Timet says it will beat scrubber deadline

Titanium Metals Corp. expects to replace its $300,000 air pollution control equipment lost to explosions and fire before the deadline set by local environmental officials, a company spokesman said.

"We fully expect to meet the deadline of Dec. 13, and if the work continues based on the current schedule, we could have the new scrubber in operation before that date," said Tony Garcia, Timet's environmental affairs manager.

While Timet, which manufactures strong, lightweight titanium metal for space craft, industry and human joint replacements, operates its plant without a pollution control known as a scrubber, the emission levels do not pose any public hazard, he said.

The Clark County Air Pollution Control Hearing Board granted Timet a variance so it could operate without pollution controls after its equipment was destroyed on Aug. 4. The variance allows Timet's 660 workers to continue operating the plant, about 15 miles southeast of Las Vegas.

The fire began after molten magnesium spilled from a container in the vacuum distillation area and spread into a duct that collects fumes, burning up the piping, wiring and the cleaning device itself.

Timet has also reached an agreement with Saguaro Power Co. to purchase emission reduction credits as the county's variance requires. The company is putting 5 pounds of pollution into the air per hour and must offset that amount on a 2 to 1 basis.

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