DEP: Keystone Cement Fined $197,203 For Air Quality Violations In Northampton

The Department of Environmental Protection Friday announced it has reached an agreement with Keystone Cement Company of East Allen Township, Northampton County for the payment of a civil penalty in the amount of $197,203.00 for numerous air quality violations during a four-year period.

Quarterly emissions reports submitted to the Department by Keystone showed that the company exceeded permitted emission limits for certain pollutants and that it failed to satisfy data availability requirements for their continuous emissions monitoring system (CEMs).

In addition, from September 2013 through June 2014, Department inspectors identified pressure drop violations related to the operation of air pollution control equipment at the facility.

In 2009, the company replaced two of its cement kilns, which are large oven-like units used to heat a raw mixture of materials to produce clinker during the cement manufacturing process. The clinker is then cooled in a clinker cooler.

Keystone’s two kilns were replaced with one larger and more efficient kiln. The company also upgraded and replaced other parts of its system, including its clinker coolers and a baghouse designed to control emissions from its operations.

Keystone’s cement kiln is equipped with a CEM to monitor emissions of sulfur oxides (“SOx”), nitrogen oxides (“NOx”) and carbon monoxide (“CO”). The clinker cooler is equipped with a CEM to monitor the opacity of the emissions. Opacity is a way to measure particulate from the clinker cooler. Keystone has limits in its air quality permits for SOx, NOx, CO and opacity.

Data from the CEM system is submitted to the Department on a quarterly basis for review to determine whether the company is operating in compliance with applicable emission limits.

“The self-reporting of emissions is an important part of demonstrating compliance with permitted emissions limits. The Department takes emissions monitoring and the proper operation of control equipment very seriously,” said Mike Bedrin, Director of DEP’s Northeast Regional Office. “Our actions here serve to reinforce how important it is for companies to accurately keep track of and report their emissions to make sure they are operating in compliance with their permits and air quality regulations.”

Money from the civil penalty will go directly to the Clean Air Fund, which is administered by DEP for use in programs designed to reduce air pollution.