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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Aug. 16, 1999
99-161
Contacts: Sandy Howard, Public Information Manager, (360) 407-6239
OLYMPIA - The state Department of Ecology (Ecology) has fined Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. of Tacoma $48,048 for violating air-quality standards for the second time in three months.
The Tacoma aluminum 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 per ton.
Ecology fined Kaiser Tacoma $37,200 for similar violations that occurred in December 1998.
The particulate matter contains polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a human carcinogen. PAHs are toxic, long-lasting substances that can build up in the food chain to levels that can be harmful to human and ecological health.
"This is an excessive violation of the 15-pound standard, and we continue to be disappointed in the performance of the plant," said Cullen Stephenson, manager of Ecology's solid-waste program. "They've had repeated violations of environmental requirements. This is another very serious violation."
Ecology inspections found the air pollution problems were caused by inadequate operation and maintenance of the facility's smelting process and related air-pollution-control equipment.
The Kaiser Aluminum plant in Mead, north of Spokane, also received an Ecology penalty last week. The Mead plant was fined $58,000 for bypassing air-pollution-control equipment in its carbon-bake furnace.
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
