Polluter of the week (local division)

The bad guy: Shintech Inc., Freeport

The fine: $25,000

The offenses: "failing to prepare and submit the semiannual reports required by 40 CFR 61, Subpart B for fugitive emissions monitoring ... failing to perform the quarterly fugitive emissions monitoring for the transfer pumps servicing the methanol, ethanol, and isobutanol storage tanks ... failing to keep and maintain records of monthly natural gas analysis from March 2001 to February 2003;...by failing to maintain complete records for equipment leaks for fugitive emissions monitoring for 2002....failing to meet the exemption criteria for an emissions event which exceeded the maximum allowed emissions rate of 0.33 pounds per hour (lbs/hr) for vinyl chloride monomer."