| LEGAL DISPUTES |
Air act deal reached with chemical firm
A $3 million enforcement settlement was announced last week among Ferro Corp., the federal government, the state of Indiana, and the city of Hammond, Ind., under the Clean Air Act's new-source-review provisions. Ferro's Keil Chemical Division in Hammond emitted tons of ethylene dichloride, a volatile organic compound and probable human carcinogen, over 20 years when manufacturing Pyro-Chek, a flame retardant, according to the Justice Department. Keil quit making the substance nearly two years ago. The settlement comes amid growing speculation that the Bush Administration is about to soften use of new-source-review provisions for enforcement at electric utilities. Some 51 coal-fired plants face pending enforcement actions. The law calls for companies to install modern pollution control equipment when making plant modifications that increase air pollution
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