JR Simplot - Lathrop

Acid Plant Database October 3, 2024

Owner	J.R. Simplot Company
Location	16777 Howland Road Lathrop, California 95330
Background	-
Website	www.simplot.com
Plant	Lathrop Plant
Coordinates*	37° 48' 22" N, 121° 16' 38" W
Type of Plant	Sulphur Burning
Gas Source	Elemental Sulphur
Plant Capacity	700 STPD
SA/DA	DA
Emissions	SO₂: < 2.5 lb/ton (100% H₂SO₄) (Normal Operation) < 21.5 lb/ton (100% H₂SO₄) (Startup and Shutdown) < 1750 lb/day < 410296 lb/12 consecutive month period < 2000 ppmv (dry) averaged over 15 consecutive minutes Acid Mist: <0.3 lb/ton (100% H₂SO₄) NOx: < 0.154 lb/ton (100% H₂SO₄
Status	Operatring
Year Built	-
Technology	-
Contractor	-
Remarks	Plant Equipment - Sulphur Furnace - Converters (2) - Waste Heat Boilers (6) - Drying Tower - Intermediate Absorber - Final Absorber
Permits	San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District Facility ID: N-767 Title V Permit
	Permit No.	Issue Date	Expiry Date	Date Modified
	N-767-9-17		November 30, 2014
	N-767-9-17		November 30, 2019
Pictures
General	-
References	-
News	October 1, 2024 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced a settlement with J.R. Simplot Company that resolves claims of violations of federal environmental and public health laws at the company’s fertilizer manufacturing facility in Lathrop, Calif. EPA determined that the company had violated the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act and the Clean Air Act’s Risk Management Program. J.R. Simplot will pay a civil penalty of $363,700 to settle EPA’s claims of violations. “To protect workers, first responders and the public, it is essential that any facility handling dangerous chemicals such as ammonia and sulfuric acid take steps to reduce the risk of releases,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. “This settlement demonstrates EPA’s commitment to hold accountable any company that fails to fully follow our public safety and environmental protection laws.”J.R. Simplot violated the law at the Lathrop facility by failing to: - Immediately report releases of ammonia and sulfuric acid in 2018 to the appropriate parties. - Accurately document that equipment at the facility complied with good engineering practices and industry safety standards. - Adequately develop and implement written safety operating procedures. - Conduct required safety training for staff. - Perform adequate inspections and tests and correct deficiencies on certain equipment - Investigate all incidents that could have resulted in catastrophic releases of harmful substances. - Review and update the facility’s emergency response plan. September 28, 2016 - The J.R. Simplot Company in Pocatello was cited for violating air pollution control rules for "acid mist and fine particulates." EPA alleged that Simplot made modifications at its five sulfuric acid plants without applying for or obtaining necessary Clean Air Act permits and violating "best available control technology" limits for SO2, and for sulfuric acid mist and fine particles at its Pocatello plant. In response, the company agreed to significantly cut sulfur dioxide emissions at five plants in Pocatello,Idaho, Lathrop, California and Rock Springs,Wyoming and pay an $899,000 civil penalty. Simplot will spend an estimated $41.5 million to cut sulfur dioxide emissions at all five plants. That will reduce SO₂ emissions by more than 50 percent. It will reduce emissions at Simplot's Pocatello plant by approximately 825 tons per year. The settlement was announced late last year and approved in April 2016. The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality was a party to the settlement and will receive $167,000 of the penalty. December 3, 2015 - An agreement to make modifications at five sulfuric acid plants, including the Don Plant in Pocatello, and pay a civil penalty of $899,000 has resolved a Clean Air Act violations issue between the J.R. Simplot Co., U.S. Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency.According to a news release from the Region 10 EPA office, J.R. Simplot has agreed to spend approximately $41.5 million on pollution controls to cut sulfur dioxide emissions at plants in Pocatello, Lathrop, Calif., and Rock Springs, Wyo. The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality will receive $167,000 of the total civil penalty Simplot has been ordered to pay. “Today’s settlement is good news for Idaho residents and will result in significant reductions of sulfur dioxide emissions from Simplot’s Pocatello plant,” said Dennis McLerran, EPA regional administrator in Seattle. “Idahoans will breathe cleaner air thanks to the pollution control improvements Simplot has made and will be making under this settlement.” Once fully implemented, the settlement will reduce sulfur dioxide emissions from Simplot’s five sulfuric acid plants by more than 50 percent for approximately 2,540 tons per year of total reductions. Upgrades at Simplot’s Pocatello plant will reduce those emissions by approximately 825 tons per year. Simplot will also implement a plan to monitor sulfur dioxide emissions continuously at all five plants.“This settlement helps address public health risks for local communities in California, Idaho and Wyoming, and furthers EPA’s commitment to reduce harmful air pollution from the largest sources,” said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “The system-wide pollution controls Simplot will install will significantly reduce sulfur dioxide emissions, which can cause serious respiratory problems and exacerbate asthma.” EPA and DOJ alleged that Simplot made modifications at its five sulfuric acid plants without applying for or obtaining the necessary Clean Air Act permits and “best available control technology” limits for sulfur dioxide, and for sulfuric acid mist and fine particles at its sulfuric acid plant in Pocatello. Short-term exposures to sulfur dioxide can lead to serious respiratory problems, including constriction of airways in the lungs and increased asthma symptoms. It is also a precursor to the formation of fine particulates, which causes a wide variety of health and environmental impacts, including asthma attacks, reduced lung function, and aggravation of existing heart disease. This settlement is part of EPA’s national enforcement initiative to control harmful emissions from large sources of pollution, which includes acid plants, under the Clean Air Act’s Prevention of Significant Deterioration requirements. This will be EPA’s 13th acid settlement under the initiative and the ninth sulfuric acid settlement. The emission rates secured in this settlement will result in the best-controlled, system-wide emissions achieved in any sulfuric acid plant settlement to-date. The consent decree formalizing the settlement was lodged with the U.S. District Court in the District of Idaho and is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval. http://www.idahostatejournal.com/ The proposed consent decree can be viewed at: http://www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees.

MTPD - Metric Tonne per Day STPD - Short Ton per Day
MTPA - Metric Tonne per Annum STPA - Short Ton per Annum
SA - Single Absorption
DA - Double Absorption

* Coordinates can be used to locate plant on Google Earth


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