AFS Leads the Formation of the Aluminum MACT Alliance.

AFS has joined forces with the North American Die Casting Assn. (NADCA), General Motors (GM) and Toyota Corp. to protect the interests of aluminum metalcasters as EPA considers applying new air standards--maximum achievable control technology (MACT)--to this segment of the industry. Former AFS President Jack Moore, Stahl Specialty Co., is the co-chair of the Alliance, which will present a unified force in working with EPA to ensure that sound science and accurate information bear on their decision. In 1999, EPA inappropriately determined that air emissions from aluminum metalcasters along with smelters should be regulated. The application of this MACT Standard for Secondary Aluminum Production Industry would have cost an estimated $135,000 in the first year alone for each aluminum foundry. AFS, NADCA and GM challenged that erroneous assumption, and in the final hours EPA backed off. EPA now is evaluating the aluminum metalcasting industry independently, a nd will make a specific determination what, if any, MACT regulations should apply. The newly formed alliance is taking action on several fronts. A lawsuit is being filed in federal court to ensure that EPA does not enforce the Secondary Aluminum MACT standards against foundries. The alliance is working with EPA to assist in the collection of accurate and appropriate information on metalcasters and will provide guidelines to the industry on how to respond to the EPA request for information. EPA anticipates that this process will take at least 2 years.