EPA v. US Steel Corp

Case summary

U. S. Steel has already complied with several requirements of the proposed decree that was lodged in April 2018, including enhanced daily wastewater sampling, even though the decree has not been in effect. The proposed consent decree would also require U. S. Steel to pay a civil penalty of $601,242, to be split evenly between the United States and the State. In addition, the decree requires U. S. Steel to fully reimburse EPA response costs ($350,653), the NPS?s response costs ($12,564) and calculation of damages resulting from beach closures ($240,504), and NOAA?s natural resource damage assessment costs ($27,512) all incurred in connection with a hexavalent chromium spill at the plant in/or about April 11, 2017.

Defendants (1)

• US Steel Corp.Named in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (8)

• US STEEL - MIDWEST PLANT

  6300 US 12, PORTAGE, IN, 46368

  Registry ID: 110056963282

• US STEEL CORP MIDWEST PLANT

  6300 US 12, PORTAGE, IN, 463681287

  Registry ID: 110064647743

• US STEEL HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM RELEASE

  6300 US HIGHWAY 12, PORTAGE, IN, 46368

  Registry ID: 110070135115

• US STEEL - MIDWEST PLANT

  6300 US 12, PORTAGE, IN, 46368

  Registry ID: 110056963282

• US STEEL - MIDWEST PLANT

  6300 US 12, PORTAGE, IN, 46368

  Registry ID: 110056963282

• US STEEL - MIDWEST PLANT

  6300 US 12, PORTAGE, IN, 46368

  Registry ID: 110056963282

• US STEEL - MIDWEST PLANT

  6300 US 12, PORTAGE, IN, 46368

  Registry ID: 110056963282

• US STEEL - MIDWEST PLANT

  6300 US 12, PORTAGE, IN, 46368

  Registry ID: 110056963282

Statutes cited

• EPCRA 304 — Emergency Release Notification Section 313 Program
• CERCLA 107A — Cost Recovery
• CWA 301/402 — NPDES Permit Violations

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• US Steel Corpentered 2021-08-30

  Primary law: CWA

  Federal penalty: $300,621 · State/local: $300,621

Timeline (6 milestones)

• 2017-06-01Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 2017-10-17Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2018-04-02Complaint Filed With Court
• 2018-04-02Final Order Lodged
• 2021-08-30Final Order Entered
• 2022-06-11Demand for Stipulated Penalties