Middlesex manufacturer will fight $240K NJ fine over air pollution, odor
Spray-Tek, which operates a spray drying facility that has been the subject of complaints by neighborhood residents, has requested an Office of Administrative Law hearing on the violations and the penalty, according to a joint press release by the DEP and the state Attorney General's Office.
The order finds that Spray-Tek has operated spray drying equipment without the required pollution control equipment.
Spray drying is a process that converts liquid materials into dry powders by rapidly evaporating moisture through the application of heated air, according to the release.
The DEP order, issued on Dec. 19, compels Spray-Tek to bring its dryer into compliance by reinstalling the necessary pollution control equipment.
In all, the order cites Spray-Tek for more than 120 violations, including two instances of failing to notify the DEP of two releases of air contaminants on March 23, 2022 and Sept. 22, 2022 which resulted in complaints about odors.
More: Middlesex Borough commercial building fire under investigation
The action by the DEP and the Attorney General is part of an initiative of enforcement actions of environmental violations in 'overburdened communities' under New Jersey's Environmental Justice Law which have historically seen more pollution and contamination but less environmental enforcement than other communities.
'Every resident in every community of our state deserves to live free from environmental harm. That's what environmental justice means, and it's why we remain fully committed to this critical work,' stated Attorney General Matthew Platkin.
'Today's enforcement actions embody DEP's sustained commitment to confronting the historic injustices that have harmed already overburdened communities with a disproportionate amount of pollution,' added DEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette.
Email: mdeak@MyCentralJersey.com
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Middlesex NJ manufacturer will fight $240K state fine over pollution
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