Honeywell Advanced Composites Assessed $10,000 Penalty

Jan. 4, 2001
Vol. 31, No. 06

For further information, contact Ali Mirzakhalili, Air Quality Management, 302-323-4542; or Don White or Melinda Carl, 302-739-4506

Honeywell Advanced Composites Assessed $10,000 Penalty for Air Pollution Violations

Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary Nicholas A. DiPasquale issued a Notice of Administrative Penalty Assessment and Order with an administrative penalty of $10,000 to Honeywell Advanced Composites, Inc., Newark, Dec. 22 for violations of Delaware's air pollution regulations. The company was also ordered to pay $500 reimbursement for investigative expenses.

Honeywell Advanced Composites, Inc., formerly Allied Signal Composites, Inc., operates a composites research, development and manufacturing facility at Diamond State Industrial Park, 400 Bellevue Road, Newark. The air pollution violations cited in the Order occurred at the company's Marrows Road facility, which has since been closed and its operations merged with operations at the Bellevue Road facility.

In December 1998, the company contacted DNREC regarding outstanding permit issues, which may have resulted from transfer of ownership of DuPont-Lanxide Composites, Inc. to Allied Signal Composites, now Honeywell Advanced Composites.

DNREC staff observed during a visit to the facility on Dec. 23, 1998 that equipment had been installed without appropriate authorization, including an autoclave, vacuum bell jar, carver press and enclosed bench, used in the production of silicon-carbide based composites. In subsequent correspondence and conversations, and during a February 1999 visit to the facility by DNREC, the company revealed that some of the equipment had been constructed as early as February or March 1998 and operated sporadically without being properly permitted or registered.

The company was notified of the air pollution violations by DNREC in a letter dated Feb. 17, 1999 and informed that any further construction or operation of the equipment would likely result in additional violations. Following a meeting with DNREC representatives March 1, 1999, the company submitted self-registration forms for the equipment in a letter dated March 5, 1999. These forms were deemed acceptable and the company was authorized to resume operation of the equipment.

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Document no. 40-01/01/01/06
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