9/22/17 - JOINT STIPULATION OF SETTLEMENT. AEROSPACE COATINGS INTERNATIONAL, LLC, WHICH IS A WHOLLY-OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF WENCOR GROUP, LLC, IS THE CURRENT OWNER AND OPERATOR OF A FACILITY LOCATED AT 370 KNIGHT DRIVE IN OXFORD, TALLADEGA COUNTY, AL. THE FACILITY HAS PERFORMED METAL FINISHING OPERATIONS FOR THE AVIATION INDUSTRIAL, INCLUDING ELECTROPLATING, ELECTROLESS PLATING, COATING AND CHEMICAL ETCHING OF AIRPLANE COMPONENTS, FROM APR 2002 TO PRESENT. THE FACILITY IS THEREFORE A SIGNIFICANT INDUSTRIAL USER UNDER 40 CFR 403.3(v) AND ITS DISCHARGES ARE COVERED BY THE SELF-IMPLEMENTING CATEGORICAL PRETREATMENT STANDARDS IN 40 CFR PART 433. THE FACILITY'S DISCHARGE WAS FIRST IDENTIFIED BY EPA DURING A PRETREATMENT PROGRAM RECONNAISSANCE INSPECTION IN NOV 2012 THAT WAS CONDUCTED AS PART OF ANOTHER INVESTIGATION IN THE VICINITY.
FOR APPROX ELEVEN YEARS FROM APR 2002 TO APR 2013, THE FACILITY DISCHARGED REGULATED METAL FINISHING WASTWATERS TO A PUBLICLY-OWNED SEWAGE TREATMENT WORKS WITHOUT ANY OF THE NECESSARY PRETREATMENT EQUIPMENT INSTALLED AND WITHOUT A PERMIT REQUIRED FROM THE STATE OF AL. UPON NOTIFICATION, AEROSPACE COATINGS INTERNATIONAL, LLC VOLUNTARILY CEASED DISCHARGE AT THE FACILITY UNTIL IT OBTAINED A PERMIT FROM THE STATE OF ALABAMA IN APR 2013, AND EXPENDED THE RESOURCES TO INSTALL THE NECESSARY PRETREATMENT EQUIPMENT AT THE FACILITY BY JULY 2013. THE FACILITY HAD ALSO COMPLETED A SIGNIFICANT EXPANSION OF ITS METAL PLATING OPERATIONS IN APR 2013; PRETREATMENT WA