AGENCY TO CHECK TOXICITY REPORT KEYSOR-CENTURY SAYS IT COMPLIES.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Staff Writer

SAUGUS - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Friday that it will review a report submitted this week by a Saugus plastics manufacturer showing that the company is in compliance with federal emissions regulations.

In a report submitted Tuesday, Keysor-Century Corp. says its plant is operating within mandated air emissions guidelines.

``The company is in compliance and has been in compliance with the EPA air emission's requirements,'' said Steven Tekosky, environmental attorney representing Keysor-Century. ``The company is committed in being in compliance with the EPA.''

The EPA is taking a closer look at the company's reporting and air emissions documentation after learning that the company has been violating its emissions requirements over the past 12 months.

The finding resulted in a federal order issued Thursday requiring that the company come into compliance within 30 days or shut down its plant until it shows compliance.

``We think right now the important thing is to bring them into emission limits as quickly as possible,'' said Charles Aldred, an EPA environmental engineer. ``The overall message when we took this action was to minimize the exposure of vinyl chloride to the public, including the company's employees.''

Vinyl chloride, a colorless, flammable gas and a known carcinogen, is a component in the manufacturing of polyvinyl chloride. Risks associated with vinyl chloride are primarily to workers who might be exposed to the chemical during processing.

EPA officials said the order was in process for months and follows data showing the plant's emissions exceeding limits on its quarterly reports.

``The most recent numbers (about) 2 weeks old show they are not in compliance,'' Aldred said. ``Their last six quarterly reports show that they are above the numerical admissions limit.''

The order follows a violation issued in February, and will also require more frequent reporting by the company.

``It's one thing to say that you are in compliance, but what do the numbers in the reports say?'' Aldred said. ``We want to see what they have done to bring them into compliance.''

In a separate investigation, the FBI and other federal agencies are probing criminal wrongdoing by the company, including illegally disposing of hazardous waste, releasing air pollutants, falsifying emissions reports, and lying to state and federal agencies.

The investigation is ongoing.

EPA officials said they waited until now to issue the compliance order because they were working in cooperation with the agency's criminal investigation's unit.

The criminal investigation came to light in February following a raid of the company's plant, where the FBI seized 30 boxes of company documents, downloaded computer hard drives, and tested wastewater and processed water located at the plant.

Federal officials began looking into potential environmental violations after two former employees who worked with the company for more than 14 years told federal officials illegal activities had been occurring at the company since at least 1996.