ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD

April 11, 1972

THE RICHARDSON COMPANY

#72—41

V.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

INTERIM OPINION AND ORDER OF THE BOARD (BY MR. LAWTON):

The Richardson Company operates a phenolic laminate plant

in DeKaib, Illinois. Fibrous substrate materials are saturated

in phenolic resins in a vehicle of hydrocarbon solvent, after which

the material is conducted through a curing oven where the solvent

is evaporated and discharged into the atmosphere. Four treaters

and curing ovens are used for this purpose. At the present time,

one treater is equipped with an after-burner to incinerate the

hydrocarbon vapors, which is defective and requires re-building.

It is proposed that the emissions from the remaining treaters

be controlled by a new fume incinerator. The petition indicates

that the new incinerator

will be

“on stream” by December 31, 1972.

The Environmental Protection Agency recommends that the

variance be granted until September 9, 1972, subject to the posting

of a bond and securing of necessary permits from the Agency, together

with the implementation of a program to control spillage which may

resull in odors, and that petitioner submit by-monthly reports de-

tailina its progress. The Agency also proposes that stack tests

by an independent agency be conducted thirty days after completion

of the incinerators.

We are unable to tell from the petition the length of time

that petitioner needs to complete its program. Petitioner had been

operating under an approved Air Contaminant Emission Reduction Program

from the Illinois Air Pollution Control Board approved on August 2,

1968, which was modified on January 22, 1970.

According to the petitioner, the original program called

for complete abatement of odors by the end of 1972. The old Acerp

has expired; however, if petitioner contemplates completing this

program, we should be advised as to the precise details and time

that will be needed, together with final completion dates, and direct

4

—

173

---

that

this information be furnished within

ten d~ivs r~r~ithe dcv of

this

Order.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

I, Christan Moffett, Clerk of the Illinois P~1iuticn Cntrol Board,

cer~ify that the above Interim

Opinion

and Order

wcs ~tdcutccJ on the

//

~ day of April, 1972

by a volt

7

/

~

/~~

4—174