Wednesday, August 17, 2016

PADEP Assesses $1M Civil Penalty Against Matheson Tri-Gas, Inc., a Montgomery County Company, for Air Quality Violations after it operated its specialty gas plant without the necessary permits or control devices for five years







COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Dept. of Environmental Protection

Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 308, Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg PA., 17120

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
08/17/2016
CONTACT:
Virginia Cain, DEP
484-250-5808

 
PADEP Assesses $1M Civil Penalty Against Matheson Tri-Gas, Inc., a Montgomery County Company, for Air Quality Violations



Norristown, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has assessed a $1 million penalty against Matheson Tri-Gas, Inc. (Matheson) for air quality violations at its facility in Upper Hanover Township, Montgomery County. Through a Consent Assessment of Civil Penalty, Matheson has agreed to pay the full settlement amount, which will be paid to the Pennsylvania Clean Air Fund.

In November 2008, Matheson took ownership of the Montgomery County facility from Advanced Gas Technologies (AGT) and began operation of a compressed gas production facility. Matheson operated its specialty gas plant without the necessary permits or control devices for five years. It was determined in 2012 that Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emissions were significantly higher than originally recorded at the time of sale. The amount of VOC emissions from the facility also resulted in violations of Air Quality regulations.

A thermal oxidizer was installed at the facility December 2013 to control emissions. The company worked promptly to resolve all violations and attain the necessary permits and approvals. Matheson is currently in compliance with all Air Quality regulations. 


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An Industry Leader for over 85 years
In 1927 MATHESON Gas Products became the first company to offer a reliable source of high quality scientific gases and equipment. From the start, MATHESON asserted its leadership by understanding specialty gas applications and providing products specially designed for these applications. Some of MATHESON's more notable accomplishments include the development of the lecture bottle, now used by virtually every major college and university in the world, and the supply of ultra pure gases that served as standards for the first gas chromatographs.
MATHESON's gases also helped forge the most important tool of our era, the integrated circuit. From the early days of the transistor, MATHESON was there providing the arsine and phosphine that made production possible. As transistors gave way to complex semiconductor chips, MATHESON provided the world's first commercially produced silane, an accomplishment that earned the industry's prestigious "SEMMY" Award.
In 1999 MATHESON Gas Products merged with Tri-Gas, Inc., to form Matheson Tri-Gas, Inc. This merger combined the analytical and semiconductor strengths of MATHESON Gas Products with the liquid/bulk and industrial cylinder and equipment capabilities of Tri-Gas. As a member of the Tokyo based Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation (TNSC), MATHESON is part of the world's fifth largest supplier of gases and gas handling equipment.
MATHESON Snapshot
Product Line
Customers in the semiconductor, analytical and industrial businesses depend on the reliable supply of gases and gas handling equipment to maintain efficient production.
We provide complete customer solutions, offering everything from on-site air separation plants to small portable cylinders and all the services required to support these products and customer applications:
  Industrial Gases
  Specialty Gases
  Medical Gases & Equipment
  Electronic Gases & Materials
  Cutting & Welding Gases
  Global Helium Sources
  On Site Gas Generation
  On Site Air Separation
  Gas Purification Systems
  Gas Detection Systems
  Gas Handling Equipment
  Welding & Safety Products

MATHESON offers the most extensive line of ultra high purity gas handling equipment in the semiconductor gas industry. Products are designed and manufactured at the Longmont Colorado facility. This 49,000 sq. ft. facility features 8,500 sq. ft. of R&D space, 1400 sq.ft. of Class 10 and Class 100 Protocol clean room space, and 25,000 sq.ft. of manufacturing space. Live gas testing is also offered at Longmont.
MATHESON has a complete line of specialty gas equipment, the most comprehensive in the industry. These products are designed and produced at the Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania location.