Cases — 4306096

As of Oct 2, 2026.

Activity name

BLUE DIAMOND GROWERS

Case number

09-1991-0027

Case name

BLUE DIAMOND GROWERS

Region code

09

Fiscal year

1991

Activity type code

JDC

Activity type desc

Judicial

Activity status code

CLS

Activity status desc

Closed

Activity status date

1995-10-01

Lead agency

EPA

Case status date

1995-10-01

Doj docket number

90-5-2-1-1679

Enforcement outcome code

ECP

Enforcement outcome desc

Final Order With Penalty

Total penalty assessed

437000.0

Hq division

AIR

Branch

RC-2

Voluntary self disclosure

false

Multimedia flag

false

Summary text

BLUE DIAMOND GROWERS ( DEFENDANT ) IS THE CURRENT OWNER AND OPERATOR OF A BIOMASS FIRED COGENERATION FACILITY ( FACILITY ) LOCATED IN SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA. A PRIOR OWNER OF THE FACILITY, IMOTEK, INC. ( IMOTEK ), CONSTRUCTED THE FACILITY IN LATE 1980/EARLY 1981. THE ORIGINAL AUTHORITIES TO CONSTRUT ( ATC ) ISSUED BY THE SACRAMENTO COUNTY AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT, REQUIRED A WET SCRUBBER TO CONTROL PARTICULATE EMISSIONS AND A THERMAL CONTROL SYSTEM FOR NITROGEN OXIDE EMISSIONS AT THE FACILITY. THE DISTRICT DID NOT REQUIRE AN EMISSION, SINCE IMOTEK HAD ESTIMATED IN THE PERMIT APPLICATION THAT CO EMISSIONS WOULD BE BELOW THE REGULATORY THRESHOLD. DURING START UP OF THE FACILITY IN 1981/1982, IMOTEK EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH EXCESSIVE EMISSIONS OF PARTICU- LATES. SOURCE CONTROL TESTS CONDUCTED BY THE CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD IN APRIL, 1982, SHOWED EMISSION LEVELS OF NOX AND CO ABOVE THE REGULATORY THRESHOLDS. THE LEVELS MADE THE FACILITY SUBJECT TO THE FEDERAL PREVENTION OF SIGNIFICANT DETERIORATION REQUIREMENTS WHICH WERE INCORPORATED INTO THE STATE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN APPLICABLE TO SACRAMENTO COUNTY AT THAT TIME. TO REMEDY THE PARTICULATE PROBLEM, THE DISTRICT ISSUED A REVISED ATC WHICH REQUIRED SUBSTITUTION OF A BAGHOUSE FOR THE WET SCRUBBER AND PERMITTED REMOVAL OF THE THERMAL DE-NOX SYSTEM. THESE MODIFICATIONS RESULTED IN FURTHER INCREASES IN THE COX AND NOX EMISSION LEVELS. THE MODIFICATIONS MADE THE FACILITY SUBJECT TO THE NEW SOURCE REVIEW REQUIREMENTS FOR MAJOR MODIFICATIONS WHICH WERE INCORPORATED INTO THE SIP IN JULY, 1982. IN 1985, IMOTEK SOLD ITS INTEREST IN THE FACILITY TO THE DEFENDANT. NEITHER IMOTEK NOR THE DEFENDANT EVER MET THE PSD OR NSR REQUIREMENTS FOR THE FACILITY. THE DEFENDANT CONTINUES TO OPERATE THE FACILITY IN VIOLATION OF THE PSD AND NSR REQUIREMENTS.

Created at

2026-10-02T02:02:59.061315+00:00

Updated at

2026-10-02T02:02:59.061315+00:00

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