The Washington State Department of Ecology issued the penalty this week for violations that occurred during the last three months of 1998. A quarterly test of stack emissions revealed 4.77 pounds of sulfur dioxide being emitted per ton of aluminum produced. The allowable limit is 4.5 pounds per ton.
Sulfur dioxide is formed during one part of the basic aluminum production process.
When people breathe air polluted with sulfur dioxide, their bronchial passages can narrow, worsening existing breathing problems. In addition to the penalty, Ecology ordered the plant to begin monthly rather than quarterly stack testing for one year beginning in July. If no violations occur, the plant may resume quarterly stack testing in July 2000. This is the fifth penalty issued to the Kaiser Mead plant in the past six months for violating state air-quality standards. Kaiser may submit an application for relief from this penalty with the Department of Ecology or it may appeal the penalty to the Pollution Control Hearings Board.