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For Immediate Release:  
For Further Information:
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August 19, 2008  

Lee Moore
609-292-4791
Elaine Makatura
609-984-1795

Office of The Attorney General
- Anne Milgram, Attorney General

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Colorite Specialty Resins Agrees to Reduce Emissions at Burlington Twp. Manufacturing Plant
Settlement Reached With DEP and Federal EPA

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TRENTON -- Colorite Specialty Resins of Somerville has agreed to take corrective measures at its Burlington Township manufacturing facility to reduce harmful emissions of vinyl chloride, Attorney General Anne Milgram and Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Lisa P. Jackson announced today along with the U.S. Justice Department and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The settlement resolves alleged violations of federal and state environmental laws.

Under terms of the settlement, Colorite will pay a $1.3 million civil penalty to be split between New Jersey and the federal government, and will undertake two projects valued at more than $1 million that will further reduce vinyl chloride emissions from its Burlington Township facility. The Burlington Township facility manufactures PVC plastic and vinyl products. As part of its manufacturing processes, the facility emits vinyl chloride. EPA has classified vinyl chloride as a Group A human carcinogen. Exposure to the chemical has been linked to adverse human health effects, including liver cancer, other liver ailments, and neurological disorders.

”This outcome provides another strong example of our use of litigation to enforce environmental laws and improve the quality of life for New Jersey residents - particularly those living near this facility. The settlement requires Colorite to go beyond compliance and take immediate steps to reduce vinyl chloride emissions,” said Attorney General Milgram.

”Given what we know about the dangers of these emissions, this settlement did not come a moment too soon for the people who live and work near this facility,” said DEP Commissioner Jackson. “For this community, and indeed for all New Jerseyans, it means healthier air, a better quality of life and the peace of mind that comes with knowing this facility will be cleaning up its act.”

Alan J. Steinberg, EPA’s Region 2 Administrator, said, “EPA is making a concerted effort to focus on facilities that emit vinyl chloride because it is potentially very harmful, and this settlement shows that our efforts are paying off with real benefits to nearby communities. In this case, Colorite has agreed to clean up their act, which will have a direct positive impact on people in Burlington County.”

According to the settlement, Colorite has agreed to lower limits on residual vinyl chloride in both types of resins it produces; test for such residues in every batch of resin and test for vinyl chloride emissions during every reactor opening; conduct an analysis of its wastewater stripper to determine the sources of Clean Air Act violations; and institute better hazardous waste handling practices.

Under the agreement, Colorite will remove compressors used in the manufacturing process and replace them with two rotary compressors which is expected to reduce vinyl chloride emissions by 2,200 lbs. per year. Combined the lower regulatory limits and compressor replacements are estimated to reduce vinyl chloride emissions by approximately 11,000 lbs. per year.

The settlement also requires the company to implement an extensive and comprehensive leak detection and repair program. The program will require internal notifications of emissions levels and action when levels reach specified concentrations, as well as quarterly trend analysis on ambient monitoring data to identify areas of the facility with the greatest number of leaks. It also requires the company to develop a training program and apply it to all employees involved in the facility’s operations.

Colorite has further agreed to a third party audit of all operations at the facility, with a follow-up audit two years later. The proposed consent decree, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and approval by the federal court. A copy of the consent decree is available on the Department of Justice Web site at http://www.usdoj.gov/enrd/open.html.

Deputy Attorney General Lisa Morelli of the Division of Law handled the case for the state of New Jersey.

View Consent Decree 913k pdf

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