Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1380119
June 2021 / 35 PBE Air Pollution Control APC NEWS EPA announces steps to stem pollution, advance environmental justice The EPA recently announced that it would focus on environmental law enforcement in areas that suffer disproportionate impacts from pol- lution. The EPA also said it would research the impacts of potential regulations for underserved, over- burdened, and tribal communities and consider changes that would benefit these communities most. "Too many communities whose residents are predominantly of color, indigenous, or low-income continue to suffer from dispro- portionately high pollution levels and the resulting adverse health and environmental impacts," said Michael S. Regan, EPA administra- tor, in a message to agency staff. "We must do better." The environmental justice efforts require that EPA agencies take the following steps: 1) strengthen violation enforcement of corner- stone environmental statutes and civil rights laws in communities overburdened by pollution; 2) take immediate and affirmative action to incorporate environmental jus- tice considerations into their work; 3) take steps to improve early and more frequent engagement with pollution-burdened and under- served communities affected by the agency's rules, permitting and enforcement decisions, and policies; and 4) consider and prioritize direct and indirect benefits to under- served communities in developing requests for grant applications and making grant award decisions. These actions were in response to a January executive order by the Biden-Harris administration that directs agencies to correct ineq- uities in policies and programs that create potential barriers to equal opportunity. Studies show that low-income communities and communities of color face greater pollution impacts. The admin- istration has also focused on environmental justice by setting a goal to give disadvantaged com- munities 40 percent of benefits of the investments in areas such as pollution cleanup and clean energy. Establishing the new White House Environmental Advisory Council will also advance these initiatives. EPA announces Clean Air Act settlements The EPA has finalized 290 settle- ment agreements with companies in the US in the first quarter of 2021 totaling more than $6.1 million in fines. This activity reflects a sig- nificant increase in enforcement actions, showing an uptick from 150 penalties issued in the fourth quar- ter of 2020. One settlement reached requires ITW Polymers Sealants North America Inc. — an adhesive, seal- ant, and coatings manufacturer — to pay $345,000 for alleged vio- lations of the risk management plan and general duty clause requirements of the Clean Air Act's (CAA's) Chemical Accident Preven- tion provisions at its Massachusetts facility. The company's failure to adequately test and maintain its outdoor chemical storage tanks and piping resulted in the penalty. The company is expected to have com- pleted the corrections by the end of May and has agreed to a follow-up compliance audit. Another EPA settlement filed in February requires Steel Dynam- ics Inc., a steel producer, to pay $475,000 for alleged CAA viola- tions at its processing plants. The EPA and environmental regulators reported that the company failed to capture enough emissions and improperly operated air filters on a device that collects metals from dust produced during the manufac- turing process. The company didn't admit liability but agreed to replace and monitor air pollution control fil- ters and track and keep records on its existing plant devices. The initial violation notice was issued in 2015. Aries Clean Technologies taps Tri-Mer to supply air pollution control system Aries Clean Technologies has selected Tri-Mer Corp. to help the company meet multipollutant air quality standards in the sec- ond quarter. Tri-Mer will design and build a proprietary catalytic ceramic filter system for Aries to handle gasification and emissions at Aries' biosolids gasification plant in Linden, NJ. The dry, all-in-one catalytic system, known as UltraCat, uses highly porous ceramic filters to reduce airborne pollutants such as particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxide. System benefits include hot gas exit temperatures, a small footprint, and a modular capability. The system will trans- form 430 tons of biosolids into 22 tons of biochar per day. The bio- char, a charcoal that's produced by pyrolysis of biomass in the absence of oxygen, will then be used as a substitute for fly ash in improving the workability of concrete. The renewable energy generated from the system is recovered and used within the system, allowing it to operate with no fossil fuels. Aries Clean Technologies, Frank- lin, TN, designs and manufactures proprietary fluidized-bed and downdraft gasification systems. Tri- Mer Corp., Owosso, MI, supplies air pollution control systems for both dry and wet processes.