EPA updates Verona on settlement involving chemical release

LAWRENCE COUNTY, Mo. - Today residents in Verona heard from representatives with the Environmental Protection Agency as the agency continues to monitor air quality in the area. 

This was one of multiple meetings the EPA has had with Verona in recent years. In June of 2022, the EPA conducted and inspection of the BCP Ingredients facility in Verona, a facility that manufactures chemicals found in animal feed. The inspection found that BCP was in violation of the Clean Air Act when there was an accidental release of the toxic and flammable chemical, ethylene oxide, earlier that year.

Ben Washburn with the EPA was one of multiple representatives from government agencies answering questions at tonight's update.

"We're here tonight in Verona to follow up on our commitment to the community here and inform them about the work that we've been doing with the BCP facility in particular. We're going to talk about our air monitoring work and also about the recent enforcement case that we've just finalized," says Washburn.

As part of the settlement new technology called a "scrubber" will be installed at the BCP facility, which will remove up to 16,550 pounds of additional ethylene oxide emissions over its lifetime.

Verona Mayor, Amy Spears says she is pleased with the progress that has been made.

"When I came into office, there were very tense relations between the city and the chemical company. And I've worked very hard to restore relationships. And now we work in conjunction with the different agencies as well as the company itself," says Spears.

Verona residents were able to come to the meeting and to hear from government representatives, as well as take part in a Q and A. Michelle Best has been very involved with the EPA's presence in Verona.

"We've been to the last several meetings, so we're interested to hear what the updates there are," says Best. "I always want to be aware of what's going on around us and just make sure that things are on the right path, that they need to be."

BCP will also being spending $250,000 on projects in the Verona community which will go to the Verona Fire Department, mobile health clinics, and localized medical services through the Cox Health Foundation. The EPA also says they will still be involved in Verona's future.