Akron Thermal Cited for Pollution
Sep. 1–The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has charged Akron Thermal LP with polluting the air.
The company was cited Monday for emitting excessive amounts of sulfur dioxide, particulates, hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid mist from two boilers near downtown Akron.
Air quality in the Akron area may have been affected, but the extent is difficult to gauge, said Lynn Malcolm of the Akron Regional Air Quality Management District.
The federal EPA charged that Akron Thermal violated its state permits by allowing excessive releases of the four pollutants while burning scrap tires mixed with wood chips.
The EPA said the violations were discovered from tests done in October 2004 and February 2005, and some of the violations continue.
The company operates a heating and cooling system that serves downtown Akron. The system is owned by the city and leased to Akron Thermal and includes two former B.F. Goodrich boilers plus two boilers at the city’s Recycle Energy System plant that once burned trash.
Akron Thermal officials said the company was surprised by the federal action because it believed it was “well on the way to resolving these issues with the Ohio EPA,” said company spokesman Rick Pucak.
He said the company will “try to resolve with EPA the issues… as quickly and fairly as possible.”
David Lieberth, Akron’s deputy mayor, said the city intends to investigate and to talk to Akron Thermal.
The EPA action is a preliminary finding of violations. To resolve them, the EPA may issue a compliance order, assess a penalty or sue the company. Akron Thermal has 30 days from receipt of the notice to meet with the agency to resolve the charges.
The Akron Regional Air Quality Management District, the Ohio EPA and the federal EPA investigated the case.
In 2003, the company sought state approval to burn shredded tires mixed with wood and several test burns were conducted. In early 2005, the company began using that fuel mix at the two RES boilers, which also are equipped to burn natural gas.
The state allowed the company to burn tires, but the fuel mix could be only 15.5 percent tires to limit air pollution.
Exposure to sulfur dioxide can impair breathing, aggravate respiratory diseases and reduce the ability of the lungs to clear foreign particles.
Inhaling large concentrations of particulates, or soot, can affect children, the elderly and people with heart and lung diseases. Particulates also appear to aggravate the effects of sulfur dioxide.
Hydrochloric acid is corrosive to the eyes, skin and mucous membranes. Inhalation can cause hoarseness, inflammation and ulceration of the respiratory tract and chest pain.
Sulfuric acid mist can irritate the lungs, eyes and skin. People with chronic respiratory, intestinal or nervous disorders and eye or skin diseases are at greater risk.
Akron Thermal has had previous clean-air violations.
In 2002, the company agreed to pay a $51,200 civil penalty to the Ohio EPA and to correct problems.
The company was cited for burning used motor oil without the EPA’s approval, exceeding particulate or soot emission limits, operating a used oil storage tank without state approval, failing to keep a particulate monitor operating and failing to file paperwork with the EPA.
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