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Printing Company and EPA Reach Settlement for Alleged Clean Air Violations in Agawam, Mass.

Release Date: 12/06/2012
Contact Information: David Deegan, (617) 918-1017

(Boston, Mass. – Dec. 6, 2012) – A printing company near Springfield, Mass. has paid a penalty of $118,600 to settle claims by the US Environmental Protection Agency that it violated the federal Clean Air Act.

Suddekor, Inc., which is owned by a German company, is an international manufacturer of décor printed papers in Agawam, Mass. At its Agawam facility, paper is printed with inks containing hazardous air pollutants. The printed paper is used in the manufacture of counter tops and furniture.

EPA determined that the facility had the potential to emit sufficient pollutants to be subject to the Clean Air Act National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Printing and Publishing Facilities and to require a Title V operating permit under the Clean Air Act.

Hazardous air pollutants can pose serious risks to the public, and it is critical that manufacturers comply with environmental laws and regulations to minimize pollution and potential risks to people from exposure to chemicals.

Suddekor has now submitted the notifications and reports required by federal regulations for printing and publishing facilities. The company has also outlined how it will comply in the future and has applied for the required Title V operating permit. The facility has also been able to reduce its hazardous air pollutant emissions over time through use of more environmentally friendly inks.

The EPA action grew out of a joint EPA and Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection inspection of the facility in April 2011.

More information: Title V Clean Air permits in New England (https://www.epa.gov/region1/eco/permits/title5/index.html)

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