All News Releases By Date

R.I. Manufacturer to pay $98,500 for Clean Air Violations

Release Date: 03/25/2009
Contact Information: David Deegan, (617) 918-1017

(Boston, Mass. – March 25, 2009) – A Rhode Island manufacturer of digital imaging materials has agreed to pay $98,500 for violations of the federal Clean Air Act at its former manufacturing plant in Fiskeville.

EPA alleged that Arkwright Inc., which has since sold the facility, operated a manufacturing unit in violation of emissions standards and failed to follow proper reporting regulations with regard to its emissions.

Until July, Arkwright (now known as Oce Imaging Supplies) owned and operated the facility at 538 Main St. The factory makes digital imaging media that is primarily paper and polyester film used for commercial purposes in ink jet printers and for blue prints and other specialty applications.

EPA filed a complaint in October based on two earlier visits to the facility. In May 2006, two tests done by Arkwright on two coating lines showed the facility did not comply with a requirement that it capture 100 percent of the emissions of volatile organic compounds and hazardous air pollutants.

As a result of those tests, the company shut down one coating line where the problems were found but continued to operate a second one for three and a half weeks, in violation of its permit. An inspection a year later found that the company had violated its notification and reporting provisions of the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants. Also, it was violating reporting conditions of its air permit.

The reports have since been submitted and the new owner, Arkwright Advanced Coatings, Inc., is aware of the violations.

More information: EPA enforcement of clean air standards in New England (epa.gov/NE/enforcement/air/index.html)

# # #