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Rhode Island Jewelry Finishing Company Ordered to Comply With Clean Air Act

Release Date: 07/13/04
Contact Information: Contact: David Deegan, 617-918-1017

For Immediate Release: July 13, 2004; Release # 04-07-10

BOSTON – A Rhode Island jewelry finishing company was recently ordered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to take immediate steps to comply with federal clean air regulations regarding release of hazardous air pollutants.

On June 18th, EPA ordered the Drew Easton Company, Inc. to take action to comply with federal standards for releases of trichloroethylene, a known human carcinogen, during use of the chemical to clean metal parts. EPA’s order specifically requires the company to comply with sections of the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP).

The standards require companies that clean metal parts with certain solvents, including trichloroethylene, to install, maintain, and operate certain emission-reducing safety switches on the solvent tanks. Companies are also required to follow certain operating procedures, to keep records of solvent use, and to periodically report this information to EPA. Drew Easton Company, Inc., located in Providence until early 2004, and now located in Cranston, was found not to have complied with several of these requirements, despite the fact that the NESHAP compliance deadline was in 1998.

“In order to reduce potential exposure to toxic substances, it is important that everybody follow the law to help limit release of chemicals such as trichloroethylene,” said Robert W. Varney, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office.

Under the order filed by EPA, the Drew Easton Company is required to comply with the NESHAP requirements as quickly as possible. The company will also be required to submit documentation to the Agency regarding solvent use. The Agency will continue to evaluate available data to determine what further enforcement action may be appropriate.

Related Information:
Air Enforcement
Clean Air Act