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EPA orders Nu-Cor Automotive to comply with clean-air rules

Release Date: 01/13/2006
Contact Information: William Omohundro, (312) 353-8254

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 06-OPA011


CHICAGO (Jan. 13, 2006) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has issued an administrative order to Nu-Cor Automotive Corp. that requires the company to comply with hazardous air pollutant emissions standards at its secondary aluminum production facility at 2100 Refugee Road, Columbus, Ohio.

EPA alleges that from March 2003 until July 2004 the company did not always fully operate the afterburner of a sweat furnace used to melt and reclaim aluminum at temperatures required to destroy hazardous dioxins and furans. EPA discovered the alleged clean-air violations during a Nov. 5, 2004, inspection and from a follow-up information request.

EPA said if Nu-Cor decides to restart the furnace it must maintain the average operating temperature of the afterburner at or above 1600 degrees Fahrenheit. The company must also operate the furnace in accordance with an operation, maintenance and monitoring plan.

EPA said the company operates another sweat furnace with an afterburner at the plant that has been meeting federal standards.

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