U.S. Steel Pegs Compliance Cost of Clairton Plant at $400Mln

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The attorneys for Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel have claimed that the enforcement order issued by theAllegheny County Health Department over violation of air quality standards at its Coke Works in Clairton could cost the company big. As per company estimates, the compliance costs could go up to $400 million. This was disclosed during the hearing held Monday.

According to Mark Dausch, U.S. Steel’s attorney, by putting portions of the plant on hot idle, the company fears damage to its equipment through thermal stress. The enforcement, in addition to costing millions of dollars for the company, may also lead to job curtailments, he said. He pointed out that the fines were imposed based on the new enforcement policy, but the violations had occurred prior to adoption of the new policy.

Meantime, County officials refuted U.S. Steel’s claims, stating that the plant, when put on hot idle way back in 2009, had not resulted in any damage whatsoever.

The enforcement order had cited continued emission violations at the plant in second half of 2017 and first quarter of 2018. It observed rapid increase in the frequency of visible emissions from coke ovens. Furthermore, the emissions were found to contain toxic particulates, posing health risks to nearby communities. The order criticized U.S. Steel employees for hiding the violations at the time of inspection by the Department officials.

The Allegheny County Health Department had slapped a fine of $1 million on the company for chronic violations.