HAYDEN – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency received $33,000 in penalties from ASARCO for not complying with a fugitive dust plan central to a 2015 settlement for violations of the federal Clean Air Act. Under the settlement’s dust plan, ASARCO is required to operate water sprayer systems at various sites to abate fugitive dust emissions.
After reviewing ASARCO’s records, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identified 33 days during which water was not sprayed on certain required fugitive dust sources. Under the terms of the 2015 settlement, ASARCO is liable for $1,000 each day the water sprayers were not operating, resulting in $33,000 in stipulated penalties.
The dust plan is designed to address the release of lead, coarse dust, and other hazardous air pollutants at ASARCO’s Hayden copper smelter.
According to the EPA, wind-blown dust from the facility has been found to contain lead and other hazardous pollutants.
Managing fugitive dust in the area is particularly important because the area does not meet health-based air quality standards for coarse dust and airborne lead.