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EPA: Rotary Lift agrees to EPA order

Release Date: 01/20/2005
Contact Information:

CONTACT: William Omohundro, (312) 353-8254

For Immediate Release
No. 05-OPA004

CHICAGO (Jan. 20, 2005) — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has issued an administrative consent order to Rotary Lift that requires the company to comply with the state operating permit issued to its metal fabrication facility at 2700 Lanier Drive, Madison, Ind. Rotary Lift had told EPA that it believed it had violated its permit.

The EPA order requires Rotary Lift to ensure that the amount of volatile organic compounds in the coatings it applies to its products does not exceed the permitted limit and to keep records documenting this.

"Rotary Lift has come forward and shown itself to be a good corporate citizen," said Acting Regional Administrator Bharat Mathur. "We encourage companies to contact EPA if they believe they have violations before EPA investigates their plants." Mathur said self-disclosure is taken into consideration when penalties are assessed.

Volatile organic compounds contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone, or smog. Smog is formed when a mixture of air pollutants is baked in the hot summer sun. Smog can cause a variety of respiratory problems, including coughing, wheezing, shortness or breath and chest pain. People with asthma, children and the elderly are especially at risk, but these health concerns are important to everyone.

Companies that believe they have violations and wish to self-disclose should contact George Czerniak, chief of the regional air enforcement branch, at (312) 353-2088.

Self-disclosure information is at www.epa.gov/compliance/incentives/auditing/auditpolicy.html.