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EPA settles with two Maricopa companies for a total of $65,000 for toxic air emissions

Release Date: 10/1/2003
Contact Information: Wendy L. Chavez, (415) 947-4248

Complaints filed against five other companies

SAN FRANCISCO -- The U.S Environmental Protection Agency recently settled with two Arizona companies and filed complaints against five others for failing to comply with federal standards for air toxics emissions from degreasing operations.

Advanced Materials Technologies Inc. of Tempe will pay $62,500 and Industrial Coating and Plating of Phoenix has paid $2,500 for allegedly violating the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants, which governs how much halogenated solvent, such as trichloroethylene or perchloroethylene, a company can emit from machines used to degrease metal parts.

Potential health effects resulting from exposure to hazardous air pollutants include leukemia and other cancers, and reproductive and developmental effects. Halogenated solvents can emit volatile organic compounds, a key component of smog.

"Companies with degreasing operations must comply with air pollution laws so their operations don't release excessive toxic emissions," said Jack Broadbent, director of the EPA's Air Division for the Pacific Southwest region. "I hope the EPA's action here will send a clear message to companies that they will face federal enforcement if they fail to abide by requirements to control emissions from halogenated solvent degreasing operations."

Advanced Materials emitted as much as 3,086 pounds of trichloroethylene, or TCE, per year. The company allegedly failed to properly operate the emission control equipment for its degreaser. The facility also failed to monitor speed of the automated parts handling system to minimize drip or vapors. Several of its employees failed to pass a test of solvent cleaning operations required in the regulations.

Industrial Coating uses approximately 2,116 pounds of TCE annually. The facility allegedly did not implement required work practices and did not control emissions. The company paid a penalty of $2,500, which reflects ability to pay.

The EPA began inspecting the companies in January. Follow-up inspections may be done at these companies to ensure they are complying with applicable air pollution laws.

The complaints filed today against the following Maricopa county companies face a maximum of $27,500 per day of violation of the federal standards for air toxics.

• Triumph Corporation of Tempe for alleged excess emissions
• Triumph Precision of Phoenix for alleged violations of work practice and equipment standards
• Kachina Technical Services and Processes of Phoenix for alleged violations of work practice and equipment standards
• Certified Industries of Phoenix for alleged excess emissions
• Phoenix Metalcraft of Phoenix for alleged violations of work practice and equipment standards

For more information, visit: https://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/eparules.html
https://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/policies/civil/caa/neshapguid.html
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