EPA Settles Complaints with Virginia Foundry

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has settled complaints against a number of foundries in the East Coast. Emporia Foundry, Inc. has settled a complaint by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency alleging violations of federal hazardous waste regulations at its plant in Emporia, Va.

Emporia Foundry has agreed to pay a $110,000 settlement and end the on-site treatment and storage of lead-containing baghouse dust.

In a related settlement with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, the foundry will pay an additional $54,000 penalty to Virginia. The Virginia DEQ will also review and approve closure plans for the on-site baghouse dust treatment unit and concrete pad where the treated dust was stored.

The foundry is now sending the baghouse dust to an approved disposal facility.

EPA’s complaint alleged violations of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

Emporia produces gray iron castings from ferrous scrap metal. The hazardous waste in this case is lead-containing baghouse dust from the foundry’s furnace that was collected and treated as part of Emporia’s pollution control system.

According to EPA, from July through September of 2000, Emporia did not adequately treat the baghouse dust to make it nonhazardous. EPA also alleged that the company improperly stored the treated baghouse dust in a waste pile from July to October, 2000.

EPA also cited the company for shipping about 142 tons of this hazardous waste to a non-permitted facility, without preparing required waste manifests.

As part of the settlement, the company neither admitted nor denied liability for the cited violations.

The EPA also cited two foundries in Pennsylvania for violating federal hazardous waste regulations. The government agency proposed a $69,198 penalty against Buck Company, Inc., owner of a foundry in Quarryville, Lancaster Co., Pa, and a $16,698 penalty against Kief Industries, Inc., owner of the Excelsior Brass Works foundry in Blandon, Berks Co., Pa.

Both companies were cited under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

According to the EPA, an inspection of the Buck Company Foundry identified alleged violations, including several instances of storing hazardous waste without a RCRA permit beyond the allowable 90-day limit. Inspectors observed hazardous baghouse dust on the ground near the dust collection containers.

The company produces gray, malleable and ductile iron, as well as brass, bronze, and aluminum. This process creates toxic heavy metal waste.

EPA’s complaint also cited Buck Company for one open container of hazardous waste and storing hazardous waste in a manner that didn't allow for inspection or quick response to emergency. The company also allegedly failed to maintain records of employee training in hazardous waste handling, storage, and disposal.

The Excelsior Brass Works, produces zinc oxide sludge, a hazardous waste containing lead and cadmium, as part of its metal ingot melting process.

EPA inspections on September 25 and October 29, 2002 revealed that the facility was storing an estimated 11,000 kilograms of ZOS in 92 55-gallon drums, which had apparently accumulated at the facility since 1998.

In its complaint against Kief Industries, the owner of Excelsior Brass Works, EPA alleges that the facility stored ZOS without a RCRA permit beyond allowable accumulation periods, did not properly label or date drums containing this waste, and did not prepare required hazardous waste manifests when this waste was shipped to a reclamation facility.

EPA has ordered both companies to immediately comply with applicable RCRA hazardous waste regulations. The companies have the right to a hearing to contest the alleged violations and proposed penalties.