ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
    February 21, 1974
    SAMUEL BINGHAM COMPANY,
    Petitioner,
    vs.
    )
    PCB 73—556
    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY,
    Respondent.
    OPINION AND ORDER OF THE BOARD (by Mr. Seaman)
    This is a Petition filed by the Samuel Bingham Company,
    (hereinafter Petitioner) with the Environmental Protection
    Agency (hereinafter called Agency) on December 28, 1973.
    Petitioner operates a plant in Franklin Park, Illinois,
    primarily engaged in the manufacture of snythetic rubber
    rollers for the printing and graphic arts industries.
    Petitioner~s facility includes the~ocessing of offset
    printing blankets utilizing a substantial quantity of solvent
    toluene. This is the process for which a Variance is sought.
    Petitioner~s blanket operations include tanks, mixers,
    and coating/spreading machines which emit particulates and
    excess hydrocarbons through short stacks to the atmosphere.
    Petitioner is seeking a one year Variance from Rules
    205(f) and 203(b) of the Air Pollution Control Regulations, to
    continue its blanket operations pending the availability of
    a substitute solvent which is exempt from the emission
    control regulations.
    Hydrocarbon emissions total 89 lbs/hour and particulate
    emissions are 0.082 lbs/hour, While Petitioner appears to
    be in compliance with particulate regulations, it exceeds
    the allowable limit of 8 lbs/hour for hydrocarbons.
    As of last June, 1973, Petitioner found a new solvent
    which is exempt from air pollution control regulations and
    compatibJe with its manufacturing process. Petitioner
    subsequently planned for a complete switch by December 31, 1973,
    11 —361
    —2—
    Unfortunately, last November, before the changeover could
    be instituted, Petitioner was informed by its supplier,
    Great Lakes Solvent Company, that this proprietary solvent
    was no longer available.
    Petitioner’s industrial neighbors have indicated that
    they are not bothered by odors from Petitioner’s plant,
    and that they are not opposed to the granting of the Variance
    requested.
    The Agency has no record of complaints alleging excessive
    or malodorous emissions from Petitionerts plant.
    The Agency finds that Petitioner would suffer an arbitrary
    and unreasonable hardship if required to comply immediately
    with Rule 205(f) since it has made a good faith effort to
    comply and is unable to do so only because its suppliers
    cannot obtain the necessary raw materials. We agree.
    Since current particulate emissions from the blanket
    operations appear to be within allowable limits, Petiti~uer
    request for Variance from Rule 203(b) is dismissed.
    This Opinion constitutes the findings of fact and
    conclusions of law of the Board.
    IT IS THE ORDER of the Pollution Control Board that:
    1. Petitioner be granted a Variance from Rule 205(f)
    until February 21, 1975, subject to the following conditions:
    a. Petitioner shall utilize as much exempt solvent
    formulations as can be furnished by its suppliers.
    b. Petitioner shall submit monthly progress reports
    to the Agency indicating its efforts to obtain exempt
    solvents and detailing its efforts toward achieving
    compliance. Said progress reports shall be submitted to:
    Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
    Division of Air Pollution Control
    Control Program Coordinator
    2200 Churchill Road
    Springfield, Illinois 62706
    2. Petitioner’s request for Variance from Rule 203(h)
    is dismissed.
    11
    —362
    —3—
    I, Christan L. Moffett, Clerk of the Illinois Pollution
    Control Board, certify t1~~theabove Opinion a
    was adopted on this ~
    day of
    ~
    1974
    by a vote of
    ~g-~0

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