EPA v. AK STEEL - APO/CAFO

Case summary

EPA Region 5 filed a Consent Agreement and Final Order (CAFO) that simultaneously commenced and concluded an administrative case against AK Steel Corporation (AK Steel), for Clean Air Act violations at its Middletown, Ohio, facility. EPA alleged in three Notices and Findings of Violation, issued on August 3, 2011, September 28, 2011, and June 28, 2012, that AK Steel violated provisions of its Title V permit and the Ohio State Implementation Plan (SIP) at its integrated steel-producing facility. Specifically, EPA alleged that AK Steel exceeded its 20 percent opacity limit at both its main combustion stack and its pushing operation on numerous occasions between April 2006 and August 2012. Also, from April 2006 to June 2011, AK Steel violated 40 C.F.R. Part 63, Subpart CCCCC (the Coke Oven MACT ), the Ohio SIP, and it Title V permit by not continuously meeting the work practice standards applicable to AK Steel?s coke battery pushing operation. AK Steel has agreed to resolve this matter with the payment of a civil penalty in the amount of $15,000 and the performance of a supplemental environmental project (SEP) valued at $450,000-$700,000. The SEP involves the design and installation of a new PEC hood that will optimize the capture of particulate matter (PM) at AK Steel's pushing operation. This upgrade of AK Steel's pollution control system at its pushing operation will greatly lessen the potential for opacity/PM exceedances in the future.

Defendants (1)

• AK STEEL CORPORATIONNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• CLEVELAND-CLIFFS STEEL CORPORATION

  1801 CRAWFORD STREET, MIDDLETOWN, OH, 450430001

  Registry ID: 110000392557

Statutes cited

• CAA TITLE5 — Title V Permits
• CAA 112D — MACT Standards
• CAA 110 — Implementation Plan for National Primary and Secondary Ambient Air Quality Standards

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• AK STEEL APO/ CAFOentered 2016-06-29

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $15,000 · SEP: $450,000

Timeline (4 milestones)

• 2016-06-29Final Order Issued
• 2016-06-29Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 2016-07-01Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2016-07-25Air Resolved