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From: Boyd.Rochelle@epamail.epa.gov

Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2011 2:51 PM

To: Backfisch Don (NORALNM)

Cc: Kisner Jeff (NORALNM); Putney.David@epamail.epa.gov

Subject: Re: Noranda Responses to Attachment 1 for March 30 Site Visit

Thanks for your response. You guys were going to send less detailed process flow diagrams and a copy of the inspection 

checklist that you use as part of your work practice standard for minimizing emissions from the potrooms. That's the only 

additional data that I can recall at the moment. 

Rochelle Boyd, Environmental Engineer

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards

Sector Policies and Programs Division

109 T.W. Alexander Drive, RTP, NC 27711

Mail Drop D243-02

Ph: (919) 541-1390 Fax: (919) 541-3207

Email: boyd.rochelle@epa.gov 

From: "Backfisch Don (NORALNM)" <BackfisD@noralnm.com>

To: Rochelle Boyd/RTP/USEPA/US@EPA

Cc: "Kisner Jeff (NORALNM)" <KisnerJ@noralnm.com>

Date: 04/12/2011 02:44 PM

Subject: Noranda Responses to Attachment 1 for March 30 Site Visit

Rochelle, 

Attached are the written responses to the questions in Enclosure 1 for your site visit on March 30. 

We covered most of the answers while you were here, but I told you I would send you a copy of our 

responses. 

The photos have been reviewed by our Management Team and have been approved to be sent to 

you. I will be sending the CD with them by mail in the next day or two. I have included the attached 

document as well as a listing of the picture descriptions on the CD. Let me know if you have any 

problems with the CD or questions. 

<<Noranda Aluminum Response to Enclosure 1.docx>> 

Don Backfisch

Environmental Superintendent 

Noranda (NYSE: NOR) 

P. O. Box 70 

New Madrid, MO 63869 

Phone: (573) 643-2361 x2126 

Fax: (573) 643-6721 

Email: backfisd@noralnm.com 

Website: www.norandaaluminum.com 
Attachment 1. p1 of 1

Noranda Aluminum – New Madrid

Responses to Enclosure 1

A.

1. Yes. We have a Boreal Laser in Line 1 that is used for work place practice development

2. No. There are no controls for any of the pollutants listed.

B.

1. 2010 was the most recent normal operating year. We used 112,477 tons of coke with an 

average Sulfur content of 1.84%. The range of the monthly averages was 1.63 – 2.05%. The 

range of individual loads was 1.5 – 2.3%. We used 24,716 tons of pitch during 2010 with an 

average sulfur content of 0.58%. The range of the monthly averages was 0.55 – 0.61%. the 

range of the individual loads was 0.45 – 0.65%. The availability of pitch at the current sulfur 

levels does not appear to be an issue. The availability of low sulfur coke is questionable and 

the costs to maintain our current sulfur levels will probably be increasing if it’s available at 

all. Our current coke supply is running higher than it did in 2010 at over 2% sulfur.

2. We have 3 potlines at this facility. Lines 1 and 2 are Kaiser designed (P69) center work 

prebake pots. There are 174 pots per line. Line 3 are Alcoa designed (A697) center work 

prebake post. There are 160 pots in Line 3. The number of pots is the same as it was when 

the primary NESHAP was first developed.

3. Hard copies of the flow diagrams were given to Rochelle during the site visit.

4. A summary of our 2010 emissions were given to Rochelle during the site visit.

5. A summary of the particulate emissions required by the state agency was included in the 

emissions summary give to Rochelle.

6. As part of our 2010 PSD permit we are required to test our incoming alumina for beryllium, 

manganese, and nickel. We are also required to test our coke for nickel. This data will be 

used in a mass balance to determine our emissions of these metals. The emissions limits are 

based on maximum allowable concentration of these metals in our raw materials.

7. We have not replaced or significantly upgraded any of our control equipment or our 

processes since 1997.