FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	ENR

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1998                                                                                      (202) 514-2008

                                                                                                                                                         TDD (202) 514-1888




METECH INTERNATIONAL SETTLES FEDERAL ALLEGATIONS


IT ILLEGALLY HANDLED HAZARDOUS WASTE








	WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Precious metals recycling company Metech
International today agreed to pay a $300,000 penalty to settle
claims it violated a federal hazardous waste handling law at its
Burrillville, Rhode Island plant.

	Metech International, formerly known as Boliden Metech,
collects, from its customers, waste materials which contain small
amounts of gold, silver, platinum and other precious metals. 
These materials range from old computers to hazardous waste
sludges.  Using a variety of processes, Metech extracts and
concentrates the precious metals and sends the resulting,
partially reclaimed material to smelters, often in Europe. 
Metech, headquartered in Burrillville, is a wholly owned
subsidiary of the Swedish company Trelleborg AB.

	The settlement was lodged today by the Justice Department in
U.S. District Court in Providence, on behalf of the Environmental
Protection Agency.  Under the settlement, Metech International
will pay a $300,000 civil penalty and install new equipment to
ensure that waste materials are clearly separated from materials
still in the precious metal reclamation process.  Also, Metech
will comply with federal regulations governing short-term
hazardous waste storage, and will not ship partially reclaimed
materials derived from hazardous waste without complying with
federal manifest and export notification requirements. 

	"This creative settlement reflects EPA's commitment to
insist on compliance with the law without imposing undue economic
burdens on industry," said John P. DeVillars, Administrator of
EPA's New England Region, which initiated the case against
Metech.  "Metech will pay a penalty for its past violations and
will be able to continue its precious metal recycling operation
legally."

	"This settlement will ensure that Metech handles hazardous
waste properly, and that it pays a significant penalty for its
past violations," said Lois Schiffer, Assistant Attorney General
in charge of the Justice Department's Environment and Natural
Resources Division.

  	Under federal law, if a material is derived from listed
hazardous waste it must be manifested as hazardous waste and, if
it is exported, EPA and the government of the receiving country
must be notified.  In a lawsuit filed with the proposed
settlement, the United States alleged that on at least eight
occasions in 1993 and 1994, Metech shipped partially reclaimed
material derived from listed hazardous waste without the required
manifests and notifications.  The government also alleged that
Metech illegally stored hazardous wastes, including spent acids
generated by the company's own processes, for more than ninety
days without the requisite permit.  The proposed settlement, if
approved by the court will settle the federal government's
lawsuit.  

	The proposed settlement will be published in the Federal
Register for a 30-day public comment period.

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