DAQ-2024-007311

195 North 1950 West • Salt Lake City, UT
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 144820 • Salt Lake City, UT 84114-4820
Telephone [phone] • Fax [phone] • T.D.D. [phone]
www.deq.utah.gov
Printed on 100% recycled paper
State of Utah

Department of
Environmental Quality

Kimberly D. Shelley
Executive Director

DIVISION OF AIR QUALITY
Bryce C. Bird
Director

SPENCER J. COX
Governor

DEIDRE HENDERSON
Lieutenant Governor
DAQC-281-24
Site ID 15546 (B1)

Sent Via Certified Mail No. 70070220000100683312

Mike Ford
Mountain Country Foods
195 East 1600 North
Spanish Fork, UT 84660

Dear Mr. Ford:

Re: Early Settlement Agreement – Mountain Country Foods, Utah County

On January 11, 2024, the Utah Division of Air Quality (DAQ) issued a Compliance Advisory to
Mountain Country Foods as a result of an inspection performed on December 14, 2023.
Mountain Country Foods responded to the Compliance Advisory on March 1, 2024. Based on
the findings of the inspection and response to the Compliance Advisory, the DAQ determined
that Mountain Country Foods was in violation of:

1. UAC R307-401-5 and condition I.3 of AO DAQ-AN155460002-20:

Operating an unapproved spiral oven without receiving prior approval

Section 19-2-115 of the Utah Code provides that violations of the Utah Air Conservation Act
(the Act) and/or any order issued thereunder may be subject to a civil penalty of up to $10,000
per day for each violation. Based upon our civil penalty policy, we calculated a preliminary civil
penalty for the above listed violation of $589.

The monetary amount of the DAQ settlement offer specified below is derived from a pre-
established schedule of penalties, which takes into account, among other factors, the magnitude
and severity of the violation, economic benefit, cooperation of the source as well as the prior
history of violations. See the attached penalty worksheet for details.

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DAQC-281-24
Page 2

All parties we deal with, whether private, commercial, or governmental are treated similarly in
the settlement process. Early Settlement Agreements are based on the evaluation of the same
factors and criteria in all cases. The DAQ acknowledges that the violation on December 14,
2023, was addressed by Mountain Country Foods by filing an NOI on January 31, 2024, with
DAQ permitting to receive a new AO including the unapproved spiral oven.

If you are interested in settling this violation, we are authorized to offer settlement in accordance
with the DAQ Penalty Policy as follows:

1. Mountain Country Foods agrees to pay a reduced civil penalty in the sum of $471.
Payment of a civil penalty precludes further civil enforcement for the above described
violation against the named source. Mountain Country Foods agrees to pay $471 of the
stipulated penalty within twenty (20) business days from the date you receive this Early
Settlement Agreement.

2. The DAQ retains its authority to take any enforcement actions based on any and all
violations not specifically described above. If a violation is a failure to submit a Notice of
Intent to the Director and receive an Approval Order under Utah Administrative Code
R307-401-5, the DAQ retains its authority to take subsequent enforcement action if
during the next inspection the DAQ finds the source is still not in compliance with
R307-401-5.

3. In the event any further violations of the Act, the Utah Air Quality Rules, the source’s
AO, or the Director’s Orders occur, the DAQ may consider the violation described above
in assessing a penalty for the subsequent violations, in accordance with the provisions of
Utah Administrative Code R307-130.

4. Entering into this Early Settlement Agreement shall not constitute an admission of
violation of the Act, the Utah Air Quality Rules, or the source’s AO, nor shall it be
inferred to be such an admission in any administrative or judicial proceeding. The
described violation will constitute part of the company compliance history for any
purpose for which such history is relevant to the DAQ.

This Early Settlement Agreement constitutes an offer of settlement and is not a demand for
payment. The Early Settlement Agreement reflects a reduced penalty for early settlement of this
matter.

If the above terms are acceptable to you, please sign and return this Early Settlement Agreement
and a check in the sum of $471. Submit the signed Early Settlement Agreement and check made
payable to the DAQ at the letterhead address within twenty (20) business days of receipt of this
Early Settlement Agreement. Electronic payments are also available on our website at:
https://deq.utah.gov/general/payment-portal.

DAQC-281-24
Page 3

You may write or call to request a settlement conference with the DAQ representative listed
below. A conference must be scheduled within twenty (20) business days of your receipt of this
Early Settlement Agreement. If we do not receive a signed copy of this Early Settlement
Agreement and payment or other correspondence from you within twenty (20) business days of
your receipt, we will assume that you are not interested in resolving this matter as outlined
above.

If you need an Approval Order, this Early Settlement Agreement does not relieve you of that
responsibility and does not change that requirement in order to return to compliance with the
DAQ. You must submit a Notice of Intent for a required Approval Order as soon as possible.
Your source will be re-inspected in a reasonable time to confirm you have fully returned to
operating in compliance. Failure to obtain a required Approval Order will subject you to
additional penalties and a new compliance action by the DAQ.

This Early Settlement Agreement is intended to quickly resolve the non-compliance issues listed
above and requires the immediate attention of your company. Failure to resolve this matter as
outlined above may result in this offer being revoked and/or having this matter referred to a
formal enforcement process, including filing a judicial case to collect penalties (up to $10,000
per day for each violation) and compel compliance in the state district court.

If you have any additional questions regarding this matter, please contact Chad Gilgen at
[phone] or by email at [e-mail].

Sincerely,

Bryce C. Bird
Director

BCB:CG:jl

cc: Utah County Health Department

DAQC-281-24
Page 4

Acceptance of Early Settlement Agreement

I have read the above Early Settlement Agreement and I agree to the terms and conditions
thereof.

Company Name: Mountain Country Foods

Name:

Title:

_____________________________ _________________ ___________________________
Signature Date Telephone Number

DAQC-281-24
Page 5

Utah Division of Air Quality General Administrative Penalty Worksheet

Source: Mountain
Country Foods Class: B
Site ID #: 15546 Violation Date(s): 12/14/2023
HPV: No Days to Resolution: Ongoing

Citation Description of
the Violation Days Category Range Daily
Penalty
Accumulated
Penalty
UAC 307-401-5 and
Condition I.3 of AO
DAQ-AN155460002-20
Operating
unapproved
equipment
without prior
approval
1 C
Up to
$2,000
per day
$589 $589
0
0
Total $589
20% Early
Settlement
Option
$118
Total
Penalty $471

R307-130-1. Scope.

This policy provides guidance to the director in negotiating with air pollution sources penalties for consent
agreements to resolve non-compliance situations. It is designed to be used to determine a reasonable and
appropriate penalty for the violations based on the nature and extent of the violations, consideration of the
economic benefit to the sources of non-compliance, and adjustments for specific circumstances.

R307-130-2.
Categories.

Violations are grouped in four general categories based on the potential for harm and the nature and extent
of the violations. Penalty ranges for each category are listed.

(1) Category A. $7,000-10,000 per day.

Violations with high potential for impact on public health and the environment including:

(a) Violation of emission standards and limitations of NESHAP.

DAQC-281-24
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(b) Emissions contributing to nonattainment area or PSD increment exceedances.
(c) Emissions resulting in documented public health effects and/or environmental damage.

(2) Category B. $2,000-7,000 per day.

Violations of the Utah Air Conservation Act, applicable State and Federal regulations, and orders to include:

(a) Significant levels of emissions resulting from violations of emission limitations or other regulations
which are not within Category A.

(b) Substantial non-compliance with monitoring requirements.

(c) Significant violations of approval orders, compliance orders, and consent agreements not within
Category A.

(d) Significant and/or knowing violations of "notice of intent" and other notification requirements, including
those of NESHAP.

(e) Violations of reporting requirements of NESHAP.

(3) Category C. Up to $2,000 per day.

Minor violations of the Utah Air Conservation Act, applicable State and Federal Regulations and orders
having no significant public health or environmental impact to include:

(a) Reporting violations

(b) Minor violations of monitoring requirements, orders and agreements

(c) Minor violations of emission limitations or other regulatory requirements.

(4) Category D. Up to $299.00.

Violations of specific provisions of R307 which are considered minor to include:

(a) Violation of automobile emission standards and requirements

(b) Violation of wood-burning regulations by private individuals

(c) Open burning violations by private individuals.

DAQC-281-24
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R307-130-3. Adjustments.

The amount of the penalty within each category may be adjusted and/or suspended in part based upon the
following factors:

(1) Good faith efforts to comply or lack of good faith. Good faith takes into account the openness in dealing
with the violations, promptness in correction of problems, and the degree of cooperation with the State to
include accessibility to information and the amount of State effort necessary to bring the source into
compliance.

(2) Degree of willfulness and/or negligence. In assessing willfulness and/or negligence, factors to be
considered include how much control the violator had over and the foreseeability of the events constituting
the violation, whether the violator made or could have made reasonable efforts to prevent the violation, and
whether the violator knew of the legal requirements which were violated.

(3) History of compliance or non-compliance. History of non-compliance includes consideration of previous
violations and the resource costs to the State of past and current enforcement actions.

(4) Economic benefit of non-compliance. The amount of economic benefit to the source of non-compliance
would be added to any penalty amount determined under this policy.

(5) Inability to pay. An adjustment downward may be made or a delayed payment schedule may be used
based on a documented inability of the source to pay.

R307-130-4. Options.

Consideration may be given to suspension of monetary penalties in trade-off for expenditures resulting in
additional controls and/or emissions reductions beyond those required to meet existing requirements.
Consideration may be given to an increased amount of suspended penalty as a deterrent to future violations
where appropriate.