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EPA Settles Case with R.I. Electroplating Shop

Release Date: 03/14/2002
Contact Information: Mark Merchant, EPA Press Office (617-918-1013)

BOSTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today a settlement with the G. Tanury Plating Co. of Johnston, R.I. for environmental violations under the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

EPA charged the company was not handling its hazardous waste as required by state and federal regulations. Under the terms of the settlement, the company – located at 100 Railroad Ave. – will perform a supplemental environmental project (SEP) that will have significant pollution prevention benefits and pay a $14,070 penalty.

For the SEP, G. Tanury has agreed to install and operate a nickel recovery and reuse system. It will employ two technologies that will recover nickel metal from the waste nickel sulfate solution used in the company's electroplating tanks – thereby cutting down on the hazardous waste sent offsite for disposal – and then reusing that nickel in its plating process.

G. Tanury estimates it will cost about $100,000 to install the system and operate it for five years, but it will cut the amount of nickel sulfate waste it generates by 1,535 gallons. In addition, 1,435 pounds of nickel will be recovered and reused by the facility each year once this SEP is up and running.

"With this project, G. Tanury has really gone one step beyond to address an environmental problem, and EPA applauds their effort," said Robert W. Varney, administrator of EPA's New England Office. "Not only have they come into compliance with federal regulations, but they are also doing significant work to remove hazardous materials from the environment. It's good environmental stewardship."

G. Tanury specializes in coating musical instruments and jewelry with nickel, silver, gold, palladium, rhodium and acid tin. The company's operations primarily generate copper caustic waste, metal cyanide waste, acid nickel waste and waste methanol.

EPA inspected the company on April 12, 2000 and found it was not properly managing its hazardous waste tank system. The company also failed to provide hazardous waste training to employees; failed to make adequate hazardous waste determinations; failed to properly manage hazardous waste containers; and failed to provide adequate notification for waste restricted from land disposal.

This action is part of a larger EPA effort to prevent pollution by the metal-finishing industry and make sure they are in compliance with environmental laws. The effort includes not only taking administrative action against companies as EPA did in this case, but also assisting and educating them about relevant environmental regulations.

More information on federal regulations and how to prevent pollution is available by visiting the Web site www.epa.gov/region1/assistance/metalfinishing..