At the Dec. 2 meeting the Elkhart City Board of Works imposed enforcement penalties against multiple permitted industrial dischargers for reporting or discharge violations and directed staff to pursue consent orders where appropriate.

Steve Brown of Public Works presented the violations. For JBS Prepared Foods staff reported two recent FOG (fats, oils and grease) exceedances in the prior 12 months; under the enforcement response plan that sequence carries fines totalling $4,000 and the board approved the notice of violation and penalty.

Hydro Extrusion USA was found to have missed a required industrial user process report; staff recommended a $100 penalty. Brian Palmer, HSE manager with Hydro, told the board that a permit change and a reporting-software error led to the missed filing and said the company has adjusted its software to prevent recurrence.

McDowell Enterprises was assessed a $250 penalty for submitting a permit renewal late (seven days overdue), and Maverick Packaging received a $100 penalty after a phenol analysis was performed outside the laboratory holding time, invalidating the result.

Most sharply, staff presented photographic and analytical evidence tying heavy black solids to Elkhart Environmental Processing on Aug. 8. Brown reported a FOG result of 8,300 milligrams per liter (the local limit is 200 mg/L) and a TPH result of 463 mg/L (limit 100 mg/L). Brown described a historic pattern and said staff will pursue a consent order. After board discussion and a motion to increase deterrence, a motion to amend the recommended penalty passed and the board imposed a $4,250 penalty on Elkhart Environmental Processing and directed staff to develop a consent order.

Board members emphasized compliance over revenue and said the goal is to bring facilities into alignment with permit requirements rather than generate fines.