Fibrominn News
MPCA & Fibrominn Settle Issues Related to 2008 Notice of Violation
Compliance Agreement Reached with Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
More information: Fibrominn News Q&A.
Dec. 21 2009 – Fibrominn has reached an agreement with Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) that resolves alleged violations largely related to the startup, commissioning, and equipment and system optimization (”shakedown”) of the Fibrominn Biomass Power Plant in Benson, Minnesota.
The Agency issued a notice of violation for the Fibrominn plant in October 2008. The alleged violations involved issues related to the start-up and early operation of the plant, including testing, emissions monitoring, a failed particulate stack test, excess emissions, and reporting deficiencies. At the time the notice was issued, Fibrominn was already in the process of upgrading its particulate emissions control equipment. Since the upgrade, particulate emissions have remained below permitted limits.
This agreement with the MPCA indicates that Fibrominn has successfully corrected past deficiencies to the satisfaction of the Agency and is now addressing its basic requirements under the permit.
The Fibrominn plant is a unique plant that uses improved combustion technology and advanced emissions control equipment, some of which had never been used for this type of fuel. The use of poultry litter with this equipment presented a number of challenges during the startup, commissioning, and shakedown of the plant. Since Fibrominn took over operation of the plant in October 2007, a lot of valuable experience has been gained, improvements undertaken, and the plant has addressed the issues that resulted in this agreement.
The Fibrominn plant has taken great strides with its environmental management program, including improvements to the combustion and emissions control systems. Since Fibrominn took over operation of the plant, the plant has undertaken a number of steps to optimize environmental performance including
- optimization of its combustion air system, NOx control system, and lime scrubber,
- adjusting operations for cold weather and seasonal fuel variation,
- replaced the original fabric filter bags with high efficiency bags, and
- improved the plants environmental compliance systems for recordkeeping and reporting.
Since the plant operations have been optimized, the Plant continues to operate in compliance with the requirements in its permit and is meeting all of its emissions limits.
Since the Fibrominn plant began operation in May 2007, the plant has not had a reportable odor complaint or accident and continues to have a strong working relationship with the community.
As part of this agreement, a penalty of $65,000 will be paid to the MPCA and the plant will invest more than $80,000 for environmental improvements to the continuous emissions monitoring system.
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency press releases.
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For more information, contact the Fibrowatt PR Manager
Kasia Wieronski – (267) 352-0014
