(Story by Beaver County Radio News/Program Director Frank Sparks) 

October 6, 2021- 6:55 AM

(Neville Island, Pa.) The Allegheny County Health Department issued an enforcement to Neville Chemical Company for violating the emissions limits in their Title V permit during an overnight incident on September 2, 2021. Fist Responders along with the Allegheny County h=Health Department responded to a call for a strong odor that was reported by multiple residents in the City of Pittsburgh, McKees Rocks and the surrounding areas.
All breakdowns at a permitted facility must be reported to the Health Department within one hour. In this case, the Health Department received the initial breakdown report 33 hours after the incident. Neville Chemical Company reported that one of the bottom valves leaked on a heat polymerization still, allowing raw material to enter a resin kettle and release a hydrocarbon mixture into the air.
Per the enforcement order, Neville Chemical Company must submit a corrective action plan to ensure that foreign volatile material does not enter their resin kettles in the future. They have 60 days from the date of the order to submit their plan. The company was also assessed a civil penalty of $62,075.00. Payment of the fine will go to the Allegheny County Clean Air Fund