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U.S. EPA ORDERS PVC MANUFACTURER TO COMPLY OR CEASE OPERATIONS

Release Date: 4/3/2002
Contact Information: Lisa Fasano

Santa Clarita Company has been violating air regulations for 12 months
                               
    SAN FRANCISCO -  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today ordered Kesyor Century Corporation in Santa Clarita, Calif. to comply with air emission regulations within 30 days or cease operations shortly there after until the facility can show compliance.

     Keysor Century Corp., a manufacturer of polyvinyl chloride products (PVC), has reported in quarterly emissions reports to the EPA that the company has been violating its emissions requirements over the past 12 months.                                                      

     "Companies that work with toxic chemicals like vinyl chloride have a responsibility to both their workers and the community to strictly control their air emissions," said Wayne Nastri, regional administrator of the EPA's Pacific Southwest region.  "Keysor Century needs to tighten the reins and comply with federal law."

     The EPA has issued an administrative order requiring the company to demonstrate compliance with the emissions requirements set forth in federal regulations for hazardous air pollutants or cease operations within 30 days.  The agency is requesting additional documents and information to determine the cause of the air violations and requiring increased testing and reporting to track ongoing compliance.

     The company is required by federal law to submit quarterly reports to the EPA reporting any excess hazardous emissions above regulatory limits.  Keysor reports indicate the company had been exceeding emissions for the past 12 months.  The EPA's Criminal Investigation Division executed a search warrant against the company to gather information in a separate investigation this past February.  That investigation is still ongoing.

     Vinyl chloride is a colorless, flammable gas and a component of PVC manufacturing  that the EPA has classified as a known human carcinogen.  Risks associated with vinyl chloride are primarily to workers who may be exposed by breathing the chemical during processing.