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EPA reaches agreement with Kikkoman Foods

Release Date: 7/13/2005
Contact Information:

CONTACT: William Omohundro, (312) 353-8254

For Immediate Release
No. 05-OPA115

CHICAGO (July 13, 2005) — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has reached an agreement with Kikkoman Foods Inc. on alleged clean-air violations at the company's food-processing plant at Highway 14 and Six Corners Road, Walworth, Wis. EPA assessed a $110,670 penalty.

The agreement resolves EPA allegations that Kikkoman built and operated a spray dryer without getting state construction and operating permits and operated the equipment without controlling volatile organic compound emissions.

"We are pleased with Kikkoman's cooperation and with the extra effort it is making to comply with clean-air regulations," said Acting Regional Administrator Bharat Mathur.

Although the regulations require controlling 85 percent of VOC emissions, Mathur said Kikkoman has agreed to go beyond what is required by installing equipment that will control its VOC emissions by 95 percent.

By Dec. 15, Kikkoman will install a thermal oxidizer and operate it when its spray dryer is used. By next April, the company will show that the oxidizer destroys at least 95 percent of VOC emissions from the spray dryer.

Last September, Kikkoman applied to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for a permit to construct and operate its spray dryer, and the WDNR issued the permit this June.

Volatile organic compounds contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone, or smog. Smog is formed when a mixture of air pollutants is baked in the hot summer sun. Smog can cause a variety of respiratory problems, including coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and chest pain. People with asthma, children and the elderly are especially at risk, but these health concerns are important to everyone.