EPA v. JONES&LAUGHLIN/PITTSBURGH

Case summary

NATURE OF THE CASE: J&L STEEL & ITS CORP PARENTS & CO-DEF'S J&L INDUSTRIES, INC & THE LTV CORP HAVE VIOL'D THE TERMS OF A 3/25/82 CD. THAT CD, TO WHICH THE US & ALLEGHENY CTY, PA ARE PARTIES, ADDRESSES ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS AT THE DEF'S PITT'S & ALI- QUIPPA, PA STEELMAKING PLANTS. THE CD, ENTERED ON 3/25/81, BY JUDGE ALAN N. BLOCK OF THE US DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF PA, COMMITTED THE DEF'S TO INSTALL AIR POLLUTION CONTROL MEASURES & ACHIEVE & DEMONSTRATE COMPLI- ANCE AT VARIOUS EMISSIONS SOURCES LOCATED AT DEF'S PITT'S & ALIQUIPPA WORKS. THE DECREE ALSO ADDRESSED WATER POLLUTION CONTROL BUT THIS REQUEST FOR ENFORCEMENT OF THE CD ONLY CON- CERNS THE DECREE'S AIR POLLUTION ASPECTS. CAUSE OF ACTION: W/RESPECT TO THE PITT'S PA STEELMAKING PLANT, DEF'S FAILED TO ACHIEVE & DEMONSTRATE COMPLIANCE W/THE MASS EMIS- SION STANDARD FOR PUSHING P-1, P-2, P-3N, P-3S, P-4 & THE VISABLE EMISSION STANDARD FOR PUSHING ON BATTERIES P-3N, P-3S & P-4 BY 4/1/82. THEY ALSO FAILED TO OPERATE THEIR COKE OVEN GAS DESULFURIZATION FACILITY IN COMPLIANCE W/EMISSION STANDARDS BY 4/25/81, & FAILED TO OPERATE THE BOILERS IN THEIR SOUTHSIDE & BY-PRODUCTS BOILER HOUSES IN COMPLIANCE W/EMISSIONS STANDARDS BY 4/25/81. THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF THESE FAILURES IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE A NEARBY SO2 MONI- TOR STATION SHOWED READINGS BELOW THE PRIMARY STANDARD WHEN THE COKE OVEN DESULFURIZATION FACILITY OPERATES ON A CON- TINUING BASIS & EXCEEDS THE PRIMARY STANDARD SIGNIFICANTLY WHEN IT DOES NOT. THE PITT'S WORKS IS LOCATED IN A HEAVY RESIDENTIAL AREA OF THE CITY. 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 APPLICATION. THE REGN 3 - 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 MODIFICATIONS. IF THE NEG'S ARE NOT PRODUCTIVE IN A SHORT PD OF TIME, THE JUSTICE DEPT SHOULD FILE CONTEMPT 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

Defendants (1)

• JONES & LAUGHLIN-PITTSBURGHNamed in complaint

Facilities (1)

• LTV STEEL COMPANY INCORPORATED PITTSBURGH WORKS

  4650 2ND AVENUE, PITTSBURGH, PA, 15207

  Registry ID: 110000329546

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