Released on August 14, 2007

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has reached an agreement with Stroh Die Casting Inc., Milwaukee, on alleged clean-air violations at the company's secondary aluminum plant.

The agreement, which includes a $20,000 penalty, resolves EPA allegations that Stroh failed to do performance testing on its furnaces that melted coated aluminum returned by its customers and failed to comply with notification, planning, reporting and operating requirements.

Secondary aluminum plants must test for emissions of dioxins and furans, both hazardous air pollutants. There is evidence that dioxins may cause liver damage and probably cause cancer in humans, while furans may also cause cancer.