City of Milton Looking into Ethanol Odor Complaint

The City Plan Commission in Milton has tabled its discussion over how to handle an odor complaint at the United Ethanol plant last month. During a public hearing on Monday, the panel discovered that the company doesn't have a conditional-use permit covering its main operations. Some officials were looking into possibly revoking the permit because of the incident.

The issue of the permit came up when council member David Adams had accused the company of violating its conditional-use permit by emitting offensive odors on August 24. But Dan O'Callaghan, an attorney that represents United, said the plant doesn't have a conditional-use permit covering its main operations.

In a statement to Wisconsin Ag Connection, United Spokesperson Dori Lichty said the factory is not legally required to have a conditional-use permit because ethanol manufacturing is a permitted use under the plant's zoning class.

"However, our carbon dioxide capturing facility does have a conditional use permit; but, that piece of equipment doesn't apply to this particular odor situation," Lichty said. "United Ethanol is in full compliance with the city and our developers' agreement."

Lichty says the isolated incident occurred when workers had to fix a problem with its thermal oxidizer equipment, which then caused an unpleasant odor to emit into the air. She also noted that the incident was documented with the Department of Natural Resources.

City officials will now have to figure out how to legally proceed with enforcement as a result of the odor complaint.

Source: wisconsinagconnection