The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has notified a number of companies that it feels they violated federal or federally enforceable state clean-air regulations. Along with the six companies notified, the EPA also notified a public school district.
According to a release by the EPA, while the notifications are only from preliminary findings of violations, the EPA, to resolve the problem may take additional steps. These could include the Issuing of compliance orders, assessing administrative penalties or bringing suit against the companies.
The companies have 30 days from receipt of the notices to request meetings with EPA to discuss resolving the allegations.
"EPA's mission is to protect public health and the environment," said Thomas Skinner, Region 5 administrator. "We will take whatever steps are needed to ensure compliance with the Clean Air Act."
Companies receiving Finding of Violation include the following:
œ A. Finkl and Sons Co., Chicago. The EPA alleges A. Finkl and Sons had multiple violations of federal clean-air regulations at its steel-forging plant electric arc furnaces. These include failure to comply with requirements for notifying, testing, inspecting, monitoring, recordkeeping and emissions control. Finkl also received a Notice of Violation (NOV) for failing to get a construction permit before installing replacement transformers for its electric arc furnaces and by failing to get an operating permit for the furnaces after the transformers were replaced.
œ Adamo Demolition and the Detroit Schools, Detroit. EPA alleges Detroit Public Schools and Adamo Demolition Co. violated federal asbestos regulations when an apartment building was demolished. EPA said they failed to comply with inspection, notification and removal regulations.
œ Montgomery Aggregate Products, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
EPA alleges that Montgomery Aggregate Products failed to comply with federal new source performance standards at its nonmetallic mineral processing plant. Specifically, the company did not notify the state of the dates of construction and startup of certain affected facilities at the plant. In addition, EPA alleges the company failed to complete timely performance tests on the affected facilities. The company also received a NOV by the EPA for Montgomery also received a NOV when the company violated state clean-air regulations at its sand and gravel plant by failing to get a state permit to install before it built and operated the plant.