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EPA fines Phoenix sheet-metal fabricator $19,250 for toxic air emission control violations

Release Date: 8/24/2004
Contact Information: Wendy L. Chavez, 415-947-4248, chavez.wendy@epa.gov

SAN FRANCISCO -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today fined a Phoenix sheet-metal fabricator $19,250 for failing to comply with federal standards for air toxics emissions from its degreasing operations.

Phoenix Metalcraft, Inc., located at 3845 North 29th Ave., will pay the penalty for violating the national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants, which governs how much halogenated solvent, such as trichloroethylene, or TCE, a company can emit from machines used to degrease metal parts.

Phoenix Metalcraft failed to comply with monitoring, record keeping and reporting requirements designed to minimize toxic emissions and track compliance with the law.

"Companies with degreasing operations must comply with air pollution laws so their operations don't release more toxics than the EPA's standards allow," said Deborah Jordan, director of the EPA's Air Division for the Pacific Southwest region. "Today's action underscores the agency's commitment to a strong air pollution enforcement program."

Potential health effects resulting from exposure to hazardous air pollutants, such as TCE, include leukemia and other cancers, and reproductive and developmental effects.

The EPA began inspecting the degreasing companies in Arizona in January 2003. The EPA fined five Arizona companies for similar violations within the last year.

For more information on emission standards for hazardous air pollutants, visit: https://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/eparules.html or https://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/policies/civil/caa/neshapguid.html