Cast-Fab Settles Air-Pollution Charges with Ohio EPA

The Ohio Environmental Agency reached an agreement with Cast-Fab Inc., settling air-pollution control permit, rule, and law violations. Cast-Fab is a combination foundry and fabricating job shop in Cincinnati. It specializes in gray and ductile iron castings, heavy steel and sheet metal fabrications, and precision CNC machining The Hamilton County Dept. of Environmental Services (HCDOES) issued notices in 2007 and 2008 documenting Cast-Fab’s alleged violations of Ohio’s air-pollution control laws, which Ohio EPA said were primarily identified by Cast-Fab in its deviation and other reports. HCDOES administers Ohio EPA air-pollution control programs in greater Cincinnati. Cast-Fab’s violations included failure to perform weekly visible emissions checks; record information gathered from pollution control equipment inspections; check baghouses weekly; collect and record coating information; maintain pressure drop of baghouses within required ranges; submit timely semiannual deviation reports; use low volatile organic compound content coatings; and limit coating use to three gallons or less for certain sources. Ohio EPA said Cast-Fab has corrected the problems and is in compliance now. It also agreed to pay a $80,000 civil penalty.