EPA v. GRANITE CITY SLAG LLC - ACO

Case summary

EPA identified four counts of excess opacity in violation of the 20%, as a 6-minute standard during offsite monitoring activities on May 16, 2023 and September 5, 2023. EPA performed onsite inspections on May 17, 2023, and September 6, 2023 and determined GCS failed to maintain, repair, and operate its fugitive dust (PM) suppression control equipment from January 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023. GCS also did not establish a minimum water flowrate and moisture content of its slag products through the required routine bi-annual testing as far back as the Statue of Limitations (SOL) allows. This caused excess emissions of Particulate Matter (PM) and resulted in an exceedance of their 2.42 lb/hr PM limit identified in their Title V Permit. Additionally, GCS failed to keep the moisture content of its slag fines material above the required minimum of 1.5% at least 20 times from 2020 ? 2023. GCS did not perform the required periodic sampling and monitoring of its stockpiled production materials resulting in, at a minimum, 652 record keeping and monitoring violations from 2020 - 2023. GCS failed to utilize its portable water truck to mitigate dust from unpaved surfaces at the facility and did not properly monitor and record the daily usage of water from their functional wet suppression system and their water truck. EPA issued a NOV on January 9, 2024. This ACO requires GCS to install new control equipment to reduce its fugitive emissions, and increase the moisture content of its slag material, thus decreasing overall emissions of fugitive PM and metal born metal HAPs. Further, GCS will take actions to improve its monitoring and sampling program. Specifically, GCS will install flow meters to monitor its water usage and take more frequent samples of its slag to ensure its fully compliant with the appliable standards of their Title V permit. GCS will also do more frequent opacity monitoring on digging and dumping of slag and submit a revised Fugitive Particulate Operating Plan memorializing the changes discussed above. This ACO addresses the violations set forth in the January 9, 2024 NOV. A concurrent CAFO will be issued along with this ACO to collect a monetary fine for the violations alleged in the January 9, 2024 NOV.

Defendants (1)

• GRANITE CITY SLAG LLCNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• GRANITE CITY SLAG LLC

  20TH AND EDWARDSVILLE RD, GRANITE CITY, IL, 62040

  Registry ID: 110002072916

Statutes cited

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

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• GRANITE CITY SLAG LLC - ACOentered 2025-10-09

  Primary law: CAA

Timeline (2 milestones)

• 2025-10-09Final Order Issued
• 2025-11-19Enforcement Action Data Entered