Illinois EPA Refers Flint Hills Resources, LLC to Attorney General for Enforcement

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Director Lisa Bonnett has referred an enforcement action to the Illinois Attorney General’s office against Flint Hills Resources, LLC, for violations of the Illinois Environmental Protection Act and Illinois Pollution Control Board regulations. The Agency is seeking an immediate injunction against further reactor operations.

Flint Hills Resources, LLC operates a chemical/polymer manufacturing plant in LaSalle County. The facility is located at 501 Brunner Street in Peru, IL. The facility manufactures expandable polystyrene utilized in the manufacture of various products for industrial, commercial and consumer applications including soda bottles, building materials and appliance and automotive parts.

On April 25, 2014, the facility experienced a release of 56,000 pounds of styrene. A distribution control system failed and allowed continued heating of a reactor with the styrene, which resulted in the release of the styrene. The styrene discharged into an emergency containment, with some overflowing onto an asphalt area and into the facility’s on-site storm water basin. The liquid styrene did not enter the Illinois River. The styrene in the containment area was drained into the on-site wastewater treatment facility. The styrene discharged to the storm water basin will be remediated and properly disposed of. Other process reactors were placed into “safe mode” until a causation analysis is performed.

In the referral, the Agency cited violations of the Illinois Environmental Protection Act, in which the facility caused or threatened to cause air pollution resulting from the styrene release and caused or allowed styrene material to be deposited on the ground so as to cause or threaten water pollution and a water pollution hazard. The Illinois EPA asks the Attorney General to obtain immediate injunctive relief against further reactor operations and proper reactor security and operational safety measures be implemented until remaining reactors are emptied. The Agency also seeks documentation and reports from the facility related to the incident.