An international metals reclamation company in Ellwood City paid a $55,000 penalty for air emission violations.

The penalty was included in a consent order and agreement last week between International Metals Reclamation Co. Inc. and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to settle outstanding particulate emission violations.

The agreement requires the company to install and test a baghouse, which will replace the current air pollution control device, to capture particulates.

In addition, INMETCO will pay a monthly penalty of $3,500 until it demonstrates it is meeting the permitted particulate emission limit.

Cory McPhee, INMETCO spokesman, said construction could take up to a year.

A spokeswoman for the DEP said INMETCO contacted the department about testing new technology and was told to forward all test results to the state.

Freda Tarbell said the company did not know its current control device, a wet scrubber, was not operating effectively, something the testing revealed. She said company officials reported the violation.

“We are obligated to determine whether the violation merits a penalty,” Tarbell said.

In this case, the DEP decided the penalty was justified because, “they came forward only because they were directed to do so.”

The fine could have been much higher, Tarbell said, had the company been found to be uncooperative or willfully out of compliance.

INMETCO had submitted an air plan application to the DEP in October for a new baghouse before the violations were identified. That plan, which will bring particulate emissions within state limits, was approved March 28.

Tarbell said the six-month delay between INMETCO’s plan submission and the state’s approval was to allow for a substantial amount of engineering review that includes testing via computer models. She said four to six months is typical for such a review.

The $55,000 penalty was deposited in the state’s Clean Air Fund, which supports air quality improvement projects throughout Pennsylvania.

INMETCO recovers secondary material generated mainly by the stainless steel industry and recycles it for further industrial use. In addition, INMETCO operates a nickel-cadmium battery and nickel metal hydride battery recycling program.

Ellwood City borough manager Dom Viccari said he has received, “no complaints about anything over there.”