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AFS Assists Nonferrous Metalcasters with Emerging Area Source Rules

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Schaumburg (ILL) -  The American Foundry Society (AFS) and its Environmental, Health & Safety Air Quality Committee (10-E) has established a task force for the Area Source Rules for aluminum, copper-base and other nonferrous metalcasters currently under development by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This task force, which is comprised of representatives from metalcasting facilities, environmental consultants and industry associations, is charged with working with EPA during the rulemaking process to ensure the agency understands the concerns of the metalcasting industry and the effect increased environmental control will have on casting manufacturers.

As part of its Urban Air Toxics Strategy under the Clean Air Act and a consent decree with the Sierra Club, EPA is required to promulgate new air emissions standards for smaller or area sources of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) from copper, nonferrous and aluminum casting facilities by June 15, 2009. For each of the area source categories, EPA must develop standards based on generally available control technology (GACT) used to reduce emissions of HAPs. GACT may be in the form of pollution control devices or best management practices.

To ensure an industry-wide coalition during the rulemaking, AFS has joined forces with the Non-Ferrous Founders' Society (NFFS) and its task force, and these groups will work together with EPA during the rulemaking process. Similar to the rule published for iron and steel metalcasters this year, the nonferrous rule has the potential to significantly impact nonferrous operations. The first step taken by AFS and NFFS will be a joint mailing to all nonferrous metalcasters in the U.S. to alert them to the rulemaking.

"AFS is proud to be one of the leading associations working on behalf of nonferrous metalcasters during the development of these area source rules," said Jerry Call, AFS executive vice president. "It is critical that we work with the U.S. EPA in every way possible to support these efforts. We are excited to be teamed with NFFS in this effort."

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