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EPA PROPOSES $33,000 FINE FOR GROTON METAL MANUFACTURER

Release Date: 09/12/1997
Contact Information: Leo Kay, Press Office, (617)918-4154

BOSTON -- The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to fine Wyman-Gordon of Groton, Conn. $33,000 for failing to properly manifest waste oil contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls and for improperly distributing PCBs into commerce.

After apparently draining at least one transformer of unknown PCB concentration into its waste oil storage tank, Wyman Gordon improperly shipped 2,475 gallons of waste oil contaminated with PCBs to a facility not permitted to accept PCB waste. The company did not identify the PCBs on the manifest. The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection referred the case to the EPA in May after being notified of the error by the facility that received the contaminated waste.

"Companies that handle PCB waste bear a civic and public health responsibility to their workers and neighbors to keep them out of harm's way," said John P. DeVillars, administrator of the EPA's New England office. "We expect to reach a settlement with Wyman-Gordon that will not only correct past problems, but also prevent future such occurrences."

The EPA's PCB regulations under the federal Toxics Substances Control Act govern the proper storage, marking, manifesting and distribution in commerce of PCBs.

PCBs are no longer manufactured but remain in use as non-conductive, fire-resistant additives to coolant liquids in heavy electrical equipment. PCBs released into the environment during fire conditions can be volatilized and converted into even more toxic materials such as dioxin. PCBs are probable carcinogens and are known causes of liver ailments and chloracne, a persistent skin rash.

Wyman Gordon manufactures non-ferrous forgings, iron/steel forgings and aircraft parts and equipment.