Eramet's Emissions
If you are concerned about the air pollution in Marietta and it's surrounding areas, you should be. The April 18, 2007 edition fo the Marietta Register released some interesting information concerning Eramet and the environment. Tom Lotshaw, in his article titled "Eramet fails emissions test," states that the number 1 furnace at Eramet Marietta failed to pass its annual particulate emissions compliance test last november. A spokesman for the EPA said that the furnace has been emitting too much since the last test around a year ago. The allowable emissions are 27.2 pounds of particulate matter per hour, but 36.4 pounds was being produced. The EPA will look over the violation and will decide whether to demand that Eramet implement new technologies or better operational procedures to get the emissions back to legal and healthier levels. The article also stated that since 2001, an air monitor had been detecting unhealthy levels of manganese dust; “Since 2001 an air monitor…has recorded airborne levels of manganese dust that are generally four to five times higher, and up to 10 times higher, than health based guidelines set by the U.S. EPA and the ATSDR.” To try and effectively reduce the toxic metal residuals in the air, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Desiease Registry installed four new air monitors around the Marietta area, one of which was placed in Harmar Village. These monitors will help detect the amount of toxic manganese dust. Hopefully this is the first step in reducing emissions in Washington County.
A young child from Cincinnati has something to say about Eramet's devotion to clean air to sum up the environmental vs. economic effects of pollution caused from Eramet- Dear Eramet (Paris): A drawing of environmental impacts of Eramets emissions drawn by a child in Cincinnati.
Click here to get more information about this painting, and other Eramet related articles, pictures, and information.
5 comments:
In my opinion Eramet could use an expansion. If they have to produce so much material that they can't stay under regulations maybe they should open another plant so with the current technology they have they will be able to keep the pollution down in both plants. However, I know Eramet has been on and off with strikes for the past couple of years. This shows it may not being running efficiently. Perhaps they need someone new to run that business, and straighten up all the inefficients. Just a few things that could be done.
The previous comments did bring up some very good possible solutions to the problem. Eramet needs to do something about it's pollution problems, considering the levels they are polluting are well above the levels they are supposed to. I think a fine would be efficient here... a large enough one that would discourage them from polluting so much or would encourage them to find new, cleaner technology. The solution mentioned that they should perhaps split to two different locations would make sense, but would probably cost a lot and would most likely pollute just as much (plus with building a new plant, they might have to put the best available technology in place, which probably wouldnt be cost effective.
I think they should establish a rule of how much emissions they are aloud to emit. I believe that if that company produces more than they are aloud they should be fined for it and a hefty fine. This is a problem that needs to be adresses becuase its unhealthy and can out lives at danger.
Why is the EPA looking over the violation and deciding whether to demand that Eramet implement new technologies or better procedures to get emmision back to legal levels? The EPA should'nt sit and decide it is clear that Eramet has exceeded the legal level. I have driven by Eramet myself and want to hold in my breath and not breathe at all because it smells so bad and the air to me seems toxic. If I were part of the EPA board the decision would be to shut down Eramet until they get back down to the legal level because it is unsafe for people living in the area.
A kid from Cincinatti... yeah right, JP I saw you drawing that in French class last week!!!
Well it seems that Eramet has been polluting for a long time, and I am going to go out on a limb right now and say that this isn't the first time they've been over their emission cap. Apparantly the "teeth" of the regulators are not sharp enough. If they were, it would not happen.
Also, apparantly the EPA doesn't think it's worth it to stringintly regulate because they are notorious for having loosely monitored regulations when it comes to environmental policies.
Little old Marietta... I guess we don't matter... the EPA must have visited and decided that it is not "fair" for the people of Marietta to go on to provide genetic material to the rest of the country. Keeping in mind the fairness factor of future generations. So I can understand that.
And, lastly, JP take credit for your art.
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