EPA v. LACLEDE STEEL CO.

Case summary

ON NOVEMBER 18, 1980, LACLEDE STEEL CO. ( LACLEDE ) FILED AN INITIAL NOTIFICATION OF HAZARDOUS WASTE ACTIVITY FOR ITS ALTON, ILLINOIS FACILITY ( THE FACILITY ) FOR GENERATION AND STORAGE OF HAZARDOUS WASTES, AS REQUIRED BY RCRA 3010. LACLEDE SUBMITTED AT LEAST ONE SUBSEQUENT NOTICE ON JULY 13, 1987. THE OPERATIONS AT THE FACILITY INCLUDE THE GENERATION OF BAGHOUSE DUST AT ITS ELECTRONIC ARC FURNACE ( EAF ); THIS DUST HAS BEEN REGULATED SINCE AUGUST 8, 1988 AS EPA HAZARDOUS WASTE NUMBER K061, UNDER 40 C.F.R. 268.33. U.S. EPA ISSUED AN INITIAL RCRA PERMIT TO DISPOSE OF K061 HAZARDOUS WASTE IN A LANDFILL AT THE FACILITY ON MAY 22, 1987. THE STATE OF ILLINOIS ISSUED A RCRA PERMIT TO LACLEDE ALLOWING OPERATION OF A CORRECTIVE ACTION MANAGEMENT UNIT AT THE FACILITY ON JUNE 28, 1996. U.S. EPA INSPECTED THE FACILITY ON JULY 21-22, 1998. THE INSPECTORS NOTED EAF DUST ON THE GROUND AT AND ABOUT THE KO61 WASTE LOADING BUILDING. SOIL SAMPLES TESTED POSITIVELY FOR CHROMIUM AND EXCEEDED THE LAND DISPOSAL RESTRICTIONS ( LDR ) FOR LEAD (U.S. EPA HAZARDOUS WASTE D008), AND CADMIUM (U.S. EPA HAZARDOUS WASTE NO. D006). THE COMPLAINT ALLEGES THAT LACLEDE VIOLATED RCRA SECTION 3005 BY: (1) STORING AND/OR DISPOSING OF HAZARDOUS WASTE WITHOUT A PERMIT, BECAUSE LACLEDE HAD NOT BEEN ISSUED A PERMIT THAT ALLOWED IT TO STORE OR DISPOSE OF THE KO61 HAZARDOUS WASTES ON THE SOILS AT THE EAF DUST GENERATION AREA; AND (2) FAILING TO TREAT HAZARDOUS WASTE TO MEET LDR TREATMENT STANDARDS PRIOR TO DISPOSAL, BECAUSE HAZARDOUS WASTE LEVELS IN THE SOILS ON WHICH THE KO61 HAZARDOUS WASTE HAD BEEN STORED OR DISPOSED EXCEEDED THE LDR TREATMENT STANDARDS FOR CADMIUM AND LEAD.

Defendants (2)

• LACLEDE STEEL CONamed in complaint
• LACLEDE STEEL CO.Named in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (2)

• LACLEDE STEEL COMPANY

  #5 CUT ST., ALTON, IL, 62002

  Registry ID: 110000438679

• LACLEDE STEEL COMPANY

  #5 CUT ST., ALTON, IL, 62002

  Registry ID: 110000438679

Statutes cited

• RCRA 3005 — Permits for Treatment, Storage, or Disposal of Hazardous Waste

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• LACLEDE STEEL CO

  Primary law: RCRA

Timeline (2 milestones)

• 1999-06-24Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 1999-08-16Enforcement Action Data Entered