Hatillo, PR Cardboard Manufacturing Company to Correct Violations of Clean Air Act Under EPA Order

Hatillo, PR Cardboard Manufacturing Company to Correct Violations of Clean Air Act Under EPA Order

January 16, 2025

Hatillo, PR Cardboard Manufacturing Company to Correct Violations of Clean Air Act Under EPA Order

Contact: Brenda Reyes, [email protected], (202) 834-1290

PUERTO RICO (Jan 16, 2025) - The Borinquen Containers Corporation has agreed to an EPA order requiring to correct violations to the Clean Air Act at its facility located in Hatillo, Puerto Rico. The company manufactures corrugated carboard and fiber drums and it had failed to properly permit, operate and test boilers at the facility as required by law.

"By not properly testing and operating its boilers, Borinquen Containers Corporation potentially exposed people to harmful pollutants such as particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides," said EPA Region 2 Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. "Nearby residents initially flagged possible violations. EPA inspected the facility and with this order on consent is ensuring that the violations are corrected."

The legal agreement, called an Administrative Order of Consent, requires the company to comply with emissions standards under the Clean Air Act and with Puerto Rico's clean air regulations.

EPA received many complaints from residents about black smoke coming from the Borinquen Containers Corporation facility. After inspecting the site, it was found that the company did not perform the required tests to ensure its boilers were functioning correctly.

In October 2023, the EPA issued a Notice of Violation to Borinquen Containers Corporation for eight different issues. These included:

• Operating without the necessary permit.
• Failing to apply for a permit before building two boilers.
• Not submitting annual certification reports from 2018 to 2022.
• Not conducting annual tests and recording the results for the boiler stacks.
• Failing to carry out the required tune-up tests for the two boilers every six months.

The company has until February 15, 2025, to make all necessary upgrades to control pollution and reduce emissions. They must also submit a final compliance report to the EPA by April 30, 2025. If they do not comply, Borinquen Containers Corporation could face fines of over $120,000 per day for each violation of the EPA's order.

Learn more about EPA's work to monitor compliance with these types of requirements on https://www.epa.gov/compliance/national-emission-standards-hazardous-air-pollutants-compliance-monitoring.

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