EPA: U.S. Magnesium wastes endanger workers, families, birds

Tag : magnesium
public processes and of incorrectly reading the science and thelaw.
"Protecting the environment and our people," said company PresidentMike Legge, "must be part of every business decision we make."
U.S. Magnesium, about 40 miles west of Salt Lake City, topped thenation's worst-polluter lists back in the 1980s. But, afterspending about $50 million on improvements, it has slashedhazardous emissions that, in 1989, reached 119 million pounds.
Now the plant falls short of the nation's top-100 toxic pollutersand is fifth on Utah's list. In 2006, it reported nearly 4.4million pounds of toxic releases.
The company and the public will have 60 days to comment on whetherthe 4,525-acre site should be added to the Superfund list. Utah nowhas 24 Superfund sites in various stages of cleanup.
While the EPA's Superfund office sifts through public comments inthe coming months, it is possible that the agency's legal arm willrevive the $1 billion lawsuit that began nearly eight years ago.Recent court fillings free the EPA to appeal last fall's rulings byU.S. District Judge Dee Benson.
Benson largely sided with the company, which said Congress grantedthe magnesium plant an exemption from the nation's hazardous-wastelaw, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. Worried that theruling could set a precedent in similar cases, the EPA might try tohave Benson's ruling overturned.
The company also was the target of a $1.5 billionbankruptcy-trustee suit brought on behalf of investors who claimedthey weren't properly informed about the pollution lawsuit.
In addition, the agency, the company and its employee union agreedin 2005 on additional steps that must be taken to protect workerhealth. U.S. Magnesium noted that a National Institute ofOccupational Safety and Health evaluation of worker health onexposure to the hazardous chemicals found that while "workers hadmeasurable dioxins, furans, PCBs and HCB in their blood . . . theblood levels were lower than those associated with observablehealth problems."
"Raising unfounded public concerns about worker safety afterentering into such an agreement," the company said, "is veryinappropriate."
U.S. Magnesium also challenged the EPA's assertions that birds weredying after coming in contact with contaminated areas. It calledthe statements "fictitious and an irresponsible representation."
fahys@sltrib.com