CertainTeed Corp. has requested the US state Environmental Protection Division (EPD) officials to change the factory“s permit to emit air pollution. The fiberglass insulation manufacturer is asking f…
CertainTeed Corp. has requested the US state Environmental Protection Division (EPD) officials to change the factory“s permit to emit air pollution. The fiberglass insulation manufacturer is asking for permission to increase some kinds of air pollution, which would, in any case, reduce other kinds of pollution. According to company documents, the biggest increase would increase the yearly limit on volatile organic compounds by about 25 tons a year, but would decrease the limit on particle pollution, very small droplets of a variety of chemicals, by about 36 tons a year. In its newest application, CertainTeed wants to expand the capacity of one of its fiberglass production lines, while permanently eliminating another line that has been stopped during the recession, even if it is not planning to increase its fiberglass output just yet, a company representative said. Business is not yet picking up, said Kermit Stahl, vice president of operations for CertainTeed Insulation. However, we needed to modify our production processes in order to stay competitive, and to be ready when the recovery comes. We don“t expect to add any additional jobs at our Athens plant, but because the improvements will help us to stay competitive, this investment will help us to keep Athens from losing jobs. CertainTeed“s pollution output lessened in the past couple of years after the company reduced production of insulation, however, due to the collapse of the housing market. The EPD already has issued a so-called draft permit for the changes in the factory“s pollution limits, and EPD managers are on schedule to issue a permanent permit early next year.