Wisconsin, Tower Tech Reach $95,000 Settlement

摘要

Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen July 8 announced a $95,000 settlement agreement with a Manitowoc-based metal fabrication operator that violated the state's air pollution laws by constructing a stationary source of air pollution without a Department of Natural Resources permit (Wisconsin v. Tower Tech Systems, Inc., Wis. Cir. Ct., No. 09-CX-30109, 7/08/09). Tower Tech Systems Inc., whose operation consists of cutting, welding, blasting, and surface-coating metal to build utility-scale wind towers, also was required under the settlement to install heated lines to replace current paint guns, thereby enabling the company to use less paint thinner, and eventually no paint thinner, as well as paint coatings containing lower volatile organic compounds and hazardous air pollutants such as xylene, ethyl benzene, and trimethyl benzene. Tower Tech, which Van Hollen's office said is now fully compliant with state air pollution laws, also agreed to voluntarily install new paint booths that are able to use paints that emit no or little volatile organic compounds.