Department of Justice Announces Proposed Consent Decree With Trialco Aluminum, LLC

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On July 2, 2025, the Department of Justice (DOJ) lodged a proposed Consent Decree with the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The case is called United States v. Trialco Aluminum, LLC, Civil Action No. 1:25-cv-07461.

This Consent Decree tries to resolve claims against Trialco Aluminum, LLC. The claims are about the company’s emissions of hazardous air pollutants at its aluminum production facility. This facility is located in Chicago Heights, Illinois.

The complaint in this case asks for both injunctive relief and civil penalties. It is brought under Section 113(b) of the Clean Air Act (CAA), which is 42 U.S.C. 7413(b). It claims that Trialco violated two sets of rules:

  • The National Emission Standards for Hazardous Pollutants (NESHAP) for secondary aluminum production facilities, found in 40 CFR part 63, subpart RRR.
  • The facility’s Federally Enforceable State Operating Permit (FESOP) for its Chicago Heights location.

According to the proposed Consent Decree, Trialco Aluminum, LLC will do several things:

  • Pay a civil penalty of $1 million.
  • Do an updated assessment of its capture and collection system for emissions.
  • Adopt and use a new Operation, Maintenance, and Monitoring (OM&M) plan.
  • Apply for a new FESOP, which must include revised operating limits.

The DOJ has opened a public comment period for this Consent Decree. Comments should be sent to the Assistant Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources Division. All comments must refer to United States v. Trialco Aluminum, LLC, D.J. Ref. No. 90-5-2-1-12888. The deadline to submit comments is 30 days after this notice was published.

Comments can be sent by email or mail:

  • By email: [email protected]
  • By mail: Assistant Attorney General, U.S. DOJ–ENRD, P.O. Box 7611, Washington, DC 20044-7611.

Any comment sent in writing, or at a public meeting, may be filed in the public court docket without giving notice to the commenter.

During the public comment period, the full Consent Decree can be read and downloaded from the DOJ’s website at http://www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees. If help is needed to access the Consent Decree, assistance can be requested using the same email or mail address as for comments.

This notice was signed by Laura Thoms, Assistant Section Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment and Natural Resources Division.

For further details, see Federal Register Volume 90, Number 129, published on July 9, 2025.


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