The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (“ADEQ”) and Valley Plating Works Inc. (“VPW”) entered into a December 22, 2016 Consent Administrative Order (“CAO”) addressing alleged air permit violations.
VPW is stated to own and operate a bright nickel/trivalent chromium electroplating production line in Faulkner County, Arkansas.
An air permit was stated to be issued to Virco Manufacturing in 2000. This permit was transferred to VPW and had an effective date of April 20, 2005.
An inspection by ADEQ personnel is stated to have been conducted of the VPW facility on May 4, 2016. This inspection allegedly revealed two unpermitted pollutant emitting sources in use at the facility. The sources were identified as:
- Chromium Non-Electroplating Baths
- Buffing Machine
General Condition 16 of the air permit was allegedly violated.
The inspection also allegedly determined that VPW was using hexavalent chromium in the Chromium Non-Electroplating Baths. This allegedly violated Specific Condition 7 of the VPW permit.
ADEQ is stated to have received VPW’s permit modification application requesting certain changes to its air permit. The agency subsequently issued an air permit to VPW incorporating the Chromium Non-Electroplating Baths and Buffing Machine. Further, it authorized the use of a concentration of two-ounce per gallon hexavalent chromium.
The CAO assesses a civil penalty of $1,500.
A copy of the CAO can be downloaded here.
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