News

November 26, 2009

Report: Air quality of Acton is OK

Levels of Ethanol, methanol and naphthalene are not health-threatening.

State Department of Environmental Protection staff met with residents and elected officials on Wednesday to discuss the results of air-quality investigations at Acton Technologies in Jenkins Township, where residents complain chemical emissions have polluted the air.

The report, however, didn’t indicate any air-quality issues. While it found chemicals used at Acton and its related Flontech USA, LLC in the air, the analysis indicated that the chemicals were in the ambient air.

Ethanol, methanol and naphthalene, among other chemicals, were found, but in levels below health-threatening thresholds. Naphthalene, which gives mothballs their smell and has been residents’ major complaint, was detected in 26 of 36 sample sites, including Spadi Park three quarters of a mile away.

The report also details an inspection of the Acton facility and an investigation of water and waste disposal complaints. No complaint issues were confirmed, and the inspection found a minor infraction in which a hazardous-waste container was improperly labeled. The infraction was immediately corrected.

Residents have complained that Acton somehow changed its activities during the inspection period, thus reducing the pollution in the air. DEP spokesman Gary Greenfield acknowledged that Acton had been informed about the planned inspection, but wasn’t alerted for a subsequent test on Nov. 17. Results from that test are pending.

Greenfield said DEP will be returning again for another test. “Typically, we don’t inform them. … We want to replicate whatever is going on normally. If people are smelling an odor, we want to capture that, if that is in fact going on,” he said.

Acton was issued a notice of violation earlier, to which Acton responded by announcing plans to install a carbon-filtration system. DEP has approved the action as likely to alleviate the problem. In the report, DEP noted that Acton says the carbon filters have been installed and that the associated duct work will be done within two weeks.

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