EPA reaches agreement with Greif Brothers on clean-air violations

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has reached an agreement with Greif Brothers Industrial Packaging & Services LLC, 4300 W. 130th St., Alsip, Ill., on alleged clean-air violations at two industrial process cooling towers at the company’s metal drum production plant in Alsip.

The agreement, which includes a $120,000 penalty, resolves EPA allegations that Greif Brothers violated national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants by using hexavalent chromium compounds in its cooling towers.

Short-term exposure to hexavalent chromium can cause shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing. Long-term exposure can cause perforations and ulcerations of the nasal septum, bronchitis, decreased lung function, pneumonia and other respiratory effects. Hexavalent chromium is also a known cancer-causing agent.

Information about EPA Region 5’s air enforcement program is at http://www.epa.gov/region5/air/enforce/index.html. Potential environmental violations may be reported at http://www.epa.gov/compliance/complaints.