History

Madison-Kipp Corporation (MKC) has operated on the near east side of Madison, Wisconsin in one form or another for a long time.  The company is an aluminum and zine foundry and die caster, melting scrap metal which is poured into molds. The foundry is situated in a sensitive location. It is surrounded by a residential neighborhood. Some foundry buildings lie in the backyards of residential properties. Foundry roof vents used to exhaust its air pollution emissions are level with the roof tops of nearby homes.  Schools are located within one block of the foundry.  There is no buffer area to shield neighborhood residents from the noise and air pollution generated by the foundry.

Aerial photo shows MKC left of Atwood Avenue.

Growth During the 1990's

A significant change was the growth of the foundry during the 1990's, adding new processes, incorporating the use of chlorine fluxing to purify scrap metal, and increasing production.  As production and discharges grew during the 1990's so did complaints from neighborhood residents. In 1999, an odor survey of neighborhood residents was conducted by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR).  Citizens reported sleeplessness, headaches, nausea, and other ailments as a result of exposure to odors they attribute to MKC.  Some reported the need to stay indoors, to close windows, or to limit outdoor activities due to the MKC emissions. The Risk Management Plan for the foundry's new chlorine storage concludes that an accidental release of chlorine would affect over 16,000 people.

Photo: Homes on Marquette Street with MKC vents and stacks to the west (left).

Despite being surrounded by a residential neighborhood, the MKC property is zoned M-1 by the City of Madison. This allows any new changes to occur at the foundry without public involvement. However, air pollution sources must obtain air pollution control permits from the WDNR. Before issuing permits to MKC, comments were received by the public, including well attended public hearings in 1999 and 2000. Despite neighborhood objections, these permits were still issued.

Title V Petition

In response to issuance of the air pollution control permit to the foundry in 2001, Clean Air Madison and other residents filed a May 4, 2001 petition with the Administrator of USEPA, Christine Todd Whitman. The petition requests the USEPA review the WDNR issuance of an air pollution control permit to the foundry. This petition is still under review.

The neighborhood petition is available at the following USEPA internet address:

http://www.epa.gov/Region7/programs/artd/air/title5/petitiondb/petitions/madison-kipp_petition2001.pdf

The status of the petition can be followed at the following USEPA internet site:

http://www.epa.gov/region07/programs/artd/air/title5/petitiondb/petitiondb.htm

Contacting the WDNR

Residents are encouraged to file comments, concerns and complaints with WDNR air pollution control staff.  The current inspector for the foundry is Biren Patel, his telephone number at the WDNR field office in Fitchburg is 273-5607 and email address is: patelb@mail01.dnr.state.wi.us

Biren's supervisor is Tom Roushar. His telephone number is 273-5603 and email address is: RoushT@mail01.dnr.state.wi.us
 
 
 
 
 

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