U.S. Steel Fined $700,000 for Air Pollution

For the third time in less than a year, the Allegheny County Health Department has fined U.S. Steel for excessive air pollution. It was announced that the company levied a $707,568 fine for air pollution violations during the second half of 2018. This brings the total fines against U.S. Steel in the past year to $2.3 million.

The health department issued enforcement orders in June and October of last year for $1 million and $620,000, which the company has appealed. It has also appealed a health department order from February 28 to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions in its three Mon Valley Works facilities: Clairton, Edgar Thomson, and Irvin.

Excessive emissions have occurred since December due to the disabling of the coke gas desulfurization equipment at the coke making facility. In November 2017, the Edgar Thomson Steel Mill was issued a joint notice of violation from the health department and the EPA for exceeding visible emissions and violating its Title V permit, a federal operating permit handed out by the county.

U.S Steel put out a statement saying that it is reviewing the latest action given by the health department. It also said that it is committed to improving the environmental performance of the Clairton plant and will work with stakeholders, government officials, and the health department to do so.

If you have been exposed to asbestos and now have mesothelioma or lung cancer, you may be entitled to compensation. Call us at 412-471-3980 or fill out the contact form at the bottom of the page to learn your options.

Source:

Don Hopey, “U.S. Steel fined over $700,000 for emissions at Clairton Coke Works” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (April 1, 2019). [Link]