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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Aug. 13, 1999
99- 157
Contact: Jani Gilbert, Public Information Manger, (509) 456-4464; pager, (509) 622-1289
SPOKANE-The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) has fined Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corporation $58,800 for bypassing air-pollution control equipment 49 times at its Mead plant.
The company reported bypassing the air-emission control system on its new carbon-bake furnace 70 times between Sept. 2, 1998, and April 10, 1999.
Ecology has rejected most of Kaiser's claim that the problems were unavoidable because of "upsets," as provided for in the state's air-quality regulations. The state's lead environmental-protection agency maintains 49 of the violations were due to improper design, operation or maintenance.
Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. of Tacoma also received an Ecology penalty this week. The Tacoma plant was fined $48,048 for violating air-quality standards for the second time in three months. The smelter emitted an average of 17.9 pounds of particulate matter for each ton of aluminum it produced in February. The maximum emission allowed by state law is 15 pounds of particulate matter per ton of aluminum produced.
Kaiser may apply to Ecology for relief from these penalties or may appeal the fines to the Pollution Control Hearings Board within 30 days.
Editor's note: The following table provides information about recent enforcement action involving Kaiser Mead.
Kaiser Mead Penalties issued in 1998 and 1999
|
DATE OF PENALTY NOTICE |
DATE OF VIOLATION |
NATURE OF VIOLATION |
PENALTY AMOUNT |
DATE PAID |
|
June 12, 1998 |
April 1997 |
Emitting more than 15 pounds of particulate per ton of aluminum produced from the potroom dry scrubber |
$12,000 |
Paid July 20, 1998 |
|
December 29, 1998 |
May 15, 1998, through Sept. 2, 1998 |
Bypassing the air-pollution control equipment |
$19,600 |
Paid Feb. 17, 1999 |
|
December 29, 1998 |
Nov. 10, 1997 through May 15, 1998 |
Bypassing the air pollution control equipment; excess emissions of fluoride and particulates. |
$ 4,600 |
Paid Feb. 17, 1999 |
|
March 19, 1999 |
Oct. 1998 |
Emitting more than 15 pounds of particulate per ton of aluminum produced from the potroom dry scrubber |
$24,800 |
Paid April 16, 1999 |
|
May 7, 1999 |
Jan. 1999 |
Emitting more than 15 pounds of particulate per ton of aluminum produced from the potroom dry scrubber |
$37,200 |
Paid June 6, 1999 |
|
June 4, 1999 |
Oct., Nov. & Dec. 1998 |
Exceeding # pounds of sulfur dioxide emitted per ton of aluminum produced. |
$18,400 |
Application for relief filed. Ecology did not accept reasons. |
|
July 23, 1999 |
Early Feb. 1999 and April 30, 1999 |
Missing deadlines for submitting stormwater management plan and engineering report; and violating discharge limits of water quality permit |
$24,000 |
No action. 30 days pending. |
|
Aug. 9, 1999 |
Sept. 2, 1998, through April 10, 1999 |
Bypassing the air-pollution control equipment |
$58,800 |
No action. 30 days pending. |
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
