Home / Environment / Ethanol Plant Fined $75K for River Pollution
Ethanol Plant Fined $75K for River Pollution
19 Aug
Summary
- Alto Pekin LLC to pay $75,000 civil penalty.
- Company must fund $125,000 wetland restoration project.
- Facility has high reported hazardous air emissions.
Alto Pekin LLC, previously known as Pacific Pekin Ethanol, has reached a resolution in an eight-year legal dispute concerning pollution. A final consent order mandates a $75,000 civil penalty payment to the state's Environmental Protection Trust Fund.
Additionally, the company is required to allocate $125,000 for a wetland restoration initiative. This project, managed by Ducks Unlimited, will focus on approximately 320 acres of Illinois River floodplain wetlands at Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge, with a completion deadline of November 30, 2027.
The lawsuit, initiated in January 2018, stemmed from alleged repeated permit violations related to thermal pollution, with wastewater discharges significantly hotter than permitted. The settlement also requires the facility to adhere to its renewed wastewater discharge permit.
Beyond water pollution, Alto Pekin has been identified for substantial hazardous air emissions, including acetaldehyde and formaldehyde. A 2024 report also flagged the plant as a high-priority Clean Air Act violator, with past penalties totaling over $300,000.
Environmental advocates emphasize that this settlement addresses river pollution but does not clear the ethanol industry. They highlight the need for continued environmental enforcement to protect water and air quality.
