A metal shredding facility in Owego will pay a $400,000 penalty and make technology upgrades to reduce the amount of chemicals that are released into the air under a settlement with the federal government.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Justice said Tuesday the agreement with Upstate Shredding, LLC and Weitsman Shredding, LLC is in response to an alleged violation of the federal Clean Air Act.
The EPA said the new technology will be installed to reduce the release of volatile organic compounds into the air.
“This proposed settlement ensures that the company secures proper pollution controls at the facility and meets environmental requirements,” said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia.
Adam Weitsman, CEO of Upstate Shredding – Weitsman Recycling, said he accepted the process and the facility is moving forward.
“They were very fair on the penalty,” Weitsman said. “The penalty could have been a lot worse but we worked with them. The EPA was very fair with us.”
Weitsman said the government’s “changing guidelines” impacted the shredding industry, with every company with automobile shredders falling under new rules. He said the EPA never visited the Owego facility.
“We are happy that we are one of the first (companies) that have set up with them, and now we are going to get to the building stage early,” Weitsman said.
State:Are amusement park rides safe? Here’s an inside look at New York’s inspection process
Under the consent decree, new equipment will prevent over 70 tons per year of VOCs from going into the air. VOCs form when plastics, paints, and oils in the scrap material become hot and vaporize during shredding, officials said.
According to the EPA, the pollution control equipment will also reduce the formation of ground-level ozone, which can harm human health and the environment.
The settlement comes after a complaint accused Upstate Shredding of violating the Clean Air Act. The complaint claimed there was a failure…
Read the full article here
Leave a Reply