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THREE CT FIRMS ORDERED TO CONTROL EMISSIONS OF AIR POLLUTANTS AS PART OF EPA INITIATIVE

Release Date: 07/13/1999
Contact Information: Amy Miller, EPA Press Office (617-918-1042)

BOSTON -- As part of a focused effort to control hazardous pollutants released by the metal industry, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has taken action against three Connecticut companies for violating federal laws regulating emission of hazardous air pollutants. These actions are among nine EPA-New England has taken in the region in the last month against metal industry companies.

In a judicial complaint filed last week, EPA and the US Department of Justice proposed a penalty of up to $27,500 a day against Preston Engravers Inc. of East Windsor, a rotary die manufacturer that also does electroplating.

The complaint charged Preston with violating chromium electroplating standards of the Clean Air Act in 1995, 1996 and 1997. EPA alleges the company failed to create a timely operations and maintenance plan, failed to keep records and failed to file reports as required by law. Actions were also filed against Preston's parent corporation, Roto-Die Co. Inc., for similar violations at facilities in Missouri and Virginia.

In negotiating the final penalty amount, EPA will consider the company's ability to pay the proposed penalties and corporate resources.

The agency last week also ordered Aerospace Testing Laboratories of Windsor and Century Fireplace Furnishings Inc. of Wallingford to follow Clean Air Act regulations controlling trichloroethylene emissions into the air.

Aerospace Testing, which conducts non-destructive testing of aircraft parts, and Century Fireplace, which makes fireplace parts and accessories, both use the known carcinogen, trichloroethylene, in the cleaning process. The administrative orders issued by EPA allege that both companies failed to file necessary reports with EPA, failed to keep records of their solvent emissions and failed to have the equipment needed to control emissions. Both actions stem from EPA investigations done in April.

"In both enforcement and technical assistance programs, EPA is focusing particular attention on the metal industry, which uses numerous hazardous pollutants regulated by federal environmental laws," said John P. DeVillars, EPA's New England Administrator. "Many companies in the metal industry are doing a good job, but there are still too many that are violating laws protecting air, water and land. Companies that fail to follow the regulations threaten the public health and the environment and can expect aggressive efforts from EPA to force them into compliance."

The actions taken against Preston Engravers, Aerospace Testing and Century Fireplace are part of a larger effort by EPA to offer assistance to companies that clean or finish metal and to educate them on relevant environmental regulations..

Much of the work with the metal industry is being done through EPA's Metal Finishing Strategic Goals Program, a three-year-old program that is encouraging metal finishers to meet aggressive pollution reduction goals by the year 2002. The national program was launched in partnership with industry groups, environmental groups and state and local regulators.

Companies that sign up for the program - so far five Connecticut metal finishers have done so - receive compliance and pollution prevention assistance. And, as companies work toward meeting the goals, they'll be rewarded with more flexible regulatory oversight from EPA and state environmental regulators.

More information on federal regulations and how to prevent pollution is available by calling Linda Darveau in the Office of Assistance and Pollution Prevention at 1-617-918-1718.

EPA efforts to control pollution by the metal industry stems in part from regulations enacted in 1995 to regulate emissions of chromium, trichloroethylene and other toxic chemicals.