Kaiser Mead fined again, this time $9,600 for air quality violations

April 11, 2000 -

The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) has fined Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corporation $9,600 for bypassing air-pollution control equipment on its carbon bake furnace 16 times at its Mead plant.

The company reported bypassing the air-emission control system on its new carbon-bake furnace 44 times between April 11, 1999, and December 31, 1999. When the emission control system is bypassed, chemicals that are known to be hazardous to humans are released into the air, potentially causing risk to area residents.

Ecology has rejected many of Kaiser's claims that the problems were unavoidable because of "upsets," as provided for in the state's air-quality regulations.

These latest fines come after a series of similar fines Kaiser has received since the carbon bake furnace came online in 1997.

Apparently the furnace problem continues, because today picketers reported to the Spokane County Air Pollution Control Authority (SCAPCA) visible emissions coming from the smoke stack of the carbon bake furnace facility at the Mead plant.