Atlantic States Cast Iron Pipe Company to spend $9.3 million for mercury emissions reduction

Trenton, NJ— New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell announced an Administrative Consent Order (ACO) with Atlantic States Cast Iron Pipe Company settling air emission and water violations at its Phillipsburg facility that occurred since 2003. Atlantic States voluntarily agreed to install and operate its mercury reduction technology, which will be the first of its kind in North America, by January 6, 2006.

Atlantic States has agreed to install a state-of-the-art, $9.3 million emission control system to substantially reduce emissions, including mercury emissions, from this facility. The company also will pay a fine in the amount of $51,520 and contribute $85,000 toward an ambient air mercury monitoring project in Warren County. In addition, Atlantic States will undertake several projects to minimize fugitive emissions from the foundry operations and install and operate a continuous emission monitoring system to monitor mercury emissions.

Atlantic States’ mercury reduction project will voluntarily remove approximately 160 pounds of mercury from the environment four years before DEP’s new mercury restrictions take effect in 2010. The company has agreed to allow its technology to be studied and used as a model for mercury control at other foundries.

DEP published mercury air emissions standards under which foundries and steel mills by January 1, 2010 must reduce mercury emissions to a rate of 35 mg per ton of steel produced.

Atlantic States’ emissions control system will be comprised of a baghouse with activated carbon injection. In addition to mercury emission reductions, the emission control system is expected to yield additional environmental benefits including the following:

•Reduce CO emissions by approximately 60 percent.
•Reduce arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, nickel and manganese emissions.
•Reduce natural gas use by approximately 10 percent to reduce emissions.
•Reduce electricity consumption by 25 percent to reduce emissions.
•Reduce waste disposal by approximately 40 tons per day.
•Improve beneficial reuse of the dry material collected from the baghouse.
•Allow waste heat recovery, reducing plant wide NOx, CO and CO2 emissions.
•Reduce offsite noise by eliminating high-pressure scrubber fans.
•Reduce odor.