The Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality issued a $70,200 fine to CPP-Selmet Inc., Albany, OR, citing numerous violations of state environmental laws. According to published reports, the violations include two incidents of failing to determine whether process-generated waste was hazardous wastes; contracting to transport waste without hazardous-waste manifests; storing hazardous waste in open and undated containers; failing to amend the facility’s contingency plan to include the primary hazardous waste storage area; and failing to provide annual employee training on hazardous waste requirements.
Selmet is an investment-casting foundry and one of multiple operations of Consolidate Precision Products Inc. The foundry supplies titanium and other specialty alloy castings to various commercial and defense aircraft programs, including large structural components for turbofan engines.
Selmet completed the installation of a new investment casting furnace in 2018, capable of pouring 1,000 lbs. of titanium, and nearly doubled its operating space to 250,000 sq.ft over the past decade. It also acquired specialty machining operations in Wilsonville and Everett, WA, in 2014 and 2015, respectively.
Oregon also cited but did not fine the foundry for 12 further violations of hazardous waste, used oil, and universal waste management regulations. “DEQ is especially concerned that while Selmet significantly expanded production and facility footprint since DEQ’s last inspection in 2016, Selmet decreased resources to the environmental health and safety department,” according to DEQ’s penalty order.
In February, the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued a $27,500 fine to Selmet for worker safety violations, following a furnace explosion that injured two workers on August 15, 2019. Oregon OSHA identified three serious violations by Selmet, including failing to account for employee safety in the layout and design of the foundry, and overlooking proper work clothing and equipment.