OCMA Speakers

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Awards

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Beneficial Reuse of Spent Foundry Sand

OCMA, working with GM-Powertrain in Defiance, and FIRST, Inc., encouraged Ohio Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur to support an appropriation for the USDA Agricultural Research Center (ARS) to perform research to determine the viability of using foundry sand as a soil amendment for agricultural and horticultural uses. In November 2001, Congress appropriated $480,000 for this research. To our knowledge this is the first major Congressional appropriation for foundry sand research in the history of our industry. The research will be an important first step in a long-range goal to demonstrate that foundry sand is a safe product for agricultural and horticultural uses.

OSHA's Proposed Tightening of Crystalline Silica Standard

In December 2001, OSHA removed crystalline silica from their regulatory priority list and indicated it would not proceed on the formal rulemaking track. A consensus standard is now a possibility.

This is a major victory for our industry, one in which the OCMA leadership and membership played a critical role. From the "rally the troops" letter sent by OCMA President Dave Yonto to the "Fly-in" to the OSHA Stakeholders meeting in September 1999 attended by OCMA membership, OCMA led the way. Former OCMA President Mike Hamilton, GM-Powertrain, and former OCMA Trustee Bob Huston, Xenia Foundry & Machine Co. were members of the AFS Silica Alliance Steering Committee. Craig Schmeisser, RMT, Inc., Mike Lenahan, Kim Myers, and Russ Murray, OCMA played key roles in the AFS Workgroups. At every turn, OCMA leadership was at the forefront of this successful effort so critical to our industry's survival.

Ohio EPA Mercury Emission Investigation

In May & June 2000, Ohio foundries received a scrap survey from Ohio EPA, Division of Air Pollution Control (DAPC), requesting scrap use information. The survey was initiated following the discovery of excessive mercury air emissions at a scrap melting facility, a mini-mill, in Marion, Ohio. In December 2000, DAPC ordered two foundries to do stack testing to measure mercury emissions. OCMA representatives met with Ohio EPA in January 2001 and secured a delay in the requested testing. In a follow-up meeting OCMA presented to Ohio EPA emission testing data, scrap control procedures, and an explanation of the principle differences between foundry scrap melting and mini-mill operations that suggest Ohio foundries do not pose a threat of excessive mercury emissions. The OCMA Environmental Affairs Committee formed a subcommittee to address this critical issue. The stack testing is on a long-term hold.

Electricity Deregulation

At the June 2000 OCMA Annual Meeting, the OCMA Board of Trustees authorized the Subcommittee on Electric Deregulation to enter into a contract with Alliant Energy Industrial Services Inc., a sister company with RMT, Inc., to study the potential aggregation of OCMA members for the purpose of purchasing electricity in bulk. We have found more than sufficient interest in the buying pool, however, at this point, it is unclear whether a viable wholesale market for electricity is developing in several of the affected utility service areas. We can only implement the program if such a market develops. We anticipate that wider opportunities will present themselves as implementation of the transition plans of each utility unfold.

Ergonomics