EPA v. ARCELORMITTAL MONSESSEN, LLC

Case summary

On December 20, 2017, DOJ, on behalf of Region III, lodged a Consent Decree to implement a settlement with ArcelorMittal Monessen LLC (AMM) to correct alleged CAA violations at its coke plant in Monessen, PA, a facility that produces coke (purified coal) for eventual use in steel mills. The settlement also resolves claims against AMM made by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and PennEnvironment, an environmental group representing neighbors of the plant. The settlement is expected to reduce harmful emissions from the company?s coke plant by a total of more than 125 tons per year (tpy) of sulfur dioxide and 50 tpy of particulate matter. Among the requirements of the Consent Decree, the company must install additional monitoring equipment, implement various work plans to improve work practices, conduct studies of existing plant equipment and operations, and perform a demonstration project to control emissions during planned maintenance outages at the facility?s desulfurization plant. ArcelorMittal will spend approximately $2 million on air pollution controls/improved work practices at the plant and also pay a civil penalty of $1.5 million, which will be split between the federal and state agencies. At the same time, DOJ filed a Complaint in Intervention in the pending citizen suit brought by PennEnvironment for similar alleged CAA violations.

Defendants (1)

• ARCELORMITTAL MONESSEN, LLCNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (4)

• ARCELORMITTAL MONESSEN COKE PLANT

  345 DONNER AVE, MONESSEN, PA, 15062-1156

  Registry ID: 110000329118

• CLEVELAND CLIFFS MONESSEN COKE LLC/MONESSEN COKE PLT

  345 DONNER AVE, MONESSEN, PA, 15062-1156

  Registry ID: 110000329118

• ARCELORMITTAL MONESSEN COKE PLANT

  345 DONNER AVE, MONESSEN, PA, 15062-1156

  Registry ID: 110000329118

• CLEVELAND CLIFFS MONESSEN COKE LLC/MONESSEN COKE PLT

  345 DONNER AVE, MONESSEN, PA, 15062-1156

  Registry ID: 110000329118

Statutes cited

• CAA 502 — Operating Permits (Title V)
• CAA 110 — Implementation Plan for National Primary and Secondary Ambient Air Quality Standards

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• ARCELORMITTAL MONSESSEN, LLCentered 2018-02-02

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $750,000 · State/local: $750,000

Timeline (5 milestones)

• 2016-03-21Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 2016-03-22Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2017-12-20Complaint Filed With Court
• 2017-12-20Final Order Lodged
• 2018-02-02Final Order Entered