STATE OF INDIANA

COUNTY OF MARION

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BEFORE THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT
OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

 

COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT
OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT,

Complainant,

v.

MITTAL STEEL USA, ISG INDIANA HARBOR,

Respondent.

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Case No. 2006-16079-A

 

 

AGREED ORDER

 

Complainant and Respondent desire to settle and compromise this action without hearing or adjudication of any issue of fact or law, and consent to the entry of the following Findings of Fact and Order.

 

I.  FINDINGS OF FACT

 

1.                  Complainant is the Commissioner (“Complainant”) of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (“IDEM”), a department of the State of Indiana created by Indiana Code (“IC”) 13-13-1-1.

 

2.                  Respondent is Mittal Steel USA (“Respondent”), which owns and operates a blast furnace, designated as IH3, at its Indiana Harbor Integrated Steel Mill, United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ID No. 089-00377, Title V Permit No. 089-7099-00318, located at 3001 Dickey Road in East Chicago, Lake County, Indiana (“Site”).

 

3.                  IDEM has jurisdiction over the parties and the subject matter of this action.

 

4.                  Pursuant to IC 13-30-3-3, IDEM issued a Notice of Violation on October 30, 2006 via Certified Mail to:

 

Mr. Rodney B. Mott, President        CT Corporation System, Registered Agent

ISG Indiana Harbor, Inc.                   for ISG Indiana Harbor, Inc.

3100 East 45th Street                       251 East Ohio Street

International Steel Group, Inc.          Suite 1100

Cleveland, OH 44127                       Indianapolis, IN 46204

 

5.                  During an investigation including an inspection on August 3, 2006, conducted by a representative of IDEM, the following violation was found:

 

a.         Pursuant to 326 IAC 5-1-2(2)(B), opacity of visible emissions (“VE”) from a facility located in Lake County shall not exceed 20% 6-minute average unless it is otherwise regulated by 326 IAC 6-1-10.1.

 

During the August 3, 2006, visible emissions evaluation, VE opacity at the IH3 blast furnace exceeded the limit once and was 95.8% for a 6-minute average in violation of 326 IAC 5-1-2(2)(B).

 

6.                  In recognition of the settlement reached, Respondent waives any right to administrative and judicial review of this Agreed Order.

 

II.  ORDER

 

1.                  This Agreed Order shall be effective (“Effective Date”) when it is approved by Complainant or Complainant’s delegate, and has been received by Respondent[s].  This Agreed Order shall have no force or effect until the Effective Date.

 

2.                  Respondent shall comply with 326 IAC 5-1-2(2)(B).

 

3.                  All submittals required by this Agreed Order, unless Respondent is notified otherwise in writing by IDEM, shall be sent to:

 

Janusz Johnson, Enforcement Case Manager

Office of Enforcement – Mail Code 60-02

Indiana Department of Environmental Management

100 North Senate Avenue

Indianapolis, IN 46204-2251

 

4.                  Respondent is assessed a civil penalty of eighteen thousand dollars ($18,000).  Said penalty amount shall be due and payable to the Environmental Management Special Fund within thirty (30) days of the Effective Date.  In the event that the civil penalty is not paid within thirty (30) days of the Effective Date, Respondent shall pay interest on the unpaid balance at the rate established by IC 24-4.6-1-101.  The interest shall continue to accrue until the civil penalty is paid in full.

 

5.                  Civil penalties are payable by check to the “Environmental Management Special Fund.” Checks shall include the Case Number of this action and shall be mailed to:

 

Indiana Department of Environmental Management

Cashier – Mail Code 50-10C

100 North Senate Avenue

Indianapolis, IN 46204-2251

 

6.                  This Agreed Order shall apply to and be binding upon Respondent and its successors and assigns.  Respondent’s signatories to this Agreed Order certify that they are fully authorized to execute this Agreed Order and legally bind the party they represent.  No change in ownership, corporate, or partnership status of Respondent shall in any way alter its status or responsibilities under this Agreed Order.

 

7.                  In the event that any terms of this Agreed Order are found to be invalid, the remaining terms shall remain in full force and effect and shall be construed and enforced as if this Agreed Order did not contain the invalid terms.

 

8.                  This Agreed Order is not and shall not be interpreted to be a permit or a modification of an existing permit.  This Agreed Order, and IDEM’s review or approval of any submittal made by Respondent pursuant to this Agreed Order, shall not in any way relieve Respondent of its obligation to comply with the requirements of its applicable permit or any applicable Federal or State law or regulation.

 

9.                  Complainant does not, by its approval of this Agreed Order, warrant or aver in any manner that Respondent’s compliance with any aspect of this Agreed Order will result in compliance with the provisions of any permit, order, or any applicable Federal or State law or regulation.  Additionally, IDEM or anyone acting on its behalf shall not be held liable for any costs or penalties Respondent may incur as a result of Respondent’s efforts to comply with this Agreed Order.

 

10.             Nothing in this Agreed Order shall prevent or limit IDEM’s rights to obtain penalties or injunctive relief under any applicable Federal or State law or regulation, except that IDEM may not, and hereby waives its right to, seek additional civil penalties for the same violations specified in the NOV.

 

11.             Nothing in this Agreed Order shall prevent IDEM or anyone acting on its behalf from communicating with the EPA or any other agency or entity about any matters relating to this enforcement action.  IDEM or anyone acting on its behalf shall not be held liable for any costs or penalties Respondent may incur as a result of such communications with the EPA or any other agency or entity.

 

12.             This Agreed Order shall remain in effect until Respondent has complied with all terms and conditions of this Agreed Order.

 

 

TECHNICAL RECOMMENDATION:

 

RESPONDENT:

Department of Environmental Management

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

By:

 

 

David P. McIver

 

Printed:

 

 

Chief, Air Section

 

Title:

 

 

Office of Enforcement

 

 

 

Date:

 

 

Date:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COUNSEL FOR COMPLAINANT:

 

COUNSEL FOR RESPONDENT:

Department of Environmental Management

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Office of Legal Counsel

 

 

 

Date:

 

 

Date:

 

 

 

 

 

 

APPROVED AND ADOPTED BY THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL

MANAGEMENT THIS

 

DAY OF

 

, 2007.

 

 

For The Commissioner:

 

 

 

Signed on January 25, 2007

 

Robert B. Keene

 

Assistant Commissioner

 

Office of Legal Counsel and Enforcement