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EPA reaches agreement with GNW Aluminum on clean-air violations

Release Date: 03/03/2006
Contact Information: William Omohundro, (312) 353-8254 / omohundro.william@epa.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 06 - OPA

CHICAGO (March 3, 2006) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has reached an agreement with GNW Aluminum Inc. on alleged clean-air violations at the company's aluminum recovery plant at 1356 Harrisburg Road, Alliance, Ohio.

The agreement, which includes a $5,000 penalty, resolves EPA allegations that GNW Aluminum failed to comply with federal testing, planning and reporting requirements for its sweat furnace used to reclaim aluminum from scrap. EPA said the company should have tested its furnace for dioxin and furan emissions.

GNW Aluminum has installed an afterburner to control dioxin and furan emissions from its sweat furnace and has certified that it is now in full compliance with the national emission standard for these two chemicals.

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