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Connecticut Manufacturer Agrees to Pay Penalty and Complete Environmental Projects to Settle Financial Assurance Claims

Release Date: 10/31/2006
Contact Information: Sheryl Rosner, (617) 918-1865

(Boston, Mass. - October 31, 2006) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Kanthal Corporation of Bethel, Connecticut, have reached an agreement to settle claims that the company violated financial assurance rules under federal hazardous waste laws. The agreement calls for the company to pay $49,652, and spend an additional $275,000 to perform two environmental projects that will greatly reduce environmental impacts resulting from the company’s heating materials manufacturing operations.

The action against Kanthal was prompted by an initiative aimed at ensuring that companies that handle hazardous waste have the money to properly clean up after they no longer treat, store, or dispose of wastes at their site. Kanthal, which closed its hazardous waste unit in 1997, manufactures heating systems, resistance wire and other heating-related materials. It is a subsidiary of Sandvik Inc. of Fairlawn, NJ.

“It is important that companies have the financial capabilities to fund adequate post-closure care after they close their hazardous waste operations, “ said Robert W. Varney, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office. “Without these rules, the public could be left to fund clean-ups for facilities that didn’t make appropriate financial provisions before closing up their operations.”

Kanthal has agreed to perform two environmental projects in order to settle the case. In the first project, Kanthal will spend approximately $125,000 to purchase renewable energy for electricity usage at its plant for approximately two years. The use of renewable energy will reduce emissions of carbon dioxide by an estimated 15,802,711 pounds, emissions of sulfur dioxide by an estimated 83,172 pounds, and emissions of nitrogen oxide by an estimated 50,943 pounds. In addition, Kanthal will spend $150,000 to design and install a wastewater treatment and water recycling system that will result in a reduction of approximately 1.6 million gallons per year of water usage.

The company has also agreed to maintain compliance with financial assurance rules and is continuing to pump and treat groundwater at its site as part of post-closure care requirements.

More information on EPA's enforcement of RCRA (https://www.epa.gov/region1/enforcement/waste/index.html)

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