facility acted as a "point source" of a "discharge" of "pollutants" with its final wastewater discharge via Outfalls 001 to a drainage ditch; thence to San Jacinto Bay in Segment No. 2427 of the Bays and Estuaries, which are "waters of the United States," within the meaning of Section 502 of the Act, 33 U.S.C. 1362, and 40 C.F.R. 122.2. 8. Respondent applied for and was issued TPDES Permit No. TX0074276 (permit) under Section 402 of the Act, 33 U.S.C. 1342, which was issued on February 26, 2019, and is currently administratively continued. At all relevant times, Respondent was authorized to discharge pollutants from the facility to waters of the United States only in compliance with the specific terms and conditions of the permit. 9. The permit includes "Monitoring and Reporting Requirements" that require Respondent to sample and test its effluent and monitor its compliance with permit conditions according to specific procedures, in order to determine the facility's compliance or noncompliance with the permit and applicable regulations. The permit also requires Respondent to file with TCEQ certified Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs) of the results of monitoring, and Noncompliance Reports when appropriate. 4. Because Respondent owned or operated a facility that acted as a point source of discharges of pollutants to waters of the United States, Respondent and the facility were subject to the Act and the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program. 10. The permit contains "Effluent Limitations and Monitoring Requirements" that place certain limitations on the quality and quantity of effluent discharged by Respondent. The relevant discharge limitations are specified in Attachment A, which is incorporated herein by reference. 5. Under Section 301 of the Act, 33 U.S.C. 1311, it is unlawful for any person to discharge any pollutant from a point source to waters of the United States, except with the authorization of, and in compliance with, an NPDES permit issued pursuant to Section 402 of the Act, 33 U.S.C. 1342. 11. Certified DMRs filed by Respondent with TCEQ in compliance with the permit show discharges of pollutants from the facility that exceed the permitted effluent limitations established in the permit, as specified in Attachment B, which is incorporated herein by reference. 6. Section 402(a) of the Act, 33 U.S.C. 1342(a), provides that the Administrator of EPA may issue permits under the NPDES program for the discharge of pollutants from point sources to waters of the United States. Any such discharge is subject to the specific terms and conditions prescribed in the applicable permit. 12. Each instance in which Respondent discharged pollutants to waters of the United States in amounts exceeding the effluent limitations contained in the permit was a violation of the permit and Section 301 of the Act, 33 U.S.C. 1311. Docket No. CWA-06-2024-1752 Page 2 SECTION 309(a)(3) COMPLIANCE ORDER GENERAL PROVISIONS 13. Based on the foregoing Findings and pursuant to the authority of Section 309(a)(3) of the Act, 33 U.S.C. 1319(a)(3), EPA hereby orders Respondent to take the following action: A. Take such measures as are necessary to comply with all permit conditions, including Effluent Limitations and Monitoring and Reporting Requirements, no later than thirty (30) days from the effective date of the Order. B. Within thirty (30) days of the effective date of this Order, Respondent shall submit a list of the specific actions taken to correct the pH, Total Suspended Solids, and Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) effluent levels. C. Within thirty (30) days of the effective date of this Order, Respondent shall provide written certification to EPA Region 6 that the violations cited herein have been corrected and the facility is compliant with the requirements of the permit. D. In the event the Respondent believes complete correction of the violations cited herein is not possible within thirty (30) days of the effective date of this Order, Respondent shall, within thirty (30) days of the effective date of this Order, submit a comprehensive written plan for the elimination of the cited violations within the shortest possible time. Such plan shall describe in detail the specific corrective actions to be taken and why such actions are sufficient to correct the violations. The plan shall include a detailed schedule for the elimination of the violations within the shortest possible time, as well as measures to prevent these or similar violations from recurring. Respondent may seek federal judicial review of the Order pursuant to Chapter 7 of the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 701-706. Issuance of this Section 309(a)(3) Compliance Order shall not be deemed an election by EPA to waive any administrative, judicial, civil, or criminal action to seek penalties, fines or other relief under the Act for the violations cited herein, or other violations that become known to EPA. EPA reserves the right to seek any remedy available under the law that it deems appropriate. Failure to comply with this Section 309(a)(3) Compliance Order or the Act may result in further administrative action, or a civil judicial action initiated by the United States Department of Justice. For purposes of the identification requirement in Section 162(f)(2)(A)(ii) of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. 162(f)(2)(A)(ii), and 26 C.F.R. 1.162-21(b)(2), performance of Paragraph 13 is restitution, remediation, or required to come into compliance with the law. This Order does not constitute a waiver or modification of the terms or conditions of Respondents NPDES permit, which remain in full force and effect. Compliance with the terms and conditions of this Order does not relieve Respondent of its obligation to comply with any applicable federal, state, or local law or regulation. The effective date of this Order is the date it is received by Respondent. E. Any information or correspondence submitted by Respondent to EPA under this Order shall be submitted, via email, to the following: Mr. Alan Vaughn vaughn.alan@epa.gov r ~ D Date Digitally signed by MARGARET OSBOURNE Date: 2024.05.24 11:53:02 -05'00' Cheryl T. Seager, Director Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division ATTACHMENT A Braskem America, Inc. NPDES Permit ID: TX0074276 Effluent Parameter Total Suspended Solids WET Ouall 001 TX1 Daily Avg. 112 lbs/day Monthly Avg min. 16 % Daily Max. 358 lbs/day 7-day min. 16 % The pH shall not be less than 6.0 standard units nor greater than 9.0 standard units. ATTACHMENT B Braskem America Inc. - TX0074276 Effluent Violations Monitoring Period 01/31/2022 03/31/2022 03/31/2022 06/30/2022 06/30/2022 09/30/2022 10/31/2022 06/30/2023 07/31/2023 08/31/2023 09/30/2023 10/31/2023 10/31/2023 03/31/2024 03/31/2024 Outfall Parameter 101 pH TX1 Whole Effluent Toxicity [WET] - C. dubia TX1 Whole Effluent Toxicity [WET] - C. dubia TX1 Whole Effluent Toxicity [WET] - C. dubia TX1 Whole Effluent Toxicity [WET] - C. dubia 001 Solids, total suspended 001 Solids, total suspended 001 Solids, total suspended 001 Solids, total suspended 001 Solids, total suspended 001 Solids, total suspended 001 Solids, total suspended 001 Solids, total suspended TX1 Whole Effluent Toxicity [WET] - C. dubia TX1 Whole Effluent Toxicity [WET] - C. dubia Statistical Base MAXIMUM 7 DA MIN MO AV MN 7 DA MIN MO AV MN DAILY AV DAILY AV DAILY AV DAILY AV DAILY AV DAILY AV DAILY AV DAILY MX 7 DA MIN MO AV MN Units SU % % % % lb/d lb/d lb/d lb/d lb/d lb/d lb/d lb/d % % Permit DMR Limit Qualifier Value 9. = 9.79 16. < 7. 16. < 7. 16. < 7. 16. < 7. 112. = 113.5 112. = 112.64 112. = 113.95 112. = 115.46 112. = 112.95 112. = 112.62 112. = 148.52 358. = 428.61 16. = 12. 16. = 12.