Regional EPA Office Reaches Agreement with Aluminum Plant

The United States Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has reached an agreement with M.C. Aluminum America Inc. on alleged clean-air violations at the company's aluminum recovery plant in Columbus, Ind. EPA assessed the company a $90,000 penalty.

The agreement resolves an EPA finding this past December alleging that M.C. Aluminum America emitted more than five times the amount of dioxins and furans from one of its thermal chip dryers than is allowed by EPA regulations.

EPA said tests done in May 2004 showed the dryer to be in compliance with the dioxin and furan emission limits.

The regional office also cited two other companies with clean air act violations. The Region 5 office, which covers Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin, cited Allied Metal for clean-air violations at its aluminum recovery plant in Chicago.

The agency claims that Allied failed to comply with testing, monitoring, notification, recordkeeping, reporting and operating requirements of the Clean Air Act. EPA said the company submitted results of required tests for dioxins and furans more than 16 months late.

The EPA office also notified Citation Corp. of alleged clean-air violations at that company's aluminum recovery plant in Butler, Ind.

EPA alleges Citation violated federal regulations requiring planning, notification, testing and demonstration that its furnaces comply with emission limits for dioxins and furans.

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. The company has 30 days from receipt of the notice to meet with EPA to discuss resolving the allegations.