BALTIMORE, MD (January 4, 2007) – The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) Air and Radiation Administration (ARMA) issued the following enforcement actions between November 1 and December 31, 2007:

• Southern Insulation, Baltimore County,

  December 12, 2007. ARMA has issued a Proposed Civil Penalty and a Corrective Order to Southern Insulation for violations of asbestos requirements. Southern violated asbestos requirements while conducting asbestos abatement and removal activities at ISG steel mill in Sparrows Point.

  Violations include improper disposal and labeling of asbestos waste, failure to provide asbestos photo ID cards, and failure of a worker to wear proper protective clothing. Southern is a licensed asbestos abatement contractor in Maryland.

  The Proposed Civil Penalty is for $7,500. The Corrective Order requires Southern to submit a plan within 30 days to ensure future and on-going compliance with asbestos requirements. Southern has 10 days to appeal the Order and to request a meeting on the penalty.

• Fil-tec – Washington County,

  December 12, 2007. ARMA has issued a Notice of Proposed Civil Penalty in the amount of $36,000 to Fil-tec for violations of air quality requirements.

  Fil-tec receives, stores, and applies methanol, a volatile organic compound (VOC), to threads using coating machines. VOC emissions are controlled by two thermal afterburners. The Company reported in its compliance certification reports that the production lines operated on numerous days without proper operation of the control devices, thereby violating air quality requirements. During this period, excess VOC emissions were estimated to be about 2 tons.

  Fil-tec has 10 days to request a meeting to discuss the penalty. Due to the nature of the violation, Fil-tec has been listed with EPA as a high priority violator.

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