EPA v. AMERICAN ZINC RECYCLING CORP

Case summary

Federal District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania entered a multimedia Consent Decree addressing alleged violations of Section 301 of the CWA, Section 311(j) of the CWA, RCRA Subpart C, CAA Title V and EPCRA Section 313, and Section 313 of EPCRA) by American Zinc Recycling at its Palmerton, Pennsylvania Facility. AZR estimates that it will spend at least $4.3 million to complete required injunctive relief and bring its operations into compliance with the CWA, RCRA, CAA, and EPCRA. In addition to these compliance costs, the proposed Decree also requires AZR to pay a civil penalty of $3.3 million. As a result of this multimedia settlement, more than 47,000,000 pounds of pollutants will be reduced.

Defendants (1)

• AMERICAN ZINC RECYCLING CORPNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (36)

• BEFESA ZINC US INC

  900 DELAWARE AVE, PALMERTON, PA, 18071

  Registry ID: 110000603749

• AMERICAN ZINC RECYCLING (AK/A HORSEHEAD CORPORATION)

  900 DELAWARE AVE, PALMERTON, PA, 18071

  Registry ID: 110000603749

• HORSEHEAD CORP/EAST PLT

  900 DELAWARE AVE, PALMERTON, PA, 18071-2008

  Registry ID: 110000603749

• HORSEHEAD CORP/EAST PLT

  900 DELAWARE AVE, PALMERTON, PA, 18071-2008

  Registry ID: 110000603749

• HORSEHEAD CORP/EAST PLT

  900 DELAWARE AVE, PALMERTON, PA, 18071-2008

  Registry ID: 110000603749

• BEFESA ZINC US INC

  900 DELAWARE AVE, PALMERTON, PA, 18071

  Registry ID: 110000603749

• HORSEHEAD CORP/EAST PLT

  900 DELAWARE AVE, PALMERTON, PA, 18071-2008

  Registry ID: 110000603749

• BEFESA ZINC US INC

  900 DELAWARE AVE, PALMERTON, PA, 18071

  Registry ID: 110000603749

• AMERICAN ZINC RECYCLING (AK/A HORSEHEAD CORPORATION)

  900 DELAWARE AVE, PALMERTON, PA, 18071

  Registry ID: 110000603749

• HORSEHEAD CORPORATION - PALMERTON FACILITY

  900 DELAWARE AVE, PALMERTON, PA, 18071-2008

  Registry ID: 110000603749

• AMERICAN ZINC RECYCLING (AK/A HORSEHEAD CORPORATION)

  900 DELAWARE AVE, PALMERTON, PA, 18071

  Registry ID: 110000603749

• AMERICAN ZINC RECYCLING (AK/A HORSEHEAD CORPORATION)

  900 DELAWARE AVE, PALMERTON, PA, 18071

  Registry ID: 110000603749

• HORSEHEAD CORP/EAST PLT

  900 DELAWARE AVE, PALMERTON, PA, 18071-2008

  Registry ID: 110000603749

• BEFESA ZINC US INC

  900 DELAWARE AVE, PALMERTON, PA, 18071

  Registry ID: 110000603749

• BEFESA ZINC US INC

  900 DELAWARE AVE, PALMERTON, PA, 18071

  Registry ID: 110000603749

• …and 21 more

Statutes cited

• SDWA 1422/1423 — UIC Regulations Classes I - V
• CAA 110 — Implementation Plan for National Primary and Secondary Ambient Air Quality Standards
• RCRA 3002 — Standards Applicable to Generators of Hazardous Waste
• CWA 301 — NPDES Discharge without a Permit
• EPCRA 313 — Toxic Chemical Release Reporting (TRI)
• CWA 311B — Oil & Hazardous Substances Discharge
• RCRA 3005 — Permits for Treatment, Storage, or Disposal of Hazardous Waste
• CWA 301/307 — Effluent Limitations - NPDES Toxic & Pretreatment Effluent Standards
• CAA TITLE5 — Title V Permits
• CAA 502 — Operating Permits (Title V)

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• AMERICAN ZINC RECYCLING CORPentered 2021-06-24

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $1,650,000 · State/local: $1,650,000

Timeline (7 milestones)

• 2017-09-27Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 2017-10-03Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2018-03-29Supplemental Referral-Other
• 2018-08-16Supplemental Referral-Other
• 2021-01-19Final Order Lodged
• 2021-01-19Complaint Filed With Court
• 2021-06-24Final Order Entered