Archive
SUBSCRIBE NEWSLETTERS
ADVERTISE| CLASSIFIEDS| JOBS| E-TRIB
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS NETWORK NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS NETWORK
Western Pennsylvania's trusted news source
U.S. Steel's Edgar Thompson plant accused of excessive emissions | TribLIVE.com
Allegheny

U.S. Steel's Edgar Thompson plant accused of excessive emissions

Theresa Clift
Theresa Clift
PTRLOSUNRISE111113
Tribune-Review
The sun rises over the Monongahela Valley as smoke slowly rises from U.S. Steel's Edgar Thompson Works in Braddock on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013.
ptrussteel01090617
Pouring molten steel and scrap into a cauldron at the Edgar Thomson plant. | PHOTOGRAPHER: ROSS MANTLE FOR BLOOMBERG BUSINESSWEEK
ptrussteel01090617
Pouring molten steel and scrap into a cauldron at the Edgar Thomson plant. | PHOTOGRAPHER: ROSS MANTLE FOR BLOOMBERG BUSINESSWEEK
ptrussteel02090617
A U.S. Steel employee watches over production at Edgar Thomson. | PHOTOGRAPHER: ROSS MANTLE FOR BLOOMBERG BUSINESSWEEK
ptrussteel03090617
From left: Hot steel passes through the rolling—or metal-forming—mill at U.S. Steel’s Irvin plant in West Mifflin, Pa.; molten steel is poured into a cauldron after mixing at the Edgar Thomson plant. | PHOTOGRAPHER: ROSS MANTLE FOR BLOOMBERG BUSINESSWEEK
ptrussteel04090617
ROSS MANTLE FOR BLOOMBERG BUSINESSWEEK
A U.S. Steel employee walks near the rolling mill.

The Environmental Protection Agency and Allegheny County Health Department have issued a notice of violation for air pollution at U.S. Steel's Edgar Thompson plant in Braddock in what could mark the start of stricter enforcement at such facilities.

Both agencies said they observed multiple violations of both county and federal rules beginning in February 2016 and continuing into 2017, according to a county news release.

Excessive visible emissions, failure to maintain equipment and failure to certify compliance with the plant's Title V operating permit are among the violations.

“This notice of violation represents a strategic change in ACHD's enforcement efforts by utilizing all of our legal options, which in this case is a joint action with EPA,” Dr. Karen Hacker, health department director, said in the release. “With EPA on board, our enforcement power is exponentially increased.”

The notice begins the process of determining the penalties and equipment improvements that will be required to return the plant to compliance, the release said.

Theresa Clift is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach her at 412-380-5669, tclift@tribweb.com or via Twitter @tclift.