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Big River Zinc to meet with EPA on air violations |
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| USA: September 16, 2003 | ||
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NEW YORK - Big River Zinc, a U.S. unit of Korea Zinc Co. 10130.KS , said it will meet with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday to discuss its recent citations for clean-air violations and allegedly updating its facilities in 2002 without the EPA's permission.
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The Sauget, Illinois-based zinc producer was cited Sept. 3, 2003 for building two zinc roasters last year without notifying the EPA and failing to do timely performance tests and advising the government agency of test results. EPA also accuses Big River Zinc of failing to comply with sulfur dioxide emission limits. Emissions can impair breathing and worsen existing respiratory diseases, such as bronchitis. Big River CEO George Obeldobel said the citations have not affected zinc production at its 100,000 short tons per year refinery. He believes talks aimed at resolving the conflict with the EPA could last between a few months and years. The two pieces of equipment in question, the roasters, are at the forefront of Big River Zinc's production process. The company buys zinc sulfide concentrates, converts that to zinc oxide by high-temperature roasting, and then sends the zinc oxide on to the leaching process. Obeldobel said Big River had advised the U.S. EPA roughly five months before beginning construction on the roasters last year and notified the Illinois branch of the EPA between a few months and one year before starting the work. "There is just some confusion somewhere," he said. "We believe we're on solid ground here." Big River Zinc during the summer of 2002 shut down to undertake major rehabilitation work, including building the roasters, but this year it has operated normally, Obeldobel said.
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REUTERS NEWS SERVICE
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