Intalco Aluminum fined $5.25 million for releasing hazardous pollutants into the air
Intalco Aluminum LLC has reached an agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Justice (DOJ). The company, which is a subsidiary of Alcoa Corporation, will pay a $5.25 million penalty to resolve allegations that it violated the Clean Air Act’s National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants.
According to the EPA, Intalco Aluminum failed to maintain and operate air pollution control systems at various times from 2017 to 2020. This led to the company exceeding emission limits, causing particulate matter and hazardous air pollutants to be released. These emissions included carbonyl sulfide, hydrogen fluoride, polycyclic organic matter, metals, and mercury.
During that same time period, the agency determined that Intalco Aluminum was not meeting monitoring requirements, had failed to comply with work practice standards, and was not keeping proper records.
What people are saying
In a recent quote, EPA Region 10 Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Director Ed Kowalski said, “While most of us breathe some level of air pollution, some communities have been exposed for decades to pollutants in the air, the water, and on land. EPA has prioritized the protection of these communities from facilities that violate laws meant to protect people from industrial pollution. While the Intalco facility is not currently operating, any new operation there should be aware that EPA will do everything it can to enforce environmental and public health laws to protect nearby Ferndale residents.”
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