The agreement, which includes two environmental projects costing $426,000 and a $20,000 penalty, resolves an EPA complaint alleging that Trialco failed to comply with testing, operating, monitoring, notification, recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Clean Air Act. Secondary aluminum plants must test for emissions of dioxins and furans, both hazardous air pollutants.
Trialco will spend $26,000 to do a series of tests to show how ammonia gas injection can neutralize hydrochloric acid and to measure its result on dioxin emissions. Trialco will also spend $400,000 on evaluating technologies to reduce combustion emissions from its furnaces and on selecting and installing a technology that will reduce these emissions by one third to one half.
EPA’s Region 5 office also has cited Stroh Die Casting Co. Inc. for alleged clean-air violations at that company's plant in Milwaukee.
EPA alleges that Stroh failed to do performance testing on its furnaces used for melting coated aluminum returned by its customers and that it failed to comply with notification and recordkeeping requirements. The alleged violations occurred between January and November 2004.
These are preliminary findings of violations. To resolve them, EPA may issue a compliance order, assess an administrative penalty or bring suit against the company. Stroh has 30 days from receipt of the notice to meet with EPA to discuss resolving the allegations.