EPA v. BETHLEHEM STEEL CORPORATION (SPARROWS POINT)

Case summary

TWO PRIVATE CITIZEN GROUPS, NRDC AND THE CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION, FILED SUIT AGAINST THE BETHLEHEM STEEL CORP. THE SUIT ALLEGED NPDES PERMIT EFFLUENT VIOLATIONS AT THE CORP.'S SPARROWS POINT FACILITY. AFTER THE GROUPS AND THE CORPORATION REACHED A TENTATIVE SETTLEMENT. THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE MOVED TO INTERVENE BECAUSE THE COMPANY WOULD NOT HAVE PAID A PENALTY UNDER THE PROPOSED DECREE, JUST FUNDED AN TRUST FUND FOR EMVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS. AFTER NEGOTIATION AMONG ALL PARTIES, A REVISED CONSENT DECREE WAS AGREED UPON.

Defendants (1)

• BETHLEHEM STEEL CORP.Named in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (2)

• BETHLEHEM STEEL CORPORATION SPARROWS POINT DIVISION

  5111 N. POINT BLVD., SPARROWS POINT, MD, 21219

  Registry ID: 110000339697

• BETHLEHEM STEEL CORPORATION SPARROWS POINT DIVISION

  5111 N. POINT BLVD., SPARROWS POINT, MD, 21219

  Registry ID: 110000339697

Statutes cited

• CWA 402 — Clean Water Act
• CWA 309 — Violation of Existing AO
• CWA 301 — NPDES Discharge without a Permit

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• BETHLEHEM STEEL CORPORATIONentered 1987-07-14

  Primary law: CWA

  Federal penalty: $500,000

Timeline (8 milestones)

• 1984-04-24Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1987-05-20Referred To Headquarters
• 1987-07-10Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1987-07-14Final Order Lodged
• 1987-07-14Final Order Entered
• 1987-07-14Complaint Filed With Court
• 1987-07-14Concluded
• 1989-04-05Enforcement Action Closed