US ethanol producer fined €87,000 for illegal waste dumping

A New York ethanol producer has been fined $87,000 (€80,300) for illegally disposing of industrial waste from its production facility.

The fine stems from a 2013 investigation into illegal activities at Shelby, NY-based Western New York Energy (WNYE) by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) unit.

The investigation determined that WNYE and Hydro-Klean, a company based in Iowa that specialises in industrial cleaning operations for the ethanol industry, were disposing industrial wastes generated during bi-annual plant cleanings.

WNYE, which processes corn into fuel grade ethanol, allowed wastewater contaminated with trace amounts of ammonia and diesel-range organics to be dumped into the ground at its property, the DEC found.

Hydro-Klean plead guilty in the Town of Shelby Court in August 2015 to the unlawful disposal of industrial wastes and was fined $50,000.

On 14 January, the Town of Shelby Court sentenced WNYE to pay an $87,000 fine for violating the New York State Environmental Conservation Law.

Michael Sawyer, president and CEO at NWYE, laid primary responsibility for the environmental violation on Hydro-Klean, but said WNYE “acknowledges that it has responsibility for events that occur on its property.”

"We are glad to see the matter resolved and appreciate the state’s cooperation in addressing this issue," he said.

WNYE now disposes of all wastewater from cleaning operations at a local wastewater treatment plant.

The DEC has found no evidence of lasting environmental harm caused by the illegal dumping.