AQMD SECURES ORDER TO CLEAN UP ONTARIO GRAIN PLANT

The OH Kruse plant in Ontario will take several measures to clean up fugitive grain dust.

An Ontario grain and feed milling plant will build a fully enclosed commodity warehouse and take several other steps to keep its grain dust from drifting into the surrounding community, as a result of an Order for Abatement issued in September by AQMD's Hearing Board.

Residents living near the O.H. Kruse grain and feed plant in south Ontario have lodged numerous complaints in recent years of fugitive grain dust from the facility covering their property. This summer, AQMD issued eight Notices of Violation to the company for creating fugitive dust, improperly maintaining equipment and causing a public nuisance.

AQMD's District Prosecutor’s office secured an agreement with O.H. Kruse to institute nearly 30 measures to reduce fugitive dust at the plant. The agreement was formalized in a Stipulated Order for Abatement issued by AQMD's Hearing Board. The measures include:

• Building a fully enclosed commodity warehouse to replace the current open grain storage piles and the open-bay grain storage structure by Oct. 1, 2001;
• Hiring independent environmental observers for at least one month to monitor compliance with the abatement order;
• Training O.H. Kruse employees in fugitive grain dust observations and control strategies;
• Covering all piles of bulk grain materials now stored outdoors with tarps until the warehouse is built;
• Contracting for an independent engineering evaluation of all dust control equipment, with recommendations and a timetable for any needed equipment repairs or replacement;
• Developing and implementing a comprehensive fugitive dust prevention program;
• Posting signs at the plant with a 24-hour phone number for lodging dust complaints with the plant's environmental observer; and
• Establishing a community liaison to provide feedback on fugitive grain dust control-related issues.

O.H. Kruse and AQMD officials will appear before the Hearing Board this fall to review the company's progress in complying with the order. Any firm under an abatement order may be subject to further legal action, including penalties and fines, for not complying with any portion of the order.

For more information, contact Ed Pupka at (909) 396-3332.

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This page updated: March 01, 2004
URL: http://www.aqmd.gov/news1/OH_Kruse.htm