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Gerome Manufacturing Co. Settles Alleged Clean Air Act Violations at Uniontown, Pa. Plant

Release Date: 10/5/2004
Contact Information: Bonnie Smith, 215-814-5543

Bonnie Smith, 215-814-5543

PHILADELPHIA – Gerome Manufacturing of Uniontown, Pa. has settled alleged Clean Air Act violations, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today. The company’s facility, located on Oliver Road in Uniontown, manufactures custom sheet metal products such as enclosures, vehicle panels, and magnetic shields.

Under a consent agreement with EPA, Gerome Manufacturing will pay a $19,250 penalty to settle alleged violations of regulations limiting air emissions of halogenated cleaning solvents, also known as degreasers. These chlorine or bromine-based degreasers are commonly used to clean machines and metal parts, but include chemicals such as trichloroethylene (“TCE”) which may be harmful to human health and contribute to smog.

Gerome Manufacturing operates a vapor degreaser at its facility, which uses a TCE-based solvent. EPA alleges that the plant operated this degreaser in violation of Clean Air Act regulations, including design, operational and work practice requirements designed to limit air emissions of the TCE solvent. These alleged violations were discovered in an August 2003 inspection and file review by EPA and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

The settlement penalty reflects the company’s good faith efforts to satisfy EPA’s March 1, 2004 order requiring compliance with applicable Clean Air Act degreaser regulations. As part of the settlement, the company has neither admitted nor denied the alleged violations.