KALAMAZOO, MI -- Graphic Packaging International would be forced to pay a $119,243 fine in a proposed order from the state of Michigan, and could face additional fines of $3,500 per violation per day if it doesn’t follow every part of the order related to air permit violations at its Kalamazoo facility, per state documents.
The public is invited to learn more about the proposed changes to GPI’s air permit and people can submit comments for state environmental regulators to consider. Paper Bag Making Machine
To address violations, Graphic Packaging is requesting changes to an existing air permit for the Kalamazoo paperboard machine, per the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, including:
EGLE’s Air Quality Division will host an online information session and public hearing at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 5. The session will consider the proposed permit and consent order for GPI’s Kalamazoo facility, 1500 N. Pitcher St.
In September 2022, a violation notice was issued to Graphic Packaging for emission, reporting, and equipment design and stack vent restrictions that were not met under Permit to Install No. 133-19A, EGLE Spokesperson Jill Greenberg told MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette previously.
Records showed 37 hours of noncompliance with the limit for oxides of nitrogen (NOx) in the facility’s air permit. It does not show the concentration of the chemical in the air.
Low levels of nitrogen oxides in the air can irritate eyes, nose, throat and lungs, possibly causing a cough and shortness of breath, tiredness and nausea, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry said. Higher levels can cause other health issues.
The company also exceeded emission limits for PM10 and PM2.5, EGLE said.
The current proposed order is to address the violations for emission limits and equipment installation. It includes the $119,243 penalty, plus a compliance plan.
“For potential violations of this type, is it important to incentivize the company to take corrective action as soon as possible, which is why the penalty accrues on a daily basis,” EGLE spokesman Hugh McDiarmid Jr. said.
The amount set for the penalty is typical for these types of violations, McDiarmid said.
The proposed changes to the NOx emission limits “do not reflect any meaningful increases or decreases of existing permit limits,” McDiarmid said.
He said the NOx emission limits are equivalent to the existing emission limits, using different units of measurements to work with the new equipment being installed.
Two other emission limit changes for NOx include adding additional emission limits on top of existing limits, he said. These are not meaningful changes, he said, since the limit will automatically be met if the existing limit is met.
Kalamazoo resident Matt Smith encouraged people to make a public comment to EGLE, while speaking to the Kalamazoo City Commission on Monday, Sept. 18.
Tyler Dancer, a plaintiff in a federal lawsuit against the city, also commented at the commission meeting, and said he believes citizens were not given adequate notice to comment on the proposed changes.
“It’s almost become an information war and we can’t keep up,” Dancer said, complaining about the process state regulators use to collect data and evaluate community impacts.
Mayor David Anderson addressed the issue Monday, and said he has experienced frustration about the process.
“It was not clear to me exactly what was going on, what info they were trying to get feedback on, and whether I could give an informed opinion on that,” Anderson said.
He noted how there should be more of an explanation to help inform people what they are being asked to comment on.
EGLE did not immediately respond to additional questions Tuesday following the City Commission meeting.
EGLE is taking public input on both the proposed air permit and the consent order. Comments can be submitted at any time during the comment period ending on Oct. 16.
Citizens can submit comments by:
Here’s how to tune into the meeting:
The meeting agenda includes a welcome with short presentations; details on the EGLE air permitting and enforcement process; details on the proposed air permit and consent order; a question and answer session and the public hearing to take official comments.
The state of Michigan found the air in the area of the GPI factory and the city wastewater treatment plant represents a public health hazard for long-term exposure, based on the concentrations of hydrogen sulfide measured in the air over time.
McDiarmid told MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette the equipment proposed in the compliance plan are not sources of hydrogen sulfide.
Graphic Packaging sent a statement Tuesday afternoon:
“The proposed changes we initiated to Graphic Packaging’s air permit and consent order are not related to hydrogen sulfide or odor concerns and are not about any meaningful increase in emissions of any kind into the community” the company said. “Rather, they relate to technical specifications regarding the construction of our new paper recycling machine and minor deviations from our prior permit that we self-reported and addressed more than a year ago.”
Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark the local Kalamazoo news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Kalamazoo daily newsletter.
Inside the ‘moody’ recording studio in Kalamazoo’s Edison neighborhood, 30 years in the making
AI, startups among key topics as Tech Week Grand Rapids kicks off
With forecasts in the 70s, Lake Michigan town will keep its beach flags up extra week
‘Priced out of the city limits’ – a first-time homebuyer’s experience in Ann Arbor
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 7/1/2023).
Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information
© 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us). The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local.
Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site.
Void-Fill Paper Protective Packaging Machine YouTube’s privacy policy is available here and YouTube’s terms of service is available here.