Mich. sugar processor fined for pollution

The Environmental Protection Agency and the Justice Department said they had reached a settlement with Michigan Sugar for emissions from beet pulp dryers at company factories. Some of the violations date back more than 20 years.

"Today's settlement secures permanent and substantial emission reductions for citizens in the affected states," said Bharat Mathur, acting administrator for the EPA's regional office in Chicago.

Ray VanDriessche, a spokesman for Bay City-based Michigan Sugar, said the company was not admitting wrongdoing but considered the settlement the best way to resolve the case.

"We have provided them with tons and tons of information about all the proper permitting that was done with the state and the EPA at the time," VanDriessche told The Bay City Times. "We finally said, 'This has gone on long enough.'"

The cooperative agreed to shut down old equipment and use $13 million worth of technology that will reduce volatile organic compound emissions by 446 tons per year, EPA said. Volatile organic compounds help form smog.

Michigan Sugar dries and processes beets to make sugar. The sugar is sold under the brand names of Pioneer Sugar and Big Chief Sugar.

Sugar beet pulp, a byproduct, is processed in dryers that generate volatile organic compounds and carbon monoxide. The cooperative agreed to use new equipment that will reduce emissions to nearly zero, the EPA said.

The government accused the company of violating federal and state clean air laws by building a pulp dryer and increasing operating hours without obtaining the appropriate permits.

VanDriessche said his company received permits from the state and later the EPA for its pulp dryers, which are used to prepare beet pulp for use as animal feed.