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Date: December 14, 2011

Subject: Minutes of the December 13, 2011 Meetings with Representatives of the North 

American Insulation Manufacturer’s Association

Wool Fiberglass and Mineral Wool RTR

EPA Contract No. EP-D-11-084; EPA Work Assignment No. 0-10

RTI Project No. 0213199.000.010

From: David Reeves, RTI

To: Susan Fairchild

OAQPS/SPPD/MMG (D243-02)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Research Triangle Park, NC 27711

I. Introduction

Meetings with representatives of the North American Insulation Manufacturer’s 

Association (NAIMA) and the wool fiberglass manufacturing and mineral wool production 

industries was held at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) facility in Research 

Triangle Park, NC, on December 13, 2011. The meetings were requested by NAIMA to present 

their questions and clarifications related to the recent proposal for wool fiberglass (subpart NNN) 

and mineral wool (subpart DDD). This memorandum summarizes the major topics discussed 

during the meeting.

II. Attendees

See Attachment 1 (mineral wool) and Attachment 2 (wool fiberglass). 

III. Discussion

Mineral Wool Production

Ms. Fairchild conducted introductions of everyone and Mr. Crane provided handouts of 

“The NAIMA Mineral Wool Industry Presentation to EPA” which is included as Attachment 3. 

The following bullets summarize discussion topics and comments made during the meeting:

• 6 of the 7 mineral wool companies are small businesses.

• Raw materials could be a source of HF and HCl emissions; rock does have Cl.

• HF and HCl were not on industry’s “radar screen” before; therefore, they do not 

have any historical data

• It is problematic to switch over to natural rock for several technical and logistical 

reasons, including proximity to main raw material suppliers.

• Some operating permits specify that raw materials cannot be changed. .
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• Caustic sorbents are needed to reduce SO2.

• Greater energy would be needed to melt some rock; requiring more coke (fuel) and 

would likely result in higher secondary emissions.

• Recycled (slag) content is a major marketing issue for the mineral wool industry. 

• Industry requests alternate limits since any add-on control equipment such as dry or 

wet scrubbers would be cost prohibitive.

• Some of the curing/collection emission limits look like incorrect test data was used.

• Requested clarification on the performance test requirement for any raw material 

change greater than 10%.

• Startup/shutdown provisions are problematic. There is no historical test data 

related to startups or shutdowns. Some shutdowns only last 30 minutes and the 

compliance testing involves three 1-hour test runs.

Wool Fiberglass Manufacturing

Ms. Fairchild conducted introductions of everyone and Mr. Crane provided handouts of 

“The NAIMA Wool Fiberglass Industry Presentation to EPA” which is included as Attachment 4. 

The following bullets summarize discussion topics and comments made during the meeting: 

• Majority of companies and facilities have switched to non-formaldehyde binders. 

• The hexavalent chrome issue is related to one facility; new testing results showed 

11.91 pounds per year of hexavalent chrome emissions; additional testing being 

done on the other furnace at the facility.

• Industry recommending subcategorization for glass-melting furnaces.

• Industry has conducted their own risk analysis using 25 pounds of hexavalent 

chromium to demonstrate cancer risk below 1-in-1 million.

• Industry asked why the proposed rule changed the required test method from 

method 316 to method 318.

• Low-density products require a lot of natural gas to melt the glass. 

• Industry asked if any of the test results from non-bonded lines were used in the 

MACT floor analyses.

• Wet scrubber technology may not be a viable control if the inlet concentrations are 

very low; also need to consider secondary impacts.
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Attendee Name Company 

Location 

(City, State) Title Phone # E-Mail

Angus Crane NAIMA Alexandria, VA Vice President, Gen. Counsel 703-684-0084 acrane@naima.org

Granta Nakayama Kirkland & Ellis LLP Washington, DC Partner 202-879-5074 granta.nakayama@kirkland.com

Lee Houlditch Amerrock Products LP Nolanville, TX Owner/ CEO 205-516-9164 lhoulditch@amerrock.com

Joe Eisert Kirkland & Ellis LLP Washington, DC Partner 202-879-5136 joseph.eisert@kirkland.com

Tom Lund Isolatek International Huntington, IN Operations Manager 260-356-2040 tlund@isolatek.com

Gerald Miller Rock Wool Mfg Co. Leeds, AL Vice President Operations 205-699-6121 lgeraldmiller@gmail.com

Timothy Scott Rock Wool Mfg Co. Leeds, AL President 905-875-9307 leslie.maclaren@roxul.com

Steve Edris Thermafiber, Inc. Wabash, IN President & CEO 260-563-2111 sedris@Thermofiber.com

John Bolden USG Interiors Chicago, IL Env. Service Manager 312-823-6702 jbolden@usg.com

Christopher Bullock Ind. Insulation Group Phenix City, AL Vice President 205-603-8498 bullockc@iig-llc.com

Nancy Davis Rock Wool Mfg Co. Chapel Hill, NC General Counsel & V.P. 919-932-6672 nancyworth.davis@gmail.com

Michael McLaughlin Roxul, Inc. Milton, Canada Vice President Business Dev. 905-875-9353 michael.mclaughlin@roxul.com

Bent Jorgenson Roxul, Inc. Milton, Canada Vice President Operations 905-875-9304 bent.jorgensen@roxul.com

Susan Fairchild EPA - OAQPS - MMG RTP, NC Project Lead 919-541-5167 fairchild.susan@epa.gov

Winifred Okoye (via phon EPA - OGC Washington, DC Attorney 202-564-5446 okoye.winifred@epa.gov

Keith Barnett EPA - OAQPS - MMG RTP, NC Metals & Mfg Group Leader 919-541-5605 barnett.keith@epa.gov

Steffan Johnson EPA - OAQPS - MPG RTP, NC Testing/Measurement 919-541-4790 johnson.steffan@epa.gov

Chris Sarsony EPA - OAQPS - ATAG RTP, NC Risk Assessment 919-541-4843 sarsony.chris@epa.gov

Dave Guinnup EPA - OAQPS - ATAG RTP, NC ATAG Group Leader 919-541-5368 guinnup.dave@epa.gov

Dave Reeves RTI RTP, NC EPA Contractor 919-316-3739 dwreeves@rti.org

Cindy Hancy (via phone) RTI RTP, NC EPA Contractor 919-541-6623 chancy@rti.org

Attachment 1 - EPA Meeting with NAIMA and Mineral Wool Production Industry Representatives on December 13, 2011
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Attendee Name Company 

Location 

(City, State) Title Phone # E-Mail

Angus Crane NAIMA Alexandria, VA Vice President, Gen. Counsel 703-684-0084 acrane@naima.org

Granta Nakayama Kirkland & Ellis LLP Washington, DC Partner 202-879-5074 granta.nakayama@kirkland.com

Joe Eisert Kirkland & Ellis LLP Washington, DC Partner 202-879-5136 joseph.eisert@kirkland.com

Lauren Alterman (via pho CertainTeed Corporation Valley Forge, PA VP, HSE 610-341-7838 lauren.p.alterman@saint-gobin.com

Carlos Davis (via phone) CertainTeed Corporation Kansas City, KS Regional Manager - HSE 913-342-6624 carlos.e.davis@saint-gobin.com

Tom Osborn FiberTek Insulation LLC Lakeland, FL Plant Manager 863-899-1239 tom.osborn@fibertekinsulation.com

Ron Hudson Johns Manville Denver, CO Insulation Syst Env. Leader 303-978-3469 ron.hudson@jm.com

Grover Thomas Guardian Fiberglass Albion, MI Environmental Manager 517-630-2700 groverthomas@bp.guardian.com

Brent Tracy Johns Manville Denver, CO Assc Env Counsel - EH&S 303-978-3268 brent.tracy@jm.com

Steve Aldridge Knauf Insulation Shelbyville, IN Corp Manager EH&S 317-398-4434 steve.aldridge@us.knaufinsulation.com

Chris Mahin Knauf Insulation Shelbyville, IN Sr Env Specialist 317-398-4434 chris.mahin@us.knaufinsulation.com

Ken Gould Owens Corning Toledo, OH Sr Regional Counsel 419-248-7448 ken.gould@owenscorning.com

Mike Pettis Owens Corning Granville, OH Leader - Insulation Env 740-827-7087 mike.pettis@owenscorning.com

Susan Fairchild EPA - OAQPS - MMG RTP, NC Project Lead 919-541-5167 fairchild.susan@epa.gov

Keith Barnett EPA - OAQPS - MMG RTP, NC Metals & Mfg Group Leader 919-541-5435 barnett.keith@epa.gov

Steffan Johnson EPA - OAQPS - MPG RTP, NC Testing/Measurement 919-541-4790 johnson.steffan@epa.gov

Winifred Okoye (via phon EPA - OGC Washington, DC Attorney 202-564-5446 okoye.winifred@epa.gov

Chris Sarsony EPA - OAQPS - ATAG RTP, NC Risk Assessment 919-541-4843 sarsony.chris@epa.gov

Dave Guinnup EPA - OAQPS - ATAG RTP, NC ATAG Group Leader 919-541-5368 guinnup.dave@epa.gov

Dave Reeves RTI RTP, NC EPA Contractor 919-316-3739 dwreeves@rti.org

Cindy Hancy (via phone) RTI RTP, NC EPA Contractor 919-541 - 6623 chancy@rti.org

Attachment 2 - EPA Meeting with NAIMA and Fiberglass Manufacturers on December 13, 2011