Lead-acid battery recycler Quemetco has been fined $600,000 and forced to temporarily reduce operations due to emissions violations at its facility in City of Industry, California, US.
The fine follows inspections and testing conducted by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD) between 2017 and 2019.
The inspections identified violations of federal requirements, as well as violations of South Coast AQMD’s Rule 1420.1* governing lead-acid battery recycling plants processing 50,000 tons of lead a year.
The violations included not minimising dust emissions; reporting requirements; emissions of lead, arsenic, and 1,3 butadiene that exceeded rule limits; and not maintaining negative pressure in the building enclosure.
Due to the arsenic and lead emissions-related violations, Quemetco was ordered to temporarily reduce operations at its facility as required by Rule 1420.1.
Jill Whynot, South Coast AQMD’s chief operating officer, said: “Battery recycling facilities must comply with our rules to prevent the release of potentially harmful levels of emissions.
“Compliance with these regulations is imperative to improve air quality and protect public health.”
South Coast AQMD is the air pollution control agency for Orange County and major portions of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties, including the Coachella Valley.
* Rule 1420.1 was adopted on November 5, 2010 and applies to large lead-acid battery recycling facilities that have processed more than 50,000 tons of lead a year. The rule requires emission limits for lead as well as housekeeping, monitoring, and emission testing for the two applicable facilities that emit lead. On January 10, 2014, Rule 1420.1 was amended to establish requirements for owners or operators of large lead-acid battery recycling facilities to reduce arsenic emissions and other key toxic air contaminant emissions. Rule 1420.1 now includes requirements for ambient air concentration limits for arsenic, as well as hourly emission limits of arsenic, benzene, and 1,3-butadiene. As a result of the January amendment, Rule 1420.1 also contains additional administrative, monitoring and source testing requirements for stack emissions
For more information on South Coast AQMD Rule 1420.1, please visit: https://www.aqmd.gov/home/news-events/community-investigations/exide-updates/rule-activity