February 12, 2004

The Department of Environmental Quality Director Steven E. Chester today announced that IMCO Recycling, Inc. of Irving, Texas has, through the entry of a Court Order, agreed to bring air emissions from its Coldwater, Michigan operations at Alchem Aluminum, Inc. and IMCO Recycling of Michigan, L.L.C., (collectively, Coldwater Facility) into compliance with federal and state air regulations. In addition, the Coldwater Facilities will perform a Supplemental Environmental Project by installing additional air pollution control equipment to control particulate matter emissions from the Coldwater Facility at a cost of $285,235 and pay a civil fine of $300,000. The Coldwater Facility is also subject to stipulated penalties of up to $10,000 per violation per day for any future violations of the settlement document.

The Complaint was filed in Ingham County Circuit Court and alleged that the defendants violated the federal Clean Air Act, Michigan’s Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, and their DEQ issued air pollution control permits at the Coldwater Facility by exceeding emission standards for particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, hydrogen chloride, chlorine, and sulfur dioxide; and by failing to submit in a timely manner a renewable operating permit application as required by the Clean Air Act.

Under terms of the settlement, the Coldwater Facility has agreed to obtain the necessary air use and renewable operating permits for the Coldwater Facility, as well as conduct emissions testing to verify compliance with emission limitations specified in their air use permits and the Clean Air Act; and bring all operations at the Coldwater Facility into compliance with the Clean Air Act and Michigan’s Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act by August 31, 2004.

Editor’s note: DEQ news releases are available on the department’s Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

Revised February 12, 2004 by Pat Watson