EPA, LOCAL PLASTICS FIRM IN DISPUTE.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Staff Writer

SAUGUS - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has ordered a Saugus plastics manufacturer under investigation for environmental violations to comply with air emission regulations within 30 days or shut down its operations.

Keysor-Century Corp., which manufactures polyvinyl chloride products, reported in quarterly reports to the federal agency that it has been violating its emissions requirements during the last year, EPA officials said Thursday.

But company officials say they submitted a report earlier this week showing it was in compliance with federal regulations.

``Companies that work with toxic chemicals like vinyl chloride have a responsibility to both their workers and the community to strictly control their air emissions,'' Wayne Nastri, regional administrator of the EPA's Southwest region, said in a release. ``Keysor Century needs to tighten the reins and comply with federal law.''

Vinyl chloride, which is a colorless, flammable gas and component of PVC manufacturing, is a known carcinogen. Risks associated with vinyl chloride are primarily to workers who may be exposed by breathing the chemical during processing.

The EPA is requesting additional documents and information to determine the cause of the air violations, and has required increased testing and reporting to track ongoing compliance.

An attorney representing Keysor-Century said Thursday the company submitted a report to the EPA on Tuesday, showing the company was in compliance with air emissions regulations.

``We feel it's unnecessary because the company is in compliance with the law,'' said Steven Tekosky, environmental attorney. ``We are disappointed that the EPA developed this order because the company is in compliance right now.''

Keysor-Century is required by federal law to submit quarterly reports to the agency noting excess hazardous emissions above regulatory limits.

Company officials said they plan to share more data with the EPA to prove it is a law-abiding company.

``We have invited them to look at our data and I'm fairly confident they will draw the same conclusion as we have,'' Tekosky said. ``The company would not have informed them they were in compliance unless its own test showed that they were.''

In a separate investigation, the FBI and other federal agencies raided the Keysor-Century plant in February after two former employees who worked with the company for more than 14 years told federal officials that illegal activities had been occurring at the company since Jan. 1, 1996, according to court documents.

This criminal investigation is ongoing.

FBI officials seized 30 boxes of company documents, downloaded computer hard drives and tested wastewater and processed water located at the plant.

But during an undercover surveillance last summer at Keysor-Century, officials of the South Coast Air Quality Management District said they found no immediate environmental threat.

The company has since hired an environmental consultant to ensure that the company would meet environmental regulations.