ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
    December 6, 1973
    STAUFFER CHEMICAL COMPANY,
    Petitioner,
    v.
    )
    PCB 73—340
    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY,
    Respondent.
    Richard H. Sanders, Attorney for Stauffer Chemical Company
    Lee Campbell, Assistant Attorney General for the EPA
    OPINION AND ORDER OF THI BOARD (by Mr. Henss)
    Stauffer Chemical Company operates a plant in Aurora,
    Illinois for the production of pressure sensitive vinyl films.
    During the process, an organic solvent adhesive is applied to
    a polyethylene clad kraft paper. The treated paper is then
    passed through a forced air drying tunnel where excess solvent
    is evaporated by heated air. The air from the tunnel is vented
    to the atmosphere at the rate of about 25 lbs. solvent per hour.
    Approximately 60 of the solvent which is discharged to the
    a tmosphere is toluene (a photochemically reactive material) and
    the remaining 40 is ethyl acetate.
    As part of its application for operating permit, submitted
    in the Fall of 1972, Stauffer told the Agency that it would
    achieve compliance with applicable regulations by installing a
    natural gas fired incinerator to incinerate the organic vapors.
    The Agency then granted Petitioner an operating permit for
    that portion of the system responsible for the emissions.
    While negotiating the purchase of an incinerator, Petitioner
    made a routine check with its natural gas supplier, Northern
    Illinois Gas Company. Petitioner was advised by the Gas Company
    that it could not increase its consumption of natural gas to the
    level required to operate the incinerator. Petitioner filed a
    request for additional delivery of natural gas but was placed on
    a waiting list with no indication of when such delivery could be
    obtained.
    10
    241

    —2—
    Because of this setback, Petitioner could not carry through
    with the Compliance Plan and Project Completion Schedule it had
    submitted to the Agency. Petitioner notified the Agency and
    the Board of this development on August 14, 1973 and requested a
    variance from Rules 103(b) (2), 103(b) (6) (E)
    ,
    104 and 205(f) of
    the Air Pollution Control Regulations.
    In its Amended Petition filed September 1973, Petitioner
    stated that it had investigated several techniques for removing
    organic vapors. Three of the most promising techniques are
    carbon adsorption, condensation and incineration. Each of these
    methods would require increased energy from natural gas or #2
    fuel oil, increased supplies of which are allegedly not available.
    Petitioner estimated that only 10 or 15 of the plant could
    operate without using the dryer which is involved. Closing down
    the dryer would, according to Petitioner, place an arbitrary and
    unreasonable hardship on Petitioner, its 40 employees, the local
    economy and dependent industries.
    Petitioner stated that a variance would not affect the
    general public since the closest, residence was more than 1/2
    block from the plant, and wind conditions and the general nature
    of the atmosphere would not be conducive to the formation of
    photochemical smog. No formal complaints from citizens or
    governmental agencies concerning odors had been received by
    Petitioner.
    EPA surveillance personnel have reported that no odor problem
    existed outside the plant. The Agency recommends granting the
    variance subject to certain conditions. Petitioner has agreed to
    comply with each condition called for in the Agency Recommendation.
    Under the variance, Stauffer will be required to investigate
    the possibility of diverting some of the present natural gas allot-
    ment for the purpose of incinerating the organic vapors, and then
    recirculating the combustion gasses back through the tunnel dryer.
    It seems that Petitioner has possible alternative methods for
    achieving compliance. Petitioner has not told the Board exactly how
    it proposes to achieve compliance but makes this statement: “Based
    on statements from its fuel suppliers and from its knowledge of the
    proprietary processes involved, its dryer will be brought into
    compliance with Rule 205(f) by December 31, 1974”.
    We will allow a one year variance. A denial, we think could
    restrict plant operations and cause economic and personal loss
    far outweighing environmental damage which might result from the
    discharge of the vapors.
    The variance means
    that
    Stauffer will be discharging about
    17 lbs~per hour of organic vapors over that allowed by Regulation,
    a situation which will be corrected in 1974.
    10 —
    242

    —3—
    ORDER
    It is the order of the Pollution Control Board that:
    l~ Stauffer Chemical Company is granted a variance
    until December 6, 1974 from Rules 103(b) (2),
    103(b) (6) (B), 104 and 205(f) of the Air Pollution
    Control Regulations in order to operate its gas-
    fired, forced air dryer pending installation of
    control equipment or alteration of process
    sufficient to achieve compliance with the above
    cited Rules.
    2) Stauffer Chemical Company shall explore the
    possibility of using existing natural gas allot-
    ments to incinerate the tunnel dryer organic
    vapor emissions and recirculating part of the
    combustion gasses back to the tunnel dryer.
    3) Within 4 months of the date of this Order, Petitioner
    shall notify the Variance Section of the Agency of
    its new control program and Project Completion
    Schedule.
    4) Petitioner shall submit quarterly progress reports
    to the Agency1s Variance Section, 2200 Churchill
    Road, Springfield, Illinois 62706. Such reports
    shall commence one month after the date of this
    Order.
    5) Petitioner shall apply for all necessary construction
    and operating permits.
    I, Christan L. Moffett, Clerk of the Illinois Pollution Control
    Board, hereby certi the above Opinion and Order was adopted
    this ~4’~ day of
    ________
    1973 by a vote of
    ~(
    to 0

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