Virtual meeting to be held on penalties for U.S. Steel
Zug Island-area operation has series of ‘high-priority’ environmental violations
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy’s Air Quality Division will stage a virtual public meeting on Thursday night regarding proposed penalties for environmental violations committed by U.S. Steel Great Lakes Works operations in the Zug Island area.
The meeting is designed to respond to questions and allow for comments regarding fines and other punitive actions against the company for a series of violations or failure to respond to orders imposed by the state government’s environmental regulator.
Among numerous violations cited by EGLE against the steel mill include exceeding Hydrochloric
Acid (HCL) emission limits, exceeding visible emissions limits for the B2 Blast Furnace, not properly maintaining and operating scrubbers, plus violation of several state and federal air quality rules and regulations.
The violations cited by EGLE were listed as occurring between August, 2017 and June, 2019.
Great Lakes Works steelmaking operations, including the blast furnaces, were idled indefinitely by U.S. Steel at the beginning of April. The company has committed to continue operating what’s known as its rolling mill, plus warehousing operations until the end of the year.
The steel mill’s long-term fate remains unknown.
The facility, when in full operation, includes about 2,000 employees, but for decades has been known as being among the largest contributors of chemical pollutants and toxins in the Detroit area and across Michigan.
A Star investigation last year detailed how U.S. Steel Great Lakes Works has been listed as having “high-priority violations” every quarter annually for the previous three years, according to enforcement and compliance records by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
On March 12, U.S. Steel agreed to a settlement with EGLE on terms and conditions of the proposed penalties and actions the company must follow should it resume operations.
The steel mill must conduct more frequent emissions testing, submit updated maintenance plans, plus submit quarterly reports on causes of any (toxin) exceedances.
A financial settlement of US$79,227 must be paid to the State of Michigan General Fund.
The company must also carry out a Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP). At a cost of US$300,000, U.S. Steel will tear down the abandoned Veteran’s Memorial Ice Rink located in River Rouge, which includes removing and properly disposing of any asbestos, refrigerants, PCBS and mercury.
The virtual meeting regarding the proposed penalties will begin at 6 p.m. on Thursday. To join by phone, call 1-213-929-4232 and use access code 730-862-460.
To register ahead of time and participate online, go to gotowebinar.com/register/6981384671551907855.
This is the first of three meetings on the issue hosted by EGLE, including a public hearing, for the proposed enforcement actions. A virtual public hearing will be held June 24.
EGLE will accept comments on the proposed penalties until the close of the comment period on July 13.
Comments can be made by email to morane@michigan.gov or by voice mail by calling 1-517-2840900.