ILLINOIS
    POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
    January
    23,
    1975
    HOPPERS
    COMPANY,
    INC.
    Petitioner,
    vs.
    )
    PCB 74—411
    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY,
    Respondent.
    OPINION AND ORDER OF THE BOARD
    (by Mr. Henss):
    Hoppers Company,
    Inc. operates a manufacturing facility i~i
    Stickney,
    Illinois for the production of phthalic anhydride and
    tar products.
    In February 1974 Hoppers was granted variance
    from Rule 205(f)
    of the Air Pollution Control Regulations until
    February
    14, 1975 pending installation and operation of air
    pollution control equipment.
    See:
    Hoppers Company,
    Inc. vs.
    EPA, PCB
    73-494,
    During production of tarred felt products in the tar satur-
    ation plant, hydrocarbons
    are emitted in excess of the allowable
    rate of
    8 lbs,/hr.
    Stack tests conducted in March 1972 were not
    conclusive
    so Hoppers retested in June 1973.
    The June 1973 test
    indicates
    that
    21 lbs./hr.
    of hydrocarbons are being emitted.
    Petitioner states that it was unaware the facility was not
    in compliance until the 1973 stack test results were received.
    At that time
    a consultant was hired to study possible control
    systems.
    The system finally chosen was a Johns-Manville High
    Energy Air Filter System
    (HEAF).
    The four stacks now venting
    hydrocarbon emissions from the tar saturation plant will be
    con-
    nected to the HEAF System.
    The HEAF System consists of a high static pressure fan,
    a
    heavy fiberglass mat and a mist separator.
    Stack gasses containing
    fine particles of heavy hydrocarbons are passed over the fiberglass
    mat where the liquid particles are coalesced into larger droplets.
    These droplets are disengaged from the mat by a high velocity air
    stream and then removed from the air stream in
    a low velocity mist
    separator.
    The removed droplets are collected and drained off as
    a liquid.
    15—337
    Johns-Manville estimates
    that
    the control efficiency
    of
    its HEAF System ranges between 96
    and 98.
    The System has
    operated successfully in other facilities.
    An efficiency
    of
    about 62
    is required to bring the Kopper~plant into compliance.
    Both the Agency and Hoppers believe the System, once installed,
    will bring the hydrocarbon emissions from the tar saturation
    plant into compliance.
    Failure to achieve compliance during the one year variance
    which was previously granted
    is apparently not Hopper’s fault.
    Delivery of the
    I-lEAF equipment has been delayed for three months
    by the supplier which will cause
    a corresponding delay in com-
    pletion of installation.
    Petitioner’s plant is located in an industrial/commercial area
    some 2,000-3,000
    ft. distant from a large residential area.
    The
    Agency has received complaints about the odors coming from the plant.
    The
    Agency
    recommends
    granting
    the
    variance
    extension
    because
    the
    control equ~Lpmentcould substantially reduce the citizen dis-
    bomfort now being experienced.
    The Agency believes the control
    system is particularly desireable because it requires a minimum of
    energy and doesn’t use fuel directly.
    Extension of the variance shall be granted until May 14, 1975
    subject
    to certain conditions.
    We find that the three month delay
    in achieving compliance
    is beyond the control of Hoppers.
    It would
    be unreasonable to deny this variance in light of the facts presented.
    ORDER
    It is the Order of the Pollution Control Board
    that Hoppers
    Company,
    Inc. be granted variance from Rule 205(f)
    of the Air
    Pollution Control Regulations for its Stickney, Illinois plant
    until
    May
    14,
    1975 subject to the following conditions:
    1.
    Petitioner shall continue to submit the quarterly
    progress reports required under Part
    I of the
    Order in PCB 73-494,
    2.
    Petitioner shall make applications
    for all necessary
    construction and operating permits from the
    Agency.
    3.
    Petitioner shall cause the $50,000 bond which was
    required under Part
    3 of the Order in PCB 73—494,
    to be extended
    to and including May 14,
    1975.
    Said
    15—338
    —3—
    bond
    shall
    be
    forfeited
    in
    the
    event
    Petitioner
    fails
    to
    install
    and
    operate
    the
    control
    system.
    It
    shall
    be
    mailed
    within
    30
    days
    to:
    Fiscal
    Services Division, Illinois EPA,
    2200 Churchill
    Road,
    Springfield, Illinois 62706.
    I,
    Christan L. Moffett, Clerk of the Illinois Pollution Control
    Board, hereby certify the above Opinion and Order was adopted
    this
    ~
    day ~
    1975 by
    a vote of
    3
    to ~

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