Greensburg, IN — A settlement between Valeo Engine Cooling and the City of Greensburg over discharge violations has been finalized.
Amy Romig, an environmental attorney with Plews Shadler Racher & Braun LLP of South Bend, appeared Tuesday night before both the Board of Works and City Council to discuss the civil penalty and resolution of outstanding cease and desist orders.
The Board of Works voted to accept the settlement, which Valeo agreed to pending board approval.
The settlement was later brought before City Council as an information item.
She says in 2009, Valeo asked not to be required to have a pretreatment permit to discharge into the Public-Owned Treatment Works, or POTW.
This was approved by the city, subject to the company operating a filter press at the same time.
During a routine inspection last year, Romig says it was determined that Valeo was not using a filter press, and it’s believed they discontinued the practice in 2014.
After intense negotiations over the past year, the two sides agreed to settle the dispute for $750,000, which will be paid to the city by Valeo.
Romig says the company’s first payment of $275,000 will be due on June 30, 2023, with the remainder to be paid by the end of next year.
She added the many months of negotiations produced a satisfactory conclusion.
“I’ve been practicing as an environmental lawyer for 22 years and I believe it is a fair and reasonable settlement for both parties,” Romig said.
Both Romig and Mayor Joshua Marsh emphasized the issue did not put the public or the environment at risk.
