ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD

July 6,

1978

RICHLAND

FOUNDRY

COMPANY,

)

)

Petitioner,

v.

)

PCB 78-51

)

)

ILLINOIS

ENVIRONMENTAL

)

PROTECTION AGENCY,

)

)

Respondent.

PRESTON K.

JOHNSON, JR., JOHNSON

& JOHNSON,

APPEARED

ON

BEHALF

OF THE PETITIONER;

PATRICK

3.

CHESLEY, ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL, APPEARED ON

BEHALF

OF RESPONDENT.

OPINION

AND

ORDER OF THE BOARD

(by Mr. Goodman):

On February 21,

1978,

Richiand Foundry Company

(Richiarid)

filed a variance petition before the Board requesting variance

from Rule 103(b) (2), Rule 202(b), and Rule 203(b)

of

the

Illinois Air Pollution Control Regulations

(Regulations)

for

its cupola iron melting furnace located in Belleville, Illinois.

Hearing was held in this matter on June

9, 1978.

No citizens

appeared at the hearing, and the Board has received no public

comment in this matter.

Richlarid owns and operates a gray iron casting foundry uti-

lizing a 36 inch shell cupola with particulate emissions control.

The foundry processes approximately

4

to

5 tons of metal per day,

operating the cupola approximately 1-1/2 hours.

Richiand was

originally granted an operating permit for the cupola by the

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency

(Agency) which expired

on March 16, 1978.

Tests show that the cupola is presently in

violation of the regulations, and evidence presented at the

hearing indicated that part of the particulate emission control

equipment was not functioning.

A Stipulation of Fact was pre-

sented at the hearing which indicates that the foundry will

cease operation as of December 31,

1978, as its lease terminates

on that date and Richland does not intend to renew.

Emissions

from this source will therefore cease as of December 31, 1978.

31.37

---

—2—

At the present time,

one of the spray nozzle units used for par-

ticulate emission control is not operational.

It is the opinion

of the Agency that if this spray unit were to be put into opera-

tion, particulate emission violations would be minimal and that

the harm to the environment would be de minimis.

In the Stipu-

lation of Fact Richland indicates that the spray unit could be

operational by July 24, 1978.

The Agency estimates that the spray chamber could be repaired

at a cost of approximately $500,

but since stack testing would be

required to prove compliance,

an additional $3,000 would need to

be expended in order

to prove compliance and receive an operating

An investigative report by the Agency indicates that the

density of the population in the area is light, the nearest resi-

dence being approximately 300 feet from the cupola, and that local

residents interviewed by the Agency have no objection to the

granting of this variance.

Although the cost of final compliance,

$3000 for a stack test,

does not appear to be exorbitant, the Board finds that the very

minimal benefits that might be obtained do not warrant even so

small an expenditure.

This is particularly true since there appears

to be no environmental problem in the area of the foundry and since

the foundry will cease operations as of the end of 1978.

The Board

will therefore grant the variance requested under certain con-

ditions.

This Opinion constitutes the finding of facts and conclusions

of law of the Board in this Matter.

ORDER

It is the Order of the Pollution Control Board that Richland

Foundry Company be granted variance from Rules 103(b) (2), 202(b),

and 203(b)

of the Illinois Air Pollution Control Regulations

until December

31,

1978 under the following conditions:

1.

Richland shall put the third spray unit of the

particulate emission control equipment on the

cupola into operation on or before July 24,

1978,

and shall operate the cupola only during periods

when the particulate pollution equipment is

totally operational.

31-38

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—3—

2.

Within 60 days

of the date of this Order Richland

shall apply to the Illinois Environmental Pro-

tection Agency for an operating permit for this

facility.

3.

Richland Foundry Company shall cease and desist

any further violation of the Board’s regulations

at this facility as of January

1,

1979.

4.

Within 45 days of the adoption of this Order,

the

Richland Foundry Company shall execute and forward

to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency,

2200 Churchill Road, Springfield, Illinois 62706

a Certification of Acceptance and Agreement to

be bound to all terms and conditions of this Order.

The 45 day period shall be held in abeyance during

any period this matter

is being appealed.

The form

of said certification shall

be as follows:

CERTIFICATION

I

(We),

having read and fully

understanding the Order of the Illinois Pollution Control Board

in PCB 78-51 hereby accept said Order and agree to be bound by

all of the terms and conditions thereof.

SIGNED___________________________

TITLE____________________________

DATE______________________________

I, Christan L.

Moffett, Clerk of the Illinois Pollution

Control Board, hereby certify the above Opinion and Order

were adopted on the ~

day of_

,

1978 by a

vote of

4/-C

.

Christan L. Moff

,

Clerk

Illinois Pollutio

Control Board