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Wayne Metals LLC of Markle has been targeted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for a $54,000 fine, and the company’s president says the fine is unwarranted.
Greg Myers said the company has quit “wet-coating” parts at its facility and has gone to powder coating. In the process of making the switch, however, the company used 15 gallons of a particular type of wet coating when its permit did not allow any.
The company self-reported its violation, and as a result, the EPA has proposed a $54,000 fine.
Myers believes the amount of the fine is unwarranted, and he has appealed for help to the office of U.S. Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind.
“In our business, and this is one of the points we have tried to make to Congressman Pence’s office, we are competing in a global environment,” Myers said. “We really need the government on our side.”
The company has been in discussions with the EPA since the middle of last year; Myers said Wayne Metals has offered two settlement options, and the company is waiting for the EPA to respond.
Myers said the company has made an effort to be as environmentally-friendly as possible. A measure of air pollution is HAPs (hazardous air pollutants); Myers said the company’s releases have gone from 28,750 pounds in 2006 to 1,384 in 2007 and 180 in 2008. Right now, the amount of HAPs is zero.
“Our mission statement has three bullet points, and one of them is to be a good corporate citizen,” he said. “That is what we are trying to do.”
In its complaint, the EPA’s Region 5 office in Chicago says Wayne Metals violated Clean Air Act guidelines at the company’s metal coating facility at 400 E. Logan St. The alleged violations took place between January 2007 and January 2008.
In announcing the proposed fine, the EPA said the information was included in the company’s annual compliance report. The EPA said it notified Wayne Metals of the alleged violations in May 2008 and met with the company to discuss the finding in June 2008.
Wayne Metals has 30 days from receipt of the complaint to file an answer and request a hearing.
The company employs 105 people at this time. Myers said there has been a contraction of the company’s work force in the past few weeks, with about 50 people being laid off.
daves@news-banner.com
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Additional information from this story came from The Associated Press.
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