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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 8, 1999
99-070
Contact: Sandy Howard, public information manager, (360) 407-6239
OLYMPIA - Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. of Tacoma has been fined $37,200 by the state Department of Ecology (Ecology) for violating air-quality standards last December.
Kaiser emitted an average of 18 pounds of particulate matter for each ton of aluminum it produced in December, which exceeds the allowable maximum of 15 pounds.
The particulate matter, in part, contains polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a human carcinogen.
PAHs are on Ecology’s 27-most-wanted list of persistent, bioaccumulative, toxic chemicals -- long-lasting substances that can build up in the food chain to levels that can be harmful to human and ecological health. Ecology is working to eliminate releases of PBTs into the state’s air, land and water.
"Kaiser’s December emission was the highest monthly rate we’ve seen from the company in recent history. We recognize there is an ongoing labor dispute at this plant, but the facility still has an obligation to meet state environmental standards anytime it operates," said Cullen Stephenson, manager of Ecology’s solid-waste program.
Kaiser has received two previous air-emission penalties: A $7,750 fine in 1991 for a monthly emission rate of 15.9 pounds of particulate matter per ton of aluminum produced, and a $9,800 penalty in 1995 for an emission rate of 16 pounds.
In addition, Ecology fined the company $30,000 last June for allowing alumina to wash into Hylebos Waterway.
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
