| DEP ANNOUNCES
AGREEMENT WITH ATLANTIC STATES
Company Will Implement
$9.3 Million
Mercury Emissions Reduction Project
(05/52) TRENTON -- New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell today announced
an Administrative Consent Order (ACO) with Atlantic States Cast
Iron Pipe Company settling air emission and water violations at
its Phillipsburg facility that occurred since 2003. Atlantic States
has voluntarily agreed to install and begin operation of its mercury
reduction technology, which will be the first of its kind in North
America, by January 6, 2006.
"Today's settlement will protect public health and the environment
in New Jersey by significantly reducing mercury emissions,"
said Acting Governor Richard J. Codey. "It reinforces New
Jersey's commitment to reducing mercury exposure through the mercury
switch legislation and DEP's 2004 mercury air emissions rules."
Atlantic States has agreed to install a state-of-the-art, $9.3
million emission control system to substantially reduce emissions,
including mercury emissions, from this facility. The company also
will pay a fine in the amount of $51,520 and contribute $85,000
toward an ambient air mercury monitoring project in Warren County.
In addition, Atlantic States will undertake several projects to
minimize fugitive emissions from the foundry operations and install
and operate a continuous emission monitoring system to monitor
mercury emissions.
"The Atlantic States settlement is another example of DEP's
national leadership in the reduction of mercury emissions, which
can cause serious health problems," said Commissioner Campbell.
"The technology to be installed under this agreement will
set the industry standard for restricting mercury emissions from
foundries."
Atlantic States' mercury reduction project will voluntarily remove
approximately 160 pounds of mercury from the environment four
years before DEP's new mercury restrictions take effect in 2010.
The company has agreed to allow its technology to be studied and
used as a model for mercury control at other foundries throughout
the United States.
DEP in 2004 published mercury air emissions standards under which
foundries and steel mills by January 1, 2010 must reduce mercury
emissions to a rate of 35 mg per ton of steel produced.
"We are extremely proud of the fact that Atlantic States
will be introducing mercury control technology that will result
in significant benefits to the environment, and can serve as the
model for other foundries throughout North America," said
Mitchell Kidd, Vice President and General Manager of Atlantic
States. "We sincerely appreciate the cooperation of the DEP
and we will continue to work closely with regulators and regional
organizations towards environmental protection for our community."
Atlantic States' emissions control system will be comprised of
a baghouse with activated carbon injection. In addition to mercury
emission reductions, the emission control system is expected to
yield additional environmental benefits including the following:
- Reduce CO emissions by approximately 60 percent.
- Reduce arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, nickel and manganese
emissions.
- Reduce natural gas use by approximately 10 percent, thus
reducing NOx, CO and CO2 emissions.
- Reduce electricity consumption by approximately 25 percent,
thus reducing NOx, CO and CO2 emissions.
- Reduce waste disposal by approximately 40 tons per day.
- Improve beneficial reuse of the dry material collected from
the baghouse.
- Allow waste heat recovery, reducing plant wide NOx, CO and
CO2 emissions.
- Reduce offsite noise by eliminating high-pressure scrubber
fans.
- Reduce odor.
Mercury is a highly toxic pollutant. Exposure to the most toxic
form of mercury comes primarily from eating contaminated fish
and shellfish. Children and pregnant women are especially susceptible
to mercury contamination, which can cause permanent brain damage
to the fetus, infants, and young children. Mercury exposure has
been shown to affect the ability of children to concentrate and
to remember.
Even exposure to low levels of mercury can permanently damage
the brain and nervous system and cause behavioral changes. At
least one in 10 pregnant women in New Jersey have concentrations
of mercury in their hair samples that exceed safe levels.
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