Grain Processing Corporation (GPC) in Muscatine and Blackhawk Foundry in Davenport have promised to invest in facility upgrades to reduce fine particulate emissions in hopes of avoiding a "non-attainment" label from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for all of Muscatine, Scott and Rock Island counties.
The pledge to clean up their emission of PM 2.5 (particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometers) came in the Iowa Department of Natural Resources' (DNR) most recent submission (10/20) to the Region VII Office of the EPA in Kansas City.
"Blackhawk Foundry has agreed to begin voluntary implementation of a multi‐phased control strategy well ahead of the federal timeline that is based on the Clean Air Act for developing and submitting a federally enforceable control strategy," the Iowa DNR stated in the letter to federal regulators. "These concrete reductions will resolve the local excess PM 2.5 contributions and will allow the area to monitor attainment by 2014."
"GPC has tentatively agreed to begin voluntary implementation of a multi‐phased control strategy well ahead of the federal timeline based on the Clean Air Act for developing and submitting a federally enforceable control strategy," the filing said. "Implementation of the plan as proposed could resolve the local excess PM 2.5 contributions and allow the area to monitor attainment by 2014."
Currently, GPC emits 1,354 tons - 2.7 million pounds - of PM 2.5 annually, which has resulted in air quality violations of the new PM 2.5 EPA standards monitored at nearby Garfield Elementary School. Blackhawk Foundry emissions are blamed for violations of air quality standards at Adams Elementary School, northeast of the plant.
In addition to the Iowa DNR's 174-page report to the EPA, Gov. Chet Culver wrote the EPA's region administrator saying the DNR's technical documents and analysis "further supports the state's position that emissions reductions at specific local sources will remedy the violations."
The cost of the upgrades at Blackhawk Foundry is estimated at $1.56 million, and would be made in phases with the final work completed in 2014. GPC made no cost estimates on its upgrades. Its six phases of work isn't expected to be completed until 2015. Under the EPA's new lower PM 2.5 standards issued in 2006, compliance with the new rules is to be phased in by 2020.
Blackhawk Foundry would be willing to sign an agreement with the DNR committing to the improvements, according to the documents. GPC's letter to the DNR had no such commitment, saying only that "it is the intent of GPC to reduce particulate emissions at our Muscatine, Iowa, facility and improve air quality levels throughout Muscatine in a timely and cost-efficient manner. We look forward to continuing our work with IDNR to implement these plans as proposed to affect a timely solution to Muscatine's PM 2.5 issues," GPC's Senior Vice President of Operations, Ron Zitzow, wrote.
A contingent of local officials flew to Washington, D.C. this week to urge EPA officials not to designate the three-county area as "non-attainment" for PM 2.5. The group, led by Bi-state Regional Commission officials, is worried such a designation will make it more difficult for local industries to expand, or to attract new industry to the region. The contingent and the Iowa DNR believe only a much smaller area, surrounding the two facilities, need to be designated as non-attainment.
The EPA is expected to release the PM 2.5 non-attainment designations before the end of the year.
CLICK HERE for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources' technical documents, including Blackhawk Foundry's facility upgrades promised to address PM 2.5 issues, filed with the Region VII Office of the EPA October 20, 2008.
CLICK HERE for the Grain Processing Corporation's technical documents concerning its emissions and facility upgrades to address PM 2.5 issues.
CLICK HERE for Iowa Gov. Chet Culver's letter sent the Region VII Office of the EPA October 20, 2008.
