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EPA Cites Wire Coating Company in Shelburne, Vt., for Clean Air Violations

Release Date: 02/07/2011
Contact Information: David Deegan, (617) 918-1017

(Boston, Mass. – Feb. 7, 2011) – A Vermont company that makes wires and cables has been ordered by EPA to pay a $123,840 penalty for violating its Clean Air Act permit over a period of three years.

Harbour Industries of Shelburne, Vt., manufactures high performance wire and cable through processes that emit volatile organic compounds. The company operates a gas-fired regenerative thermal oxidizer to control these emissions.

According to EPA, Harbour violated its permit in 2008, 2009, and 2010 by failing to use an approved method to show it was complying with its volatile organic compounds (VOC) limit of 50 tons a year, and by failing to develop and submit for approval an operation and maintenance plan for the oxidizer meant to control emissions. The facility was operating in violation of a permit that is issued by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation. The conditions of this permit can be enforced both by the state and EPA.

Volatile organic compounds contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone. Ozone can damage lung tissue and reduce lung function. Children, the elderly, people with lung disease, and people with asthma are most susceptible.

Harbour is in the process of correcting the violations by making the required submissions to DEC for approval.

More information on Volatile Organic Compounds & Health Effects from Exposure (https://www.epa.gov/iaq/voc.html)

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