EPA v. INLAND STEEL COMPANY

Case summary

NATURE OF THE CASE ON JULY 1, 1983, IN THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA, INLAND STEEL COMPANY MOVED FOR (AND THE UNITED STATES DID NOT OPPOSE) ENTRY OF A COMPREHENSIVE JUDGMENT ORDER WHICH PROVIDED FOR CONTROL OF ALL THEN KNOWN VIOLATING PARTICULATE MATTER SOURCES AT INLAND STEEL COMPANY'S PLANT IN EAST CHICAGO, INDIANA. THAT ORDER REQUIRES INSTALLATION OF CON- TROLS AND IMPLEMENTATION OF OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE PRAC- TICES AT, INTER ALIA, SIX COKE-OVEN BATTERIES AND AN OPEN HEARTH SHOP ESP STACK. IN ADDITION, INLAND STEEL COMPANY HAS FAILED TO SUBMIT REPORTS DOCUMENTING COMPLIANCE WITH RELEVANT OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE PRACTICES. INLAND'S PLANT IS LOCATED IN A DESIGNATED NONATTAINMENT AREA FOR TOTAL SUSPENDED PARTICULATE MATTER. CAUSE OF ACTION INLAND'S EMISSIONS ARE IN VIOLATION OF THE FEDERAL COURT ORDER AND THE INDIANA STATE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN. ACTION AGAINST INLAND IS PREMISED ON RULE 65 OF THE FEDERAL RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE, SECTION 113 OF THE CLEAN AIR ACT, 42 U.S.C. SECTION 7413, AND SPECIFIC PROVISIONS OF THE JUDGMENT ORDER REQUIRING PAYMENT OF STIPULATED PENALTIES IN THE EVENT OF NONCOMPLIANCE. TO DATE PENALTIES TOTAL $124,000. PROPOSED REMEDY IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE COMPLIANCE WITH THE INDIANA STATE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AND THE TERMS OF THE FEDERAL COURT ORDER, INLAND STEEL COMPANY MUST IMPROVE OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE PRACTICES, ACQUIRE ADDITIONAL SPARE EQUIPMENT, AND INCREASE MONITORING OF ITS PERFORMANCE. REGION V RECOMMENDS A SIGNIFICANT PENALTY, BUT BECAUSE OF THE CON- TINUING NATURE OF THE VIOLATION HAS NOT YET CALCULATED A SPECIFIC FIGURE. ISSUES OF NATIONAL AND PRECEDENTIAL SIGNIFICANCE ALTHOUGH THIS IS AN ACTION AGAINST A MAJOR STEEL COM- PANY, THERE APPEAR TO BE NO ISSUES OF NATIONAL OR PRECEDEN- TIAL IMPORTANCE CONNECTED WITH THE ENFORCEMENT OF THIS ORDER AGAINST INLAND STEEL COMPANY. * * * RE: CONTEMPT ACTION * * *

Defendants (1)

• INLAND STEEL CO.Named in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (9)

• ISPAT INLAND INCORPORATED

  3210 WATLING ST., EAST CHICAGO, IN, 46312

  Registry ID: 110066942526

• ISPAT INLAND INCORPORATED

  3210 WATLING ST., EAST CHICAGO, IN, 46312

  Registry ID: 110066942526

• ISPAT INLAND INCORPORATED

  3210 WATLING ST., EAST CHICAGO, IN, 46312

  Registry ID: 110066942526

• ISPAT INLAND INCORPORATED

  3210 WATLING ST., EAST CHICAGO, IN, 46312

  Registry ID: 110066942526

• ISPAT INLAND INCORPORATED

  3210 WATLING ST., EAST CHICAGO, IN, 46312

  Registry ID: 110066942526

• ISPAT INLAND INCORPORATED

  3210 WATLING ST., EAST CHICAGO, IN, 46312

  Registry ID: 110066942526

• ISPAT INLAND INCORPORATED

  3210 WATLING ST., EAST CHICAGO, IN, 46312

  Registry ID: 110066942526

• ISPAT INLAND INCORPORATED

  3210 WATLING ST., EAST CHICAGO, IN, 46312

  Registry ID: 110066942526

• ISPAT INLAND INCORPORATED

  3210 WATLING ST., EAST CHICAGO, IN, 46312

  Registry ID: 110066942526

Statutes cited

• CAA 113 — Clean Air Act
• CAA 110 — Implementation Plan for National Primary and Secondary Ambient Air Quality Standards

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• INLAND STEEL COMPANYentered 1989-02-06

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $600,000

Timeline (7 milestones)

• 1984-04-24Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1984-09-28Complaint Filed With Court
• 1989-02-06Final Order Lodged
• 1989-02-06Final Order Entered
• 1989-02-06Concluded
• 1993-12-14Enforcement Action Closed
• 1997-08-28Enforcement Action Data Entered