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Press Releases
Rep. Ralph Norman Requests Additional EPA Personnel to Expedite the Review of Public Comments Pertaining to New Indy Containerboard
Catawba, SC,
May 9, 2022
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Austin Livingston
(202-740-8937)
On Thursday, Rep Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) sent a letter to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requesting additional EPA personnel to assist with the review of hundreds of public comments received in response to the proposed Consent Decree between the EPA and New Indy Containerboard, LLC (New Indy).
Background
The EPA and New Indy negotiated a proposed Consent Decree earlier this year which was filed with the United States District Court. The Consent Decree would permanently implement the injunctive relief temporarily established by the EPA’s Emergency 303 Order to reduce hydrogen sulfide odors affecting surrounding communities.
In accordance with government regulations, public comments were solicited by the EPA. Hundreds of public comments were received by citizens living near this facility during the public comment window, which closed on March 11, 2022.
It is essential that the Consent Decree order pertaining to hydrogen sulfide is responsibly finalized so that state partners in South Carolina can help provide the most comprehensive odor relief response possible for impacted residents. Furthermore, EPA Region 4 officials have expressed that they cannot adequately address community concerns in a public forum until the Consent Decree order is finalized, and the comment review process is complete.
Permanent relief and full transparency cannot move forward until the EPA’s review of public comments with officials from the U.S. Department of Justice has concluded.
The letter requests the EPA Administrator, Michael Regan, to allocate process experts “to assist with the review of complex information included in the comments to the Consent Decree and provide guidance for air enforcement activities that may continue even after the consent decree is entered.”
Statement
"I realize this Consent Decree is simply the next step in efforts to mitigate the foul odors from the New Indy facility,” said Rep. Norman on Thursday. “The sheer volume of public comments should be a clear indication for how big of an issue this is for my constituents. That should not, however, get in the way of an expeditious review, and I am calling on the EPA Administrator to allocate the necessary personnel and experts needed to accomplish this task as quickly and as thoroughly as possible.”
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