Texas headquartered Continental Carbon Company has reached a $98 million settlement with two US government agencies to initiate plant improvements designed to reduce air emissions from its US plants.
Continental Carbon said it has agreed to establish lower emissions levels at its carbon black manufacturing facilities in Alabama, Oklahoma, and Texas.Texas headquartered Continental Carbon Company has reached a $98 million settlement with two US government agencies to initiate plant improvements#
In this context, Continental signed settlement agreements with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the U.S. Department of Justice
“The company will install additional air quality control equipment in stages at each of these facilities during the next six years,” Continental Carbon said in a press release.
This initiative is the result of cooperative efforts with the USEPA as part of the USEPA’s national enforcement initiative aimed at reducing emissions from chemical and petrochemical sources.
In line with the proposed consent decree with the USEPA, Continental Carbon also will invest $550,000 on environmental mitigation projects at the facilities and in communities around each of its facilities.
The investments will include energy efficiency projects that will conserve energy and also provide pollutant reduction benefits.
“Although Continental Carbon has always maintained full compliance with all requirements, to resolve this matter, we have agreed to pay $650,000 in civil penalties under this agreement,” it added.
“Continental Carbon has always accepted responsibilities of environmental stewardship and is well-equipped to meet these new emissions levels as agreed to with the USEPA,” president, Dennis Hetu said.
He added, “Continental Carbon is committed to ensuring our long-term viability as an environmentally sound supplier to our North American customer base.”
Continental Carbon is a developer and manufacturer of carbon blacks used in tire, rubber, and other specialty applications.
The company has been in continuous operation since 1936 when it opened its first plant and said throughout the years, has been at the forefront of carbon black technology development.
Continental Carbon is also focused on the development and manufacturing of next generation carbon-based products including carbon nanotubes, conductive carbon blacks, and other carbon based materials.
Applications for its products include a wide range of applications ranging from electro-static thermal dissipation and shielding to composite material constructions. (AR)
Fibre2fashion News Desk - India