The violations date back to 2011 and include incidents from when the facility was under different ownership.
The now demolished specialty chemicals complex has been closed since April 2019 and the settlement is an attempt to wrap up affairs. A long-running batte between BASF and one of the former owners, Ferro Corporation, however, continues. That fight centers around the level of cleanup of groundwater contamination still needed under the site off U.S. 61. DEQ officials have ordered more analysis of the groundwater contamination, which includes the likely human carcinogen dioxane.
The plant first started operations in the early 1960s when it was run by Grant Chemical. It later became part of Ferro. Over the years, it produced a variety of chemicals, including lithium ion battery electrolytes and, since 1971, dioxane.