EPA v. INTERLAKE STEEL

Case summary

BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF THIS CASE INTERLAKE, INC. OWNS AND OPERATES FACILITIES AT SEVERAL LOCA TIONS IN THE CHICAGO AREA WHICH, WHEN COMBINED, CONSTITUTE A FULL INTEGRATED IRON AND STEEL MANUFACTURING FACILITY. VIS IBLE EMISSIONS FROM THE ROOF MONITOR OF THE BLAST FURNACE CASTHOUSE AT INTERLAKE, INC. AT THE CHICAGO FACILITY CAUSE O PACITY IN EXCESS OF THAT ALLOWED BY THE FEDERALLY ENFORCEABL E ILLINOIS IMPLEMENTATION PLAN. THESE LONGSTANDING VIOLATIO N WERE THE SUBJECT OF THE THE JANUARY 7, 1985 NOTICE OF VIOL ATION ISSUED BY DAVID KEE, DIRECTOR, AIR MANAGEMENT DIVISION , REGION V, U.S. EPA, PURSUANT TO SECT 113(A)(1) OF THE CLEA N AIR ACT. SUBSEQUENT TO THE ISSUANCE OF THAT NOTICE, INTER LAKE INC. ATTEMPTED TO DEMONSTRATE THAT ITS BLAST FURNACE CA STHOUSE COULD BE OPERATED IN COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE SIP REQUIREMENT. THE DEMONSTRATION FAILED AND THE VIOLATIONS HA VE CONTINUED FOR MORE THAN 30 DAYS AFTER ISSUANCE OF THE NOT ICE. REGION V HAS CONCLUDED THAT CIVIL ACTION NECESSARY TO SECURE COURT ORDERED COMPLIANCE BY INTERLAKE INC. AT THIS FACILITY. THE ACTION WILL SEEK THE PAYMENT OF CIVIL PENALTIES AND WILL ALSO SEEK AN INJUNCTIVE ORDER REQUIRING INTERLAKE INC. TO CO MPLY EXPEDITIOUSLY. THE CONTROL METHODOLOGY RECOMMENDED BY U.S. EPA IN THIS ACTION SIMILAR TO TECHNIQUES EMPLOYED BY VI RTUALLY EVERYONE IN THE STEEL INDUSTRY. REGION V HAS ATTEMP TED TO NEGOTIATE AN ACCEPTABLE SETTLEMENT OF THE ISSUES RAIS ED IN THE NOTICE OF VIOLATION WITHOUT SUCCESS. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS I HAVE CONCLUDED THAT REFERRAL OF THIS MATTER IS NECESSARY TO ABATE THIS THREAT TO THE ENVIRONMENT. I RECOMMEND THAT T HIS MATTER BE REFERRED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IN AN EX PEDITIOUS MANNER. MY STAFF WILL PROVIDE ANY NECESSARY SUPPO RT TO BRING THIS ACTION TO AN ENVIRONMENTALLY BENEFICIAL CON CLUSION.

Defendants (1)

• INTERLAKE STEELNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (2)

• ACME STEEL COMPANY FURNACE PLANT

  10730 S. BURLEY AVE., CHICAGO, IL, 606176597

  Registry ID: 110000434316

• ACME STEEL COMPANY FURNACE PLANT

  10730 S. BURLEY AVE., CHICAGO, IL, 606176597

  Registry ID: 110000434316

Statutes cited

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

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• INTERLAKE, INC.entered 1986-06-18

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $50,000

Timeline (8 milestones)

• 1985-06-20Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1985-06-28Referred To Headquarters
• 1985-07-29Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1985-10-01Complaint Filed With Court
• 1986-06-18Final Order Lodged
• 1986-06-18Final Order Entered
• 1986-06-18Concluded
• 1989-09-15Enforcement Action Closed