- The Rhône prefecture has formally notified Gerflor, a world leader in sports flooring manufacturing located in Tarare, to bring its wastewater discharges back into compliance with regulations.
- The action follows an inspection by the Dreal (Regional Directorate for Environment, Planning and Housing), which documented specific exceedances of authorized limits.
- The pollutants cited in the inspection include phosphorus and hydrocarbures.
- As a major industrial player in the region and a supplier for events such as the Olympic Games, Gerflor is now required to take corrective measures to align its emissions with environmental standards.
Quick Summary
The Rhône prefecture has placed Gerflor under formal notice to correct its industrial discharges. The company, a global leader in sports flooring based in Tarare, was cited following an inspection by the Dreal.
Inspectors found that the facility was releasing levels of phosphorus and hydrocarbures that exceeded regulatory limits. The administrative procedure requires the manufacturer to restore compliance with environmental legislation. This intervention highlights the scrutiny faced by major industrial sites in the region, particularly those with high-profile contracts such as supplying surfaces for the Olympic Games.
Regulatory Action Initiated
The Rhône prefecture has taken administrative action against Gerflor, a manufacturer of sports flooring based in Tarare. The authorities issued a formal notice (mise en demeure) requiring the company to bring its wastewater discharges back into compliance with current regulations.
This move follows an on-site inspection conducted by an agent from the Dreal (Direction Régionale de l'Environnement, de l'Aménagement et du Logement). The inspection resulted in the identification of specific regulatory breaches regarding the composition of the facility's liquid effluents.
Findings of the Inspection
The regulatory inspection focused on the quality of discharges from the Gerflor industrial site. According to the findings, the facility failed to meet established thresholds for specific contaminants.
The Dreal agent documented exceedances for two primary categories of pollutants:
- Phosphorus: A nutrient often regulated in industrial wastewater to prevent ecosystem imbalance.
- Hydrocarbures: A class of chemical compounds derived from petroleum, often subject to strict limits due to their environmental impact.
The formal notice serves as a legal requirement for the company to implement technical solutions to reduce these emissions to acceptable levels.
Industrial Context
Gerflor is recognized as a world leader in the production of floor coverings. The Tarare facility represents a significant industrial footprint in the Rhône department.
The company has historically been associated with high-profile sporting events, including the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, serving as a supplier for sports flooring solutions. The regulatory scrutiny comes at a time when environmental compliance is a heightened priority for industrial manufacturers supplying major public contracts.
Compliance Requirements
The notice issued by the Rhône prefecture mandates that Gerflor restore its discharge levels to conform with the Code de l'environnement. Failure to comply with the formal notice can lead to further administrative sanctions or legal proceedings.
The company is expected to engage in remediation efforts to address the specific exceedances of phosphorus and hydrocarbures. This process typically involves the installation or upgrading of water treatment systems at the industrial site.
Frequently Asked Questions
What pollutants did Gerflor exceed limits for?
According to the inspection findings, Gerflor exceeded authorized levels for phosphorus and hydrocarbures.
What action did the authorities take?
The Rhône prefecture issued a formal notice (mise en demeure) requiring the company to bring its discharges back into regulatory compliance.
