ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD

January 23, 1975

MASONITE CORPORATION,

Petitioner,

v.

)

PCB 74—365

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY,

Respondent,

OPINION AND ORDER OF THE BOARD (by Mr. Dumelle):

Masonite Corporation (Masonite) filed a variance petition

on October 10, 1974 which sought an extension of a previously

granted variance from the fluoride effluent standard found

in Rule 408(a) of the Water Pollution Regulations. The

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Agency) filed a

recommendation to grant the requested variance on November

18, 1974. A hearing was held on December 3, 1974.

Masonite operates the Illinois Research and Development

Center located in St. Charles. At this research center,

Masonite carries out limited electroplating operations which

utilize hydrofluoric acid. Masonite has spent approximately

$200,000 in an attempt to bring its industrial discharge

into compliance with both the nickel and fluoride effluent

limitations found in the Water Pollution Regulations.

Masonite operates an industrial waste treatment system which

reduces the nickel concentrations to acceptable limits and

reduces fluoride levels to approximately 8 to 18 mg/l. The

effluent from this industrial waste facility is combined

with domestic waste. This combined waste stream is then

treated in an activated sewage treatment facility. This

activated waste treatment facility was supposed to achieve

a fluoride effluent within the 2.5 mg/l prescribed level of

Rule 408 (a). However, this discharge averages approximately

6.5 mg/i of fluoride. For this reason Masonite has requested

the present variance.

Masonite discharges into Kress Creek, which is a tributary

to the west branch of the Des Plaines River. Because of

discharges from Owens—Illinois plant, located adjacent to

Masonite, Kress Creek presently affords a minimum of 60 to 1

dilution, The fluoride concentration present downstream

from Masonite’s discharge averages 0.2 ppm. The Agency

calculates if a dilution of only 20 to 1 were present

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that Masonite’s effluent would not cause the fluoride level

in the stream to exceed 1.0 ppm. For this reason, the

Agency agrees with petitioner that Masonite’s discharge

presents a minimal environmental impact.

Masonite was granted a six month variance in the prior

variance proceeding to enable Masonite to examine additional

methods of achieving compliance with Rule 408(a) with respect

to fluoride (Masonite

v.

EPA, PCB 74-211, 13 PCB

229

(July

25, 1974)). Since the granting of the previous variance,

Masonite has spent approximately $12,000 examining methods

of achieving compliance with the existing fluoride effluent

limitations. This has consisted of literature research

reviews and both bench and pilot scale testing of various

treatment systems. Masonite alleges that their research has

indicated that the use of activated alumina is currently the

most promising method to reduce their fluoride discharges.

Masonite alleges that there does not exist technology at

present which would achieve compliance with the 2.5 mg/i

effluent limitation. For this reason Masonite requests an

extension of the previously granted variance while it continues

testing of the activated alumina program and additional

~Literature research. The Agency agrees with Masonite and

tecommends the grant of the requested relief.

Both Masonite and the Agency refer to the pending

regulatory proceeding before the Board which proposes a

modification of both the water quality and effluent standard

for fluoride, R 73-15. On January 16, 1975 the Board authorized

for publication and final comment an amendment to Rule

408(a) which would set a new maximum effluent limitation of

15 mg/l for fluoride. However, the existing effluent standard

for fluoride is 2.5 mg/i. Because of the minimal impact of

Masonite’s discharge and the pendency of the proposed amendment

to Rule 408(a) the Board has decided to grant an extension

of the previously granted variance.

This Opinion constitutes the Board’s findings of fact

and conclusions of law.

ORDER

The Pollution Control Board hereby grants Masonite

Corporation a variance from Rule 408(a) of the Water Pollution

Regulations until January 23, 1976 or until the Board’s pending

amendment of Rule 408(a) is enacted, whichever occur earlier,

subject to the following conditions:

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1. Masonite’s discharge shall not exceed a maximum of

12 mg/i of fluoride~unlessa greater number is adopted by the

Board in R73-l5.

2. Masonite shall submit monthly progress reports to

the Environmental Protection Agency stating its efforts and

results in limiting fluoride discharges.

IT IS SO ORDERED,

I, Christan L, Moffett, Clerk of the Illinois Pollution

Control Board, hereby certify the above Opinion and Order

were adopted on the

~

day of January, 1975 by a vote of

Christan L. Moffett, erk

Illinois Pollution trol Board