EPA v. JONES&LAUGHLIN/ALIQUIPPA

Case summary

NATURE OF THE CASE: J&L STEEL CORP & ITS CORPORATE PARENTS & CO-DEF'S J&L INDUSTRIES, INC & THE LTV CORP HAVE VIOL'D THE TERMS OF A 3/25/81 CD. THAT CD, TO WHICH THE US & ALLEGHENY CTY, PA ARE PARTIES, ADDRESSES ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS AT THE DEF'S PITT'S & ALIQUIPPA, PA STEELMAKING PLANTS. THE CD, ENTERED 3/25/81, BY JUDGE BLOCK OF THE US DIST CT FOR THE WESTERN DIST OF PA, COMMITTED THE DEF'S TO INSTALL AIR POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT, IMPLEMENT OTHER AIR POLLUTION CONTROL MEASURES & ACHIEVE & DEMONSTRATE COMPLIANCE AT VARIOUS EMIS- SIONS SOURCES LOCATED AT DEF'S PITT'S & ALIQUIPPA WORKS. THE CD ALSO ADDRESSED WATER POLLUTION CONTROL BUT THIS REQUEST FOR ENFORCEMENT OF THE CD ONLY CONCERNS THE DECREE'S AIR POLLUTION ASPECTS. CAUSE OF ACTION: W/RESPECT TO THE ALIQUIPPA, PA STEELMAKING PLANT, DEF'S FAILED TO PLACE PURCHASE ORDERS BY 9/2/80 FOR PUSHING EMIS- SION CONTROLS FOR THEIR A-1 COKE OVEN BATTERY. THEY ALSO FAILED TO INITIATE ONSITE INSTALLATION OF THE CONTROLS BY 3/15/81 & TO COMPLETE CONSTR & DEMOSTRATE COMPLIANCE BY 2/15/82 & 3/15/82 RESPECTIVELY. DEF'S FAILED TO ACHIEVE & DEMONSTRATE COMPLIANCE W/EMISSION STANDARDS AT THEIR BOILERS NOS 59 & 60 INTHE ALIQUIPPA PLANT'S NO 6 NORTH MILLS BOILER HOUSE BY 1/5/81. FURTHER MORE, DEF'S FAILED TO ACHIEVE & DEMONSTRATE COMPLIANCE W/EMISSION STANDARDS AT THE ALIQUIPPA BLAST FURNACE CASTHOUSES BY 4/1/81 FOR THE A-4 CASTHOUSE, 10/1/81 FOR A 2ND CASTHOUSE & 12/1/81 FOR A 3RD CASTHOUSE. THE ENVIORNMENTAL IMPACT OF THESE FAILURES IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE THE PRIMARY ANNUAL PARTICUALTE STANDARD IS BEING EX- CEEDED IN THE AREA. THE ALIQUIPPA PLANT IS LOCATED W/IN A SMALL COMMUNITY, W/A LARGER COMMUNITY ACROSS THE RIVER. PROPOSED REMEDY: REGN 3 HAS BEEN CO-ORDINATING ITS ACTIONS W/RESPECT TO THESE DEF'S W/REGN 5. REGN 5 IS ATTEMPTING TO ENFORCE COM- PLIANCE W/CD'S COVERING OTHER STEEL MAKING PLANTS OF THE DEF'S. A DEMAND LTR FOR STIPULATED PLTY'S DUE UNDER THE REGN 3 & REGN 5 CD'S IS ATTACHED FOR USE UPON DENIAL OF THE DEF'S SICEA APPLICANTION. THE REGN3 - REGN 5 JOINT APPROACH CALLS FOR NEG'S W/THE DEF'S FOR COLLECTION OF PLTY'S & AGREEMENT ON STIPULATIONS FOR REVISED COMPLIANCE SCHED'S & OTHER NEC- ESSARY DECREE MODIFICATIONS. IF THE NEG'S ARE NOT PRODUCTIVE IN A SHORT PD OF TIME, THE JUSTICE DEPT SHOULD FILE COMTEMPT MOTIONS AGAINST J&L STEEL CORP & THE OTHER DEF'S SEEKING THE COMPLIANCE SCHED'S SET FORTH IN THE ATTACHED TECH DOCUMENTS THE ADD'T TERMS REQUIRED BY THE AGENCY'S DEVELOPING POLICY ON POST 1982 COMPLIANCE & FULL ENFORCEMENT OF THE DECREE'S PLTY PROVISIONS, BOTH FOR STIPULATED & CONTEMPT PLTY'S. REGN 3 ATTY'S & TECH STAFF ARE READY TO ASSIST THE JUSTICE DEPT IN THE DRAFTING OF DOCUMENTS FOR THE CONTEMPT ACTION.

Defendants (1)

• JONES & LAUGHLIN- ALIQUIPPANamed in complaint

Facilities (1)

• LTV STEEL COMPANY INCORPORATED

  302 WOODLAWN ROAD, ALIQUIPPA, PA, 15001

  Registry ID: 110002042290

Statutes cited

• CAA 110 — Implementation Plan for National Primary and Secondary Ambient Air Quality Standards

Timeline (6 milestones)

• 1982-08-11Referred To Headquarters
• 1982-12-29Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1983-01-06Referred TO U.S. Attorney
• 1983-01-06Complaint Filed With Court
• 1984-07-25Concluded
• 1984-07-25Enforcement Action Closed