CHICAGO (Aug. 25, 2004) — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has reached an agreement with Beta Steel Corp. on alleged clean-air violations at the company’s steel manufacturing plant at 6600 S. Boundary Road, Portage, Ind. EPA assessed a $49,159 penalty, and the company agreed to do two environmental projects costing $147,993.
“Beta has agreed to install a computer system and to do a study, both designed to reduce air pollutant emissions from their plant,” said Acting Regional Administrator Bharat Mathur. “We’re pleased that Beta has agreed to these projects as they do more than the law requires.”
The agreement resolves an EPA complaint filed at the same time alleging that emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and volatile organic compounds from the Beta plant exceeded permitted limits.
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 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.
Nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone, or smog. Smog is formed when a mixture of air pollutants is baked in the hot summer sun. Smog can cause a variety of respiratory problems, including coughing and wheezing, shortness of breath and chest pain. People with asthma, children and the elderly are especially at risk, but these health concerns are important to everyone.
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