Kaiser Volunteers To Limit Emissions
Kaiser Aluminum Corp. says the emissions of polyfluorinated compounds from its Mead and Tacoma smelters will be reduced by almost 40 percent between now and the turn of the century.
As part of the Voluntary Aluminum Industrial Partnership - a program announced earlier this week by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Kaiser will participate in an effort to limit these harmful compounds’ contribution to global warming.
Kaiser officials say emissions of polyfluorinated compounds (PFCs) already were reduced by 70 percent between 1980 and 1990. The new goal is to reduce them an additional 38 percent from the 1990 base.
According to Kaiser, since mid1993, an Aluminum Association task force has been working with EPA to frame the voluntary EPA-industry effort to bring about these emissions reductions. That task force is chaired by Bernard P. Leber, Kaiser’s primary products division and northwest region environmental affairs manager.
As of last Friday, Kaiser officials say, 10 of 13 aluminum companies with smelting operations in the United States have agreed to participate in the program.
“We have always believed at Kaiser that if we are a contributor to an issue, then we also ought to work toward resolving that issue,” Leber said in a new release. “This joint effort with EPA and other aluminum industry producers has resulted in a voluntary program which realistically identifies technological constraints, finds practical answers, improves our environment, and does so cost effectively.”
Kaiser realized its reductions in PFC emissions during the 1980s through the development of technology that computerized the control of its potlines.
This technology, called CELTROL, allows for the computer control of pot operations that allow electric power to be used much more efficiently.
“Over time,” Leber said, “CELTROL has allowed Kaiser and other companies to improve control of the primary aluminum reduction process, increase production, improve energy efficiency and significantly decrease environmental impacts.
“It is a key element in our ability to compete in increasingly competitive global markets, as well as to uphold our environmental obligations.”
Leber said the goals for further reducing PFC emissions between now and the year 2000 will be achieved “primarily by people and process improvements” at the Tacoma smelter, and by upgrades of CELTROL at Mead.
The estimated contribution of PFCs produced by aluminum production to the world “greenhouse effect” is less than one-half of one percent according to scientific studies, Kaiser officials said.