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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Senators Rafferty and Dinniman; Representative Vereb Outline TCE Reductions to DEPCollegeville - Senators John Rafferty (R-Montgomery, Chester, Berks) and Andy Dinniman (D-Chester, Montgomery) along with PA Representative Mike Vereb (R-Montgomery) have issued a joint letter urging the Department of Environmental Protection to implement an enforceable timeline for Trichloroethylene (TCE) reductions at the Superior Tube and Accellent Facilities in Montgomery County. The letter comes as a follow up to their July 31, 2007 meeting with PA Department of Environment Protection Secretary, Kathleen McGinty. Outlined in their letter, the three elected officials are asking Secretary McGinty to enforce that both facilities have installed and are in full use of their Carbon Adsorption Filter systems to effectively control the TCE emissions from facilities. Representative Vereb stated "We are stepping up to the plate on this issue to provide the proper framework for a reduction process that would benefit the public." Further outlined, the three elected officials are calling for the identification and implementation of any and all TCE substitute(s) during the tubing process. "We need to reduce the public's exposure to chemicals which could be harmful to their health. There are other alternative degreasing agents in the marketplace that can be used in lieu of Trichloroethylene. Unless we force these companies to scale down their emissions or switch to alternative agents, they will continue to put area residents at risk" stated Rafferty." Additionally the three elected officials are calling for DEP to limit the emission of each facility to no more than 10 tons per year of TCE by September 30, 2008. The reductions outlined in the joint letter will implement a more stringent reduction guideline as compared to those previously outlined by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). "This is a continuation of our multi-pronged, bi-partisan effort to ensure
that our residents our breathing cleaner, safer air. From day one, we've said
these companies should be held to the highest standard regarding emissions of
harmful pollutants like TCE. We will continue to pursue any and all means to
hold them to that standard — including getting their assurance in writing,"
Dinniman said. "The safety and well-being of our residents is paramount." CONTACT:
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