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EPA and DOJ reach agreement with A. Finkl and Sons

Release Date: 08/23/2006
Contact Information: William Omohundro, (312) 353-8254, omohundro.william@epa.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 06-OPA151

CHICAGO (Aug. 23, 2006) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Justice have reached an agreement with A. Finkl & Sons Co. on alleged clean-air violations at the company's steel forging plant, 2011 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. The company agreed to do two environmental projects totaling $620,000, to pay a $75,000 penalty and to comply with the Clean Air Act.

For one of its environmental projects, Finkl will spend $545,000 to install burners on one of its gas-fired furnaces that will cut smog-producing nitrogen oxide emissions by at least five tons a year. The company will also spend $75,000 to retrofit approximately 34 city of Chicago vehicles with diesel emission reduction devices.

"Exposure to diesel emissions is the leading public health risk in the six states that make up EPA Region 5," said acting regional administrator Bharat Mathur. "One of our priorities is to reduce diesel emissions through retrofits and other technologies. By retrofitting city of Chicago vehicles, Finkl is helping us meet that goal."

The agreement resolves EPA allegations that Finkl violated performance standards for new sources of air pollution by making equipment modifications that caused an increase in particulate (smoke, dust, ash) emissions and by not getting permits that would have required better controls.

In addition, EPA said the company failed to comply with operational and equipment standards as well as maintenance, record-keeping and reporting requirements.

Inhaling high concentrations of particulates can affect children, the elderly and people with heart and lung diseases the most.

The public has until Sept. 18 to comment on the agreement. Comments should be addressed to the Assistant Attorney General, Environmental and Natural Resources Division, P.O. Box 7611, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC 20044-7611, and should refer to United States v. A. Finkl & Sons Co., Civil Action No.06 C 4297, DOJ case Number 90-5-2-1-08203.

The consent decree is on the DOJ Web site at http://www.usdoj.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html.