Exide Technologies has agreed to pay an $820,000 civil penalty to settle a lawsuit accusing it of violating the Clean Air Act at its Muncie lead smelter, which recycles millions of lead-acid automotive, truck and other batteries.
The violations resulted in increased emissions of lead and particulate matter (soot), and might have resulted in increased emissions of total hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds and dioxin/furans, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
“This settlement will protect Muncie residents from excess lead emissions ... and prevent future violations of the Clean Air Act,” Susan Hedman, administrator of EPA’s Great Lakes region, said in a prepared statement. “Exposure to lead can impair children’s health and their ability to learn.”