Epa Settlement Removes 2200 Tons of Pollution a Year

October 26, 2006supported gutting the Clean Air Act but are now
The EPA reached a settlement betweentrying to use it as evidence of their commitment
agricultural processor Bunge North America Inc.to the environment, an issue that often ranks low
and multiple Midwest states over violations of thefor their party.
Clean Air Act. The judgement against theThe government argued that Bunge did not get
multi-state company will remove 2200 tons ofpermits or approval for modifications to their
pollution annually from the atmosphere.soybean processing plants and those modifications
The $13.9 million settlement includes 12 plants in 8led to significant increases in pollution. This case
states from Louisiana to Illinois.follows similar settlements with other processors
Agricultural processing facilities are major sourcesincluding Cargill Inc. and Archer Daniels Midland.
of pollution but often when we think of industrial"This settlement...will reduce the formation of
pollution it often involves coal and oil industries.ground-level ozone, a pollutant that irritates the
The pollutants come in the form of solvents thatlungs and exacerbates diseases such as asthma,"
are used when extracting soybean oils. Thesaid Sue Ellen Wooldridge, assistant attorney
solvents are then vented from the plant and cangeneral for the Justice Department's Environment
accumulate in the form of air or ground pollution.and Natural Resources Division.
"This agreement is evidence of the BushBunge is a multi-state agribusiness based in St.
Administration's continuing commitment toLouis, MO and is handles American operations for
ensuring compliance with the Clean Air Act. EPAmultinational corporation Bunge Limited.
expects companies to act responsibly and within-William Gallahue
the law when it comes to protecting public healthPlease visit Mesothelioma Treatment for more
and the environment."information.
Bush and Republican lawmakers had once