• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / Business / Muscatine company ordered to pay a record environmental penalty

Muscatine company ordered to pay a record environmental penalty

March 28, 2014 By Dar Danielson

Muscatine-based Grain Processing Corporation has been ordered to pay the state $1.5 million in a civil penalty, the largest ever paid in Iowa for violating environmental regulations. A release from the Iowa Attorney General’s office says the judge’s order includes an “unprecedented provision” requiring GPC to convert its boilers from coal-fired to natural gas-fired to cut air pollutant emissions.

The group “Clean Air Muscatine” pushed for the changes.  The group’s president, Sandy Stanley, says they’ll be involved in monitoring GPC’s progress as the company reduces their emissions over the next several years. “The air quality is really poor, it causes a lot of lung conditions, asthma, poor breathing. Children can’t play outside a lot of times when the air is so thick with the haze and the pollutants,” Stanley says.

The company estimates the changes will cost between 15 to 17 million dollars, plus one million every year in operating costs, and four to 12 million dollars each year in increased fuel costs. But, Stanley says GPC should do more.  “Our expert that looked at this decree felt some things were very routine,  kind of off the shelf things that could be done in a year or two instead of four to six years out,”Stanley says.

Stanley says the pollution in Muscatine has plagued residents for years, contributing to high rates of lung diseases and cancer. Stanley says the pollution is most visibly concentrated on the South Side of Muscatine, where there are two schools and a playground.  The plant processes grain into ethanol and various feed, industrial and food products.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Business, Crime / Courts, News, Outdoors

Featured Stories

All bodies of missing now recovered from rubble of collapsed Davenport building

Governor signs child care expansion into law

Iowa seniors have until July 1 to apply for new property tax break

Smoke from distant fires creates colorful sunrise in Iowa

DOT’s Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division to merge into State Patrol

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

Hawkeye women to play Virginia Tech

Radio Iowa/Baseball Coaches Association High School Poll 6/5/23

Iowa eliminated at NCAA regional

Iowa names Beth Goetz interim AD

Cyclone Trio Invited to USA Basketball U19 Training Camp

More Sports

Archives

Copyright © 2023 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC