Pennsylvania DEP Issues Air Quality Permit to Berks County Battery Recycler

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has issued a Title V air quality operating permit for Exide Technologies’ lead battery smelter facility in Berks County, Pa. The operating permit is valid for five years and sets air pollution limits and control requirements for the facility.

“DEP, Exide and the public have been involved in an ongoing process to develop a revised operating permit while dealing with compliance issues at the facility,” says Rachel Diamond, DEP’s South-central regional director. “With past air quality violations corrected and updated requirements now in place in the new operating permit, Exide is now in a position to be a better neighbor. DEP will continue to monitor to ensure that recent compliance progress at the facility continues.”

According to a release issued by the DEP, the agency initially issued a Title V operating permit to Exide ten years ago. The company applied to renew the permit in 2005 while the DEP was pursuing enforcement actions for repeated violations by the smelter, specifically related to malodors.

In December 2007, Exide and DEP signed a consent order and agreement that required the company to address the malodors and other issues. The company submitted a malodor study and control plan in May 2008. The plan included the replacement of the two smelter afterburners. Both afterburners were physically replaced by the end of 2009. No malodor violations have been documented since late 2008.

While the malodor control plan was progressing, DEP resumed review of Exide's Title V renewal application and developed a draft permit in April 2009. After considering input from a public hearing in November 2009, the department released a revised draft plan approval for further comment in May 2010.

Over the past five years, DEP’s air program has sent Exide 17 air quality notices of violation, and has taken seven air quality penalty actions. Past violations included emission, operating parameter, monitoring, reporting, maintenance and equipment operational problems. Penalties collected totaled more than $400,000.

As a result, significant improvements have been made at the facility. The department required Exide to correct all outstanding air quality violations prior to issuing the Title V permit.