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Department of Ecology News Release - November 13, 2006
06-230
SPOKANE- Genie Industries in Moses Lake is being fined $12,500 for releasing more toxic chemicals to the air than is allowed in the company's air-quality permit.
Headquartered in Redmond, Wash., Genie Industries manufactures material lifts, aerial work platforms, trailer-mounted booms and light towers, and other construction-related equipment.
The Department of Ecology (Ecology) approved Genie's air-quality permit in 2000 that included restrictions on the amount of paints and solvents the company could use each year at the facility. Annual reports submitted by Genie Industries show that some of those restrictions have been exceeded since 2002.
The use of these products above permitted limits resulted in additional air toxic emissions that were not evaluated during the original permit-approval process. Evaporation of these products contributes to toxic air pollution.
In addition, Genie Industries has violated air-quality regulations by generating toxic air emissions from a urethane catalyst-a process that was not submitted for review when the company applied for its permit.
"Reducing toxic threats is a top priority for Ecology and our state," said Grant Pfeifer who manages Ecology's Spokane office. "We don't have all the answers about how to get toxic chemicals out of the environment, but industries can help by following the terms of their permits."
The amount of the penalty took into consideration that Genie did not exceed any health-based emission standards, and that some of their coatings were collected and shipped off-site as a hazardous waste.
Genie Industries may appeal this penalty to Ecology or to the state's Pollution Control Hearings Board within 30 days.
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Contact: Jani Gilbert, public information manager, 509-329-3495; cell, 509-990-9177
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
