Calhoun County Companies cited for pollution violations

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management has cited two Calhoun County companies for pollution violations in 2014.  The agency reported Feb. 25 that Kronospan in Eastaboga and Parker Hannifin Corporation in Jacksonville released unpermitted wastewater into their cities’ respective wastewater treatment plants several times last year. The citations, noted as significant noncompliance, carries no fines, but ADEM is monitoring the companies to ensure they resolve the issues. Meanwhile, officials at Oxford’s and Jacksonville's plants say their facilities handled the discharges and services were unaffected.  ADEM cited Parker Hannifin for five violations, the last of which was a discharge of cyanide in December that exceeded its permit allotment. ADEM's report stated the cause of the discharge was not detected.  The other violations involved discharges of wastewater with acidity levels that were too high or too low.  Kronospan's violations last year included discharges of wastewater that exceeded permitted temperature levels and releases of total suspended solids into Oxford's Tull C. Allen Wastewater Treatment Plant.  Kronospan has had several years’ worth of ADEM violations, most notably the repeated discharge of formaldehyde into Oxford's plant, which in turn forced it out of compliance with the agency.  Kronospan has been under an agreement with ADEM since 2013 concerning the discharges. That agreement, called a consent order, lists changes that must be made to correct the violations. Since the consent order, Kronospan has reported adhering to the changes, including installing equipment to treat its own wastewater before discharging it.