Jackson Twp manufacturer faces new EPA regulations aimed at reducing cancer-causing emission
A medical equipment manufacturer in Jackson Township will have a year to comply with the new regulations on ethylene oxide emissions put forth by the federal Environmental Protection Agency.
American Contract Systems, a company based in Minneapolis with a facility in the township at Jackson’s Pointe Commerce Park, uses ethylene oxide, or EtO, to sterilize medical equipment.
EtO exposure can cause lymphoma and leukemia along with stomach and breast cancers, according to the National Cancer institute.
EPA administrator Michael Regan said in a statement these new regulations were born after “following the science” and “listening to communities members’ concerns about carcinogens.”
“We’ve arrived at a historically strong rule that will protect the most exposed communities from toxic air pollution,” Regan said. “While also ensuring that there will be a process that safeguards our nation’s critical supply of sterilized medical equipment.”
On Thursday, March 14, the EPA announced several amendments to the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Ethylene Oxide Commercial Sterilizers to cut down on EtO admissions by 90% in the next three years.
The regulatory agency established several new standards for facilities that use EtO, such as establishing standards for possible emission leaks, ventilation and emissions monitoring and quarterly reporting.
In August 2022, American Contract system was cited by the EPA for having EtO emissions “of concerning levels.”
As a response Jackson Township ordered a cease-and-desist order, citing that he American Contract Systems to was wrongfully classified as a light-industry facility, where it should have been classified as a heavy-industry facility due to the emission of EtO.
“From a building code standpoint, you’re looking at chemicals that are classed as potentially caustic or volatile. That has an impact on the construction and overall safety from the fire code,’ said township manager Christopher Rearick in 2022
That November, American Contract System and the Jackson Township zoning board came to an agreement that allowed the facility to keep its light-industry classification, as long as the business complied with several mandates, including running machinery that emitted EtO during certain hours to keep annual emissions below one ton.
The facility also voluntarily installed a dry scrubber in the facility, which has reduced EtO emissions to .0077 parts per million, below the 1.0 PPM OSHA-required threshold for emissions.
The facility is also required to present the township with documentation from a qualified trained professional every two years proving the machine is functioning properly.
A spokesperson for American Contract System said the company is reviewing the new rule.
Nikki Colton, planning director for Jackson Township, said American Contract System has followed all the standards set by the township since 2022.
