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EPA reaches agreements with two Cleveland area companies on clean-air violations

Release Date: 08/28/2006
Contact Information: William Omohundro, (312) 353-8254, omohundro.william@epa.gov

CHICAGO (Aug. 28, 2006) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has reached agreements with Beck Aluminum Corp., 300 Allen Bradley Drive, Mayfield, Ohio, and Remelt Services Inc. on alleged clean-air violations at Remelt's aluminum recovery plant at 6560 Juniata Ave., Cleveland. Beck will pay a $70,000 penalty and Remelt will pay a $10,000 penalty.

The agreement with Remelt resolves EPA allegations that the company failed to comply with federal dioxin and furan emission control requirements for its aluminum melting furnace. Specifically, EPA alleged that Remelt failed to meet requirements for proper operation, monitoring, planning, recordkeeping and notification.

EPA's agreement with Beck resolves allegations that Beck had supervisory authority over operations at the Remelt plant from September 2003 through December 2005, and thus was responsible for ensuring the plant's compliance with the Clean Air Act.

There is evidence that dioxins may cause liver damage and probably cause cancer in humans, while furans may also cause cancer.

Information on EPA Region 5's air enforcement program is at epa.gov/region5/air/enforce/
Potential environmental violations may be reported at epa.gov/compliance/complaints/