Crushing firm, EPA reach air agreement.

The Region 5 office of the U.S. EPA, based in Chicago, has reached an agreement with a Michigan concrete crushing plant operator to improve dust control at the plant.

The EPA and Demolition Contractors Inc. agreed that the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based company will pay a $55,000 penalty and make $46,000 worth of modifications to its plant to address alleged violations of federal and state clean-air regulations.

"As part of the agreement, Demolition Contractors will protect the health of its neighbors by improving dust control at its c0ncrete crushing plant in Walker, Mich.," says EPA Region 5 administrator Thomas Skinner.

Companies that violate the Clean Air Act can voluntarily propose environmental projects as part of their settlements. EPA may reduce monetary penalties if it believes a project will cut pollution significantly and goes beyond what is required by EPA regulations.

An EPA administrative complaint filed alleged that Demolition Contractors had two shortcomings to address, one concerning alleged failure to comply with federal asbestos regulations at several demolition sites and the other with state regulations limiting dust levels at its Walker crushing plant.