Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today it is fining Arkwright Inc., now renamed Océ Imaging Supplies, Inc., up to $200,000 for violating the Clean Air Act at its facility in Coventry.

The company makes coatings for paper, film and other media to make them compatible with computer printers. The plant, in Coventry's Fiskeville section, is under new ownership and doing business as Arkwright Advanced Coating, Inc.

The EPA alleges that Arkwright, now known as Océ, failed to adequately capture pollution emitted by two coating lines, resulting in excess emissions of volatile organic compounds and hazardous air pollutants.

The company continued to operate one of the coating lines for approximately three and a half weeks after it learned that the capture system was not functioning as required. In addition, The company failed to submit timely and accurate compliance reports.

The inspection took place over several days in May 2007, the EPA said. The company was sold after that time.

The EPA says exposure to hazardous air pollutants and volatile organic compounds can pose a serious risk to workers and the public. Volatile organic compounds also contribute to the formation of ozone (smog), which can damage lung tissue and reduce lung function. Children, the elderly, people with lung disease, and people with asthma are most susceptible.

-- Journal staff report

 Tags  Coventry EPA fines pollution

Comments

ILoveRI said:

Whoo hoo, they are getting fined. And so that means what? There is no indication in this article that this has been rectified. This particularly affects the elderly, as noted in the article. They are right next door to Riverview nursing home. My grandmother is there. We often take her outside for some "fresh" air. My relatives live two miles from there. It's disgusting that these businesses make morally reprehensible decisions that affect people's health and just merely pay a fine and continue doing business as usual. I hope they have something like this happen to them or their loved one(s).

Link | October 30, 2008 1:36 PM
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