The Ohio EPA announced on Tuesday that Canton-based Timken Co. will pay a $200,000 civil penalty for violating Ohio’s air pollution permitting and control regulations.
The violations occurred at the company’s Harrison steel plant and were documented by the Canton City Health Department's Air Pollution Control Division, Ohio EPA’s contractual representative for air pollution issues in Stark County.
Between November 2002 and May 2003, particulate emissions from the plant’s two bloom grinders exceeded allowable limits and pollution control equipment failed to meet minimum efficiency requirements. Timken also modified two electric arc furnaces without first applying for and obtaining Ohio EPA permits and failed to perform particulate emissions stack testing on the furnaces.
The company now has the required permits and has agreed to perform compliance stack testing on the furnaces no later than December 15, 2006.
Elevated levels of fine particulate emissions can cause respiratory problems in children, the elderly and individuals with heart or lung disease. Controlling these emissions can reduce irritation to the human respiratory system.
Timken’s civil penalty includes $50,000 to support Ohio EPA’s air pollution control programs and $40,000 to Ohio EPA’s clean diesel school bus program. If Timken submits an approvable plan within 30 days for an environmentally beneficial project, the remaining civil penalty (up to $110,000) may be reduced.
