Bailey-PVS Oxides of Delta LLC has entered into a settlement with the Ohio EPA to pay a $55,000 civil penalty for air pollution violations at its Delta, Ohio, plant.
In March 2007, an Ohio EPA inspection discovered the company had installed and was operating an outside iron oxide storage area and a truck load-out operation without first obtaining required permits. The outdoor operations still were operating during subsequent inspections in June 2008 and February 2009.
The company discontinued the operation after the February 2009 inspection.
The settlement requires the company to obtain a permit for the outside iron oxide storage area and truck load-out operation if the company wants to resume these activities.
In June 2007 and February 2008, Bailey-PVS Oxides conducted stack tests of its emissions of hydrochloric acid (HCl) and chlorine (Cl2). Test results showed the company was exceeding its permitted levels of HCl and Cl2 emissions. Since then, the company has reduced HCl and Cl2 emissions and requested a permit modification that will increase allowable levels of HCl and Cl2. If issued, this permit modification would bring the facility into compliance. The request currently is pending at Ohio EPA.
The company receives waste pickle liquor from facilities that pickle sheet metal. The waste pickle liquor consists of a diluted HCl solution that also contains iron oxide residuals. The company reclaims the iron oxide for resale and reprocesses the HCl to be sold back to the steel industry.
The company will pay $44,000 to Ohio EPA’s Environmental Education Fund and air pollution control programs. The remaining $11,000 will go to Ohio EPA’s Clean Diesel School Bus Program Fund.