STATE OF INDIANA

COUNTY OF MARION

)
)
)


SS:

BEFORE THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT
OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

 

COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT
OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT,

Complainant,

v.

STEEL DYNAMICS, INC.,

Respondent.

)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)






Case No.
2007-17032-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.  Pursuant to IC 13-30-3-3, entry into the terms of this Agreed Order does not constitute an admission of any violation contained herein.  Respondent's entry into this Agreed Order shall not constitute a waiver of any defense, legal or equitable, which Respondent may have in any future administrative or judicial proceeding, except a proceeding to enforce this 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 Steel Dynamics, Inc. (“Respondent”), which owns and operates the Enginerred Bar Products Division, a stationary steel mini-mill that manufactures different types of steel bar products (with Plant I.D. No. 063-00037) located at 8000 North County Road 225 East in Pittsboro, Hendricks 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 September 12, 2007 via Certified Mail to Mr. Keith Busse, President & Registered Agent, Steel Dynamics, Inc., 6714 Pointe Inverness Way, Suite 200, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46804

 

5.                  Pursuant to IC 13-30-3-3, IDEM issued an Amended Notice of Violation on November 7, 2007 via Certified Mail to Mr. Keith Busse, President & Registered Agent, Steel Dynamics, Inc., 6714 Pointe Inverness Way, Suite 200, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46804

 

6.                  During an investigation conducted by a representative of IDEM, the following violations were found:

 

a.         Pursuant to Condition D.1.11(a) of Significant Source Modification 063-16628-00037 (“Permit”),  Respondent shall install, calibrate, certify, operate, and maintain a continuous monitoring system and related equipment to measure opacity from the common EAF Baghouse/LMS Baghouse stack in accordance with 326 IAC 3-5-2 and 326 IAC 3-5-3.  Pursuant to Condition D.1.11(c) of the Permit, Respondent shall record the output of the continuous monitoring system and shall perform the required record keeping and reporting, pursuant to 326 IAC 3-5-6 and 326 IAC 3-5-7.


Respondent failed to maintain all required opacity monitoring data from the continuous monitoring system on the common EAF Baghouse/LMS Baghouse stack during the 4th Quarter of 2006, in violation of Condition D.1.11 of the Permit and 326 IAC 3.

 

Respondent notes that it operated its opacity monitor continuously; the problem stemmed from a programmable logic contoller (“PLC”) card that failed.  Respondent contends that it replaced the PLC card as soon as possible consistent with the vendor’s availability, but the data normally stored on the PLC card were lost.

 

7.                  This Agreed Order, and compliance with its terms and conditions, shall resolve all violations cited in the Notices of Violation issued to Respondent listed in Findings of Fact Paragraph Nos. 4 and 5.

 

8.                  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.  This Agreed Order shall have no force or effect until the Effective Date.

 

2.                  Respondent shall comply with Condition D.1.11 of Significant Source Modification 063-16628-00037 and 326 IAC 3.

 

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 Five Thousand dollars ($5000).  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 signatory to this Agreed Order certifies that he or she is fully authorized to execute this Agreed Order and legally bind Respondent.  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.                  The Respondent shall provide a copy of this Agreed Order, if in force, to any subsequent owners or successors before ownership rights are transferred.  Respondent shall ensure that all contractors, firms and other persons performing work under this Agreed Order comply with the terms of this Agreed Order.

 

9.                  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.

 

10.             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.

 

11.             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.

 

12.             Nothing in this Agreed Order shall prevent IDEM 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.

 

13.             This Agreed Order shall remain in effect until Respondent complies with the terms of Order Paragraph Nos. 4 and 5.  IDEM will issue a Resolution of Case letter to Respondent thereafter.

 

 

TECHNICAL RECOMMENDATION:

 

RESPONDENT:

Department of Environmental Management

 

Steel Dynamics, Inc.

 

 

 

By:

 

 

By:

 

 

Craig Henry

 

Printed:

 

 

Chief, Air Section

 

Title:

 

 

Office of Enforcement

 

 

 

Date:

 

 

Date:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COUNSEL FOR COMPLAINANT:

 

COUNSEL FOR RESPONDENT:

For the Department of Environmental Management

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deputy Attorney General

 

 

 

Date:

 

 

Date:

 

 

 

 

 

 

APPROVED AND ADOPTED BY THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL

MANAGEMENT THIS

 

DAY OF

 

, 2008.

 

 

For the Commissioner:

 

 

 

Signed on February 5, 2008

 

Robert B. Keene

 

Assistant Commissioner

 

Office of Legal Counsel and Enforcement