EPA/Industry Textile Effluent Metals Study

Project duration, 1995-1997.

In February, 1995, the American Textile Manufacturers Institute met with the EPA Office of Water/Science & Technology Division and Permitting Division to discuss relief for textile companies facing permit renewals and metal limits being incorporated into their permits. Specifically, representatives of the textile industry proposed that EPA suspend its metal limits for the duration of currently ongoing studies.

The total project budget was $160,000, as follows:

• EPA, $70,000,
• ATMI, $40,000,
• North Carolina Textile Ass’n., $10,000,
• Alabama Textile Ass’n., $10,000.
• Dyestuffs Ass’n., $10,000,
• NTA, $10,000.
• Georgia Textile Manufacturers Ass'n was not assessed directly because they had secured additional funding up to $80,000 from a state/industry consortium.

The prime contractor for the research was Earthtech in Charlottesville. The funding from the Georgia state/industry group will to be used at the Univ. of Georgia (Dr. George Baughman, Dept. of Textiles, Merchandising, and Interiors). The work was to split approximately 60/40% between Earthtech and Univ. of GA. Some work was to be deliberately duplicated at both facilities to demonstrate that the work is replicable.

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