For the second time, the Natural Resources Defense Council, a national environmental organization, has sued the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for failing to meet deadlines for controlling lead emissions in NJ. In 1982, the organization sued the EPA for missing the 1980 deadline set by the Clean Air Act and a new deadline was set for 1984. NJ is one of 4 states (NJ, AL, IN, and NE) that do not have approved plans for lead. One source, The U.S. Metals Refining Company, a Carteret smelter, has held up approval for a plan in NJ. The plant exceeds ambient air standards for lead even when not in operation because large quantities of lead have settled on the ground. The smelter has been the subject of 6 years of consent orders and a $215,300 fine last winter. The company plans to permanently close the smelter in Oct. 1986 and has been ordered to study the steps needed to bring lead emissions down to acceptable levels.
--Peter Montague, Ph.D.

Descriptor terms: epa; nj; al; in; ne; air pollution; nrdc; lawsuits; emissions; lead; clean air act; u.s. metals refining company ;