ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
February 26, 1976
WIRCO CASTINGS, INC.,
Petitioner,
v.
)
PCB 75—446
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY,
Respondent.
OPINION AND ORDER OF THE BOARD (by Mr. Goodman):
This Petition for variance was filed on November 14, 1975 re-
questing an extension of a previous variance granted by the Board on
January 3, 1975 (PCB 74—266). There have been a series of variances
granted in this matter starting in April, 1973 (PCB 73—4, PCB 73—281).
An Interim Order of the Board of November 26, 1975, for more
infor-
mation resulted in an amendment to the original application for vari-
ance filed December 16, 1975. The Environmental Protection Agency
(Agency) filed a recommendation on January 21, 1976, there being no
hearing held on the matter.
Wirco Casting Company, Inc., (Wirco) owns and operates a gray
iron foundry located in New Athens, St. Clair County, Illinois. The
foundry produces castings for the automotive and other industries.
Wirco’s problems revolves around the use of a cupola furnace
which is not in compliance with Rule 203(a) whenever their 20 ton
induction furnace is shut down for repairs. Wirco at present is in
the process of installing a second induction furnace which is
scheduled for completion on August 1, 1976, after which time all
cupola melting will be discontinued. From the information presented
it appears that the cupola furnace would be used for a total of 20
days prior to the installation of the second induction furnace.
The record in this case indicates that Wirco has pursued its
compliance program in a timely fashion and will have completed such
program before the end of 1976. The good faith of Wirco under the
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previous variances is unquestioned and there have been no complaints
against the company by the public. As was stated in the Board Order
in PCB 74—266 page 3 dated January 3, 1975, “the chances of Wirco
creating a general pollution problem are very minimal.” Total
emission from the cupola furnace will be less than 3600 pounds for
the entire period of the requested variance, and the results from
the 1974 Annual Air Quality Report indicate the annual geometric mean
level of total suspended particulate matter recorded at Belleville,
Illinois was 73 micrograms/cubic meter of air and the 24 hour maximum
suspended particulate matter reading was 169 micrograms/cubic meter
of air.
Noting the good faith effort of Wirco in pursuing their compli-
ance plan, and the lack of ambient air quality problems in the area,
together with the fact that the emissions are so minor, the Board
finds that Wirco’s variance shall be extended until January 1, 1977
or until their second induction furnance comes on line, whichever
event occurs first.
This Opinion constitutes the findings of fact and conclusions
of law of the Board in this matter.
ORDER
It is the Order of the Pollution Control Board that Wirco
Castings, Incorporated be granted variance from Rule 203(a) until
January 1, 1977, or until their second induction furnace comes on
line whichever event shall occur first, subject to the following
conditions:
a) Wirco shall operate its cupola furnace for a maximum
of 20 days, with a maximum of 8 hours a day, the 20
days being allocated between no more than two outages
of their induction furnace during the term of this
variance.
b) Wirco shall notify the Agency in writing 48 hours
before the day upon which its induction furnace will
be shut down for scheduled repairs.
c) Cupola production shall not exceed 30 tons of metal
per day and the rate of production shall not exceed
4 tons per hour.
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d) Wirco shall maintain in good working order and
operate, during all times when the cupola is
operating, its after burner and wet cap control
devices on the cupola furnace.
e) After operation of the cupola furnace Wirco shall
supply to the Agency, within 48 hours of such opera-
tion, the number of days of cupola operation and the
production figures for molten metal for each day
of operation.
f) The cupola and induction furnaces shall never be
operated concurrently.
g) Wirco shall make progress reports to the Agency every
two months starting within 30 days after the date of
this Order until the completion of their compliance
plan.
h) Wirco shall apply for and receive a permit for its
cupola furnace within 120 days after the date of this
Order.
i) Within 21 days after the date of this Order Wirco shall
execute and forward to the Program Coordinator at
the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
a certification of acceptance and agreement to
be bound by all terms and conditions of this
variance, the form of said certification to be
as follows:
I, (We),
having read
and fully understanding the Order of the Illinois
Pollution Control Board in PCB 75-446, hereby accept
said Order and agree to be bound by all the terms
and conditions thereof.
Signed by
Title_____
Date______
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Mr. Dumelle dissents.
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I, Christan L. Moffett, Clerk of the Illinois Pollution
Control Board, hereby certify th a ove Opinion and Order were
adopted on the
day o
_____________,
1976 by a vote
Christan L. o fet
,
rk
Illinois Pollution rol Board
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