Hearing board rules against Eureka

Eureka to pay $93,350 for air quality violations NORRISTOWN — The Environmental Hearing Board has ruled against Eureka Stone Quarry Inc.’s appeal of actions taken by the Department of Environmental Protection for air violations at the company’s Chalfont, Rush Valley and Warrington quarries in Wrightstown and Warrington townships, Bucks County. The corporation also operates the Eureka Quarry on U.S. Route 6, west of Milford. That facility was not involved in the state environmental action. In the company’s appeal, Eureka claimed it lost approximately $750,000 when it could not get a plan approval application reviewed for its new asphalt plant in Rush Valley. The company also appealed DEP’s decision to place it on the compliance docket, a move that prevents Eureka from obtaining air quality permits or approvals until full compliance has been achieved. DEP originally ordered Eureka to submit corrective action plans and pay civil penalties for numerous air violations. In addition to the order and penalty assessment, the agency placed Eureka on the compliance docket from Jan. 3 until May 1, 2006, when the company entered into an agreement with DEP to comply with regulations. In its Aug. 6 ruling, the Environmental Hearing Board also reduced the January 2006 civil penalty from $126,550 to $69,600 and the June 2006 penalty from $48,750 to $23,750.