Health Department again fines U.S. Steel, citing coke plant emissions

Allegheny County for a second time in four months has levied a significant fine against U.S. Steel, saying the company has continued to exceed air pollution standards at its Clairton Coke Works.

The Health Department on Thursday announced it was fining the company $620,316 “due to continued emissions problems at the Clairton Coke Works facility.” It said the number of violations that happened during the second quarter of 2018 had increased from the previous quarter.

In June, the department issued an enforcement order that included a $1 million fine for similar problems it said occurred during the fourth quarter of 2017 and first quarter of 2018. The department also threatened to shutter two of the worst-performing coke batteries if conditions did not improve over the first six months of 2019.

U.S. Steel has appealed the order and will argue its case before the health department during a public hearing Dec. 3.

Company spokeswoman Meghan Cox issued a statement saying the plant maintains a high emissions compliance rate, “according to the Allegheny County Health Department’s own calculations.” It noted that that the department’s air quality standards exceed state and federal regulations.

“Earlier this month, (the health department) approved our plan to improve environmental performance,” she said. “Implementation of this plan is well under way with increased staffing, improved work practices and training, increased monitoring and capital investments (to) further reduce emissions.”

According to the plan, U.S. Steel is committed to spending more than $65 million on emission reductions and has already implemented $37 million worth of environmental projects.

“Environmental stewardship remains a core value for our company, and we are committed to the communities in which we operate,” Cox said. “Our Mon Valley Works facilities employ more than 3,000 people in the Pittsburgh area, and we look forward to being a vital part of the community for years to come.”

The Clairton Works, which features 10 coke oven batteries, is the largest byproducts coke plant in the United States, according to U.S. Steel. It produces about 4.3 million tons of coke per year and employs more than 1,100 union workers.