$2 Million Fine For Fort Morgan Sugar Factory

FORT MORGAN, CO -- The Colorado Department of Health and Environment announced that a $2 million fine will be imposed on a Fort Morgan sugar manufacturing plant. Under terms of a settlement announced Friday, Western Sugar Cooperative also agreed to a list of items to comply with violations of the state's air and water pollution laws and for health violations.

Local residents of Fort Morgan complained about odors from Western Sugar's plant at 18317 Highway 144 at an 2017 EPA hearing triggered by the company's plans to expand.

The state said air pollution violations include exceeding the state’s regulatory odor limits.

Water quality violations included discharges of pollutants, including fecal coliform and sulfide, which significantly exceeded Western Sugar’s permit limits. Water quality violations likely contributed to odor issues affecting Fort Morgan residents, the state board of health said in a statement.

The department also cited Western Sugar for unauthorized spills.

Western Sugar has operated two large waste stockpiles, which are visible from Interstate 76 and Route 52, in violation of state solid waste regulations. These stockpiles contain coal ash and precipitated calcium carbonate ― both byproducts of the facility’s manufacturing process.

"The state's compliance and enforcement efforts are intended to protect public health and the environment. Each step of the overhaul will proceed along a timeline and, when completed, both the residents of Fort Morgan and the environment will benefit from the improvements Western Sugar is making," said Director of Environmental Programs Martha Rudolph.

Under the terms of the settlement, Western Sugar also agreed to:
● Identify and implement wastewater treatment.
● Eliminate and/or properly dispose of waste stockpiles and any new waste generated through its processes.
● Investigate groundwater and soil impacts, and implement corrective measures if necessary.
● Implement and comply with an odor management plan.
● Retrofit existing coal-fired boilers with natural gas burners.
● Establish financial assurance.
● Provide funding for a local water quality restoration project.
● Accept suspension of its environmental permits or licenses if it fails to comply with certain terms of the settlement.

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