Radiac Abrasives, Inc., is located in Salem, Illinois and manufacturers grinding wheels for commercial purposes. The facility utilizes up to 19 kilns to produce the grinding wheels, each of which emit volatile organic materials (VOM) that include hazardous air pollutants (HAP) such as naphthalene. This investigation began in response to a citizen's complaint. An inspection was conducted on 7/14/2006, and two subsequent Section 114 Information Requests were issued to, among other things, test one of the facility's kilns. The test results indicated that each kiln, at specific times, violated the EPA approved Illinois Administrative Code (IAC) Sections 215.301 and 215.302, which limited emissions of organic material to 8 pounds per hour.
In response to these violations, the facility quickly implemented a compliance plan to get back into compliance. The facility sent their highest emitting raw materials to one of their kilns that used a control device to reduce VOM and HAP emissions. Also, the facility adjusted firing practices to reduce hourly emissions. The result of this compliance plan allowed the facility to remain in compliance of the IAC rules, while reducing emissions of HAP's by approximately 19,975 pounds per year.