CHICAGO (April 23, 2004) — U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency Region 5 has cited U.S. Steel Corp. Great Lakes Division
for alleged clean-air violations at the company's steel mill at
1 Quality Drive, Ecorse, Mich.
EPA alleges that U.S. Steel failed to apply for a permit to prevent
significant deterioration of air quality for hot metal desulfurization
units that it installed in 1985. EPA said the violations began
in 1985 and will continue until the company gets its permit and
installs the best available air pollution control technology.
EPA calculates that the company's desulfurization process has
resulted in a net increase in sulfur dioxide emissions of at least
57 tons a year.
Companies must get permits that restrict emissions from their
plants before they can modify them in ways that increase emissions
if the plants are located in areas that already comply with all
national outdoor air-quality standards. These permits are designed
to prevent deterioration of air quality in areas with clean air.
These are preliminary findings of violations. To resolve them,
EPA may issue a compliance order, assess an administrative penalty
or bring suit against the company. U.S. Steel has 30 days from
receipt of the notice to meet with EPA to discuss resolving the
allegations.
"EPA's mission is to protect public health and the environment," said
Region 5 Acting Administrator Bharat Mathur. "We will take
whatever steps are needed to ensure compliance with the Clean Air
Act."
Exposure to sulfur dioxide can impair breathing, aggravate existing
respiratory diseases like bronchitis and reduce the ability of
the lungs to clear foreign particles. Sulfur dioxide can also cause
acid rain and contribute to fine particle pollution. Children,
the elderly and people with heart and lung conditions are the most
sensitive to sulfur dioxide.
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