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EPA reaches agreement with Wisconsin Plating on clean-air violations

Release Date: 08/12/2009
Contact Information: William Omohundro, 312-353-8254, [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 09-OPA154

(Chicago, Ill. - Aug. 10, 2009) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has reached an agreement with Wisconsin Plating of Racine (formerly Racine Plating Co.) on alleged Clean Air Act violations at the company's facility at 620 Stannard St., Racine, Wis.

The agreement, which includes a $30,000 penalty, resolves EPA allegations that Wisconsin Plating violated EPA regulations regarding control of hazardous air pollutant emissions from solvent cleaning machines. The company uses the hazardous air pollutant trichloroethylene in its vapor degreaser.

EPA learned of the alleged violations from the company's semi-annual report required by the national emissions standard for hazardous air pollutants.

Breathing or drinking high levels of trichloroethylene may cause nervous system effects and liver and lung damage. It is used mainly as a solvent for cleaning metal and plastic parts.

Information about EPA Region 5's air enforcement program is at https://www.epa.gov/region5/air/enforce/index.html. Potential environmental violations may be reported at https://www.epa.gov/compliance/complaints.