PRESS RELEASE
from the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality
For more information, contact
Brian McManus (402) 471-4223, or
Jim Bunstock (402) 471-4243
For Immediate Release
January 12, 2005


Dixon County Rendering Plant Fined For Air Emissions Violation

The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Nebraska Attorney General’s Office, and Naturally Recycled Proteins, LLC have reached a settlement in a case involving a violation of state air quality regulations. In a Consent Decree approved by the District Court of Dixon County, Naturally Recycled Proteins did not admit to the allegation made by DEQ but agreed to pay a $4000 fine and contribute to a fund promoting environmental protection.

Naturally Recycled Proteins owns and operates a chicken and egg rendering plant near Wakefield in Dixon County. As a regular part of its day-to-day operations, the company thermally dries chicken carcasses and eggs. This process generates smoke and particulate emissions. On April 21, 2004, DEQ conducted an air quality inspection at the Naturally Recycled Proteins facility. The inspector observed emissions of smoke and particulates that exceeded allowable opacity (opacity is a measure of the density of smoke and particulate matter). State air quality regulations limit emissions of smoke and particulates to no more than 20% opacity; the DEQ inspector measured emissions from the Naturally Recycled Proteins facility at 37.5% opacity.

In addition to the $4000 civil penalty, which will be distributed to schools in Dixon County according to state law, Naturally Recycled Proteins agreed to contribute $1200 to the Attorney General’s Environmental Protection Fund to be used for environmental safety, training, public awareness, or other related uses.

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Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality
1200 "N" Street, Suite 400
P.O. Box 98922
Lincoln, Nebraska 68509
(402) 471-2186