EPA v. GERDAU AMERISTEEL SAINT PAUL MILL - APO/CAFO

Case summary

Gerdau owns and operates a steel mini-mill in St. Paul, Minnesota. The mill receives recycled automobile bodies and other grades of scrap steel and processes the scrap steel in an auto shredder. A wet scrubber and cyclone control particulate matter (PM) and PM less than 10 microns (PM10) emissions from the auto shredder. Per the Minnesota SIP and the facility's Title V Permit, the facility is required to limit emissions from its auto shredder to less than 20 percent (%) opacity. Additionally, the Minnesota SIP and the facility's Title V Permit require the facility to maintain its auto shredder emission unit and associated controls in proper operating condition to ensure proper control of PM/PM10 emissions. Specifically, Gerdau failed to: (1) limit emissions from its auto shredding operations to less than 20% opacity on August 30, 2016, on September 1, 2016, and on November 4, 2016; (2) maintain the auto shredding emission unit and associated controls in proper operating condition for several days in 2016 and 2017; (3) operate the control equipment in such a manner as to achieve and maintain compliance with the PM10 emission limit at its auto shredding emission unit for several days in 2016 and 2017; and (4) properly monitor and maintain operating records of the auto shredding emission unit and associated controls for several days during the period from January 1, 2014 through September 30, 2016. This CAFO requires Gerdau to pay a penalty of $21,388.50 and to spend at least $846,790 to complete a SEP to reduce emissions of PM, in which Gerdau will purchase a new crane, equipped with a Tier 4 rated engine, to replace its current crane, equipped with a Tier 3 rated engine. The CAFO also resolves the Notices of Violation/Findings of Violation issued to Gerdau on October 21, 2016 and on August 31, 2017.

Defendants (1)

• GERDAU AMERISTEEL SAINT PAUL MILLNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (2)

• GERDAU - SAINT PAUL MILL

  1678 RED ROCK RD, SAINT PAUL, MN, 551196013

  Registry ID: 110000424452

• GERDAU - SAINT PAUL MILL

  1678 RED ROCK RD, SAINT PAUL, MN, 551196013

  Registry ID: 110000424452

Statutes cited

• CAA 111 — New Source Performance Standards
• CAA 502 — Operating Permits (Title V)
• CAA 110 — Implementation Plan for National Primary and Secondary Ambient Air Quality Standards

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• GERDAU AMERISTEEL SAINT PAUL MILL - APO/CAFOentered 2018-09-28

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $21,389 · SEP: $846,790

Timeline (5 milestones)

• 2018-09-28Final Order Issued
• 2018-09-28Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 2018-09-28Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2018-10-31Enforcement Action Closed
• 2018-10-31Air Resolved