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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 9, 2001
Contact:
Rick Sprott, Director, Division of Air Quality, 801.536.4022
Marv Maxell, Air Standards Branch Manager, Division of Air Quality, 801.536.4082
Steven Packham, Toxicologist, Division of Air Quality, 801.536.4036
The Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Air Quality (DAQ) today issued a Notice of Violation (NOV) to Wasatch Energy Systems (WES) for emitting more dioxin than permitted, exceeding carbon monoxide emission limits and failing to report reasons for exceeding emissions.
According to the NOV, during Oct. 10-14, 2000, WES failed a stack test by emitting more dioxin from one of its two stacks than is allowed in its Approval Order or permit. WES did not demonstrate that it had corrected the problem until a subsequent test was performed during Jan. 18-22, 2001.
While dioxin in the amount reported during the exceedence poses no immediate threat, it does build up over time in the environment. "Dioxin is considered one of the most serious environmental pollutants because it can cause a variety of health effects, including effects on the endocrine and reproductive systems," said Steven Packham, toxicologist for DAQ. EPA is reviewing all the possible health effects of dioxin, including its cancer-causing potential in people.
"Because of potential health and environmental risks, DAQ requires strict compliance with emission limits set in WES' Approval Order, notwithstanding the fact that WES is currently installing new dioxin control equipment ahead of schedule to meet stricter state and federal standards," said Rick Sprott, director of DAQ.
Also according to the NOV, from Jan. 1, 1999, through Dec. 31, 2000, WES exceeded carbon monoxide emission limits from both its stacks for a total of 766 four-hour periods, of which 374 did not qualify as allowable exceedences. An exceedence during startup, shutdown or malfunction may be deemed allowable, hence not in violation of the carbon monoxide emission limit.
Additionally, the NOV states that WES failed to provide narrative descriptions giving the reasons for 2,979 instances of excess emissions from Jan. 1, 1999, to Dec. 31, 2000. Some of the excess emissions included carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide.
"The reason we withheld action until now was to allow us time to investigate whether WES was using the best possible combustion practices to minimize dioxin emissions," Sprott said. An elevated level of carbon monoxide is one of several indicators of poor combustion that could be associated with increased dioxin.
"Our objective in this enforcement action is to work with WES and its service district board to establish effective and lasting solutions to minimize health risks and environmental impacts to residents living near the burn plant," Sprott said.
WES burns trash at its facility in Layton. DAQ issued a permit to WES in September 1996 outlining allowable emissions. Utah law allows a potential penalty of up to $10,000 per day for each violation.
Available for public viewing is an online information repository of DAQ's key documents related to WES. To access the repository, please visit:
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