According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, its Region 5 administration has agreed on settlement program with Indianapolis Casting Corp. concerning alleged clean-air violations at that company's iron foundry. Indianapolis Casting is a wholly-owned subsidiary of International Truck and Engine Corp..
"To improve air quality in the Indianapolis area, Indianapolis Casting has agreed to fund the retrofitting of 139 diesel-powered city buses with emission control devices," said regional administrator Thomas V. Skinner. He added that the company also will pay a penalty of $445,960.
EPA alleges that improvements to the coremaking process at Indianapolis Casting were made without obtaining construction and operating permits, and significantly increase volatile organic compound emissions. The primary VOC emitted is triethylamine. Also, the agency alleges that ICC failed to comply with lowest achievable emission rate requirements, and failed to make reductions elsewhere that would offset the increased VOC emissions, as required.
Triethylamine is a hazardous air pollutant that can cause eye irritation, corneal swelling, halo vision, and skin and mucous membrane irritation after short-term exposure. The effects have been reversible when exposure stops, EPA explains.
VOCs contribute to ground-level ozone (smog) formation. Smog can cause various respiratory problems, including coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest pain.
EPA also ordered ICC to get appropriate permits for its core machines, and to operate proper air-pollution control devices for the coremaking operation. The order requires testing, operation, and maintenance of those control devices according to federal standards.