The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 recently reached an agreement with OSCO Industries on alleged clean-air violations at the company's gray-iron foundries in Jackson and Portsmouth, OH.

According to EPA, the agreement includes a $75,000 penalty, and resolves EPA allegations that OSCO made major modifications without necessary permits at both plants, modifications that significantly increase carbon monoxide and particulates (smoke, dust, ash) emissions. The agreement also resolves EPA allegations that, for 468 days at Jackson and 178 days at Portsmouth, the OSCO foundries emitted CO gases without burning them at the appropriate temperature.

In addition, OSCO agreed to an EPA order to apply to the Ohio EPA for permits for both plants. Those applications will include requests for more stringent emission limits for CO and particulates.

OSCO Industries is based in Portsmouth and operates three casting plants in south central Ohio (Portsmouth, Jackson, and South Boston) that produce components for air conditioning and refrigeration, automotive, power transmission equipment, and pump/valve markets.