STATE OF
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BEFORE THE
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COUNTY OF
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ENVIRONMENTAL
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COMMISSIONER
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OF
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, |
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Complainant, |
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v. |
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Case Nos. 2018-25566-A |
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2019-26007-A |
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UNITED
STATES STEEL CORPORATION, |
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2019-26157-A |
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Respondent. |
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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 Indiana Code (“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 IC
13-13-1-1.
2.
Respondent
is United States Steel Corporation (“Respondent”), which owns and operates the
stationary integrated steel mill with Plant ID No. 089-00121, located at One
North Broadway, in Gary, Lake County, Indiana (“Site”).
3.
IDEM has jurisdiction over the parties and the
subject matter of this action.
4.
By email
dated May 9, 2019, Respondent waived issuance of a Notice of Violation (“NOV”)
and the settlement period of sixty (60) days, as provided for by IC 13-30-3-3,
for the violations identified in the Enforcement Action Letters issued on August
24, 2018 and March 1, 2019.
5.
By email
dated June 27, 2019, Respondent waived issuance of a Notice of Violation
(“NOV”) and the settlement period of sixty (60) days, as provided for by IC
13-30-3-3, for the violation described in the Findings of Fact, Paragraph No. 6d
for the time period from January 1, 2019 to April 30,
2019.
6.
During
an investigation including report reviews conducted by a representative of
IDEM, the following violations were found:
a.
Pursuant
to Part 70 Operating Permit No. 089-38534-00121, Condition C.5(k) and
corresponding conditions in subsequent permits, any facility or operation not
specified in 326 IAC 6.8-10-3 shall meet a twenty percent (20%), three (3)
minute average opacity standard.
Respondent exceeded
the twenty percent (20%), three (3) minute average opacity standard on April
30, 2018 (two occurrences), May 9, 2018, May 16, 2018, May 29, 2018, and
October 24, 2018, in violation of Part 70 Operating Permit No. 089-38534-00121,
Condition C.5(k) and corresponding conditions in subsequent permits.
b.
Pursuant
to Part 70 Operating Permit No. 089-38534-00121, Condition F.9.2(28) and
corresponding conditions in subsequent permits and 40 CFR 63, Subpart FFFFF,
Table 1(12), Respondent must not cause to be discharged to the atmosphere any
secondary emissions that exit any opening in the BOPF shop or any other
building housing the BOPF or BOPF shop operation that exhibit opacity greater
than 20 percent (3-minute average).
Respondent exceeded the twenty percent (20%), three (3)
minute average opacity standard on April 30, 2018 (two occurrences), May 29,
2018 and October 24, 2018, in violation of Part 70 Operating Permit No.
089-38534-00121, Condition F.9.2(28) and corresponding conditions in subsequent
permits and 40 CFR 63, Subpart FFFFF, Table 1(12).
c.
Pursuant
to Part 70 Operating Permit No. 089-38534-00121, Condition C.12(a) and
corresponding conditions in subsequent permits, Respondent shall perform the
inspections, monitoring and record keeping in accordance with the information
in 326 IAC 6.8-8-5 through 326 IAC 6.8-8-7 or applicable procedures in the
Continuous Compliance Plan (CCP).
Respondent failed to complete daily baghouse inspections
subject to the CCP on June 17, 2018, December 23, 2018, and December 24, 2018,
in violation of Part 70 Operating Permit No. 089-38534-00121, Condition C.12(a)
and corresponding conditions in subsequent permits.
d.
Pursuant
to Part 70 Operating Permit No. 089-38534-00121, Condition D.15.3(b) and
corresponding conditions in subsequent permits, pursuant to the Minor Source
Modification 089-10160-00121 issued, January 13, 2000, 326 IAC 2-2 and 326 IAC
2-3, the NOX emissions for the TBBH Boiler No. 6 Stack OT6276 shall be limited
to the following: natural gas usage shall be limited to 1,059.7 million cubic
feet (MMCF) per twelve (12) consecutive month period with compliance
demonstrated at the end of each month.
Respondent exceeded the natural gas usage limit of 1059.7
million cubic feet (MMCF) per twelve (12) consecutive month period from
November of 2017 through April of 2019, in violation of Part 70 Operating
Permit No. 089-38534-00121, Condition D.15.3(b) and corresponding conditions in
subsequent permits.
7.
Respondent
was issued Part 70 Renewal Permit No. 089-39777-00121 on May 16, 2019, which
removed the natural gas usage limit requirement for the TBBH Boiler No. 6 Stack
OT6276 in Condition D.15.
8.
Respondent
submitted additional corrective action response documentation on May 7, 2019.
9.
Orders
of the Commissioner are subject to administrative review by the Office of
Environmental Adjudication under IC 4-21.5; however, in recognition of the settlement
reached, Respondent acknowledges notice
of this right and 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 the rules and
permit conditions listed in the findings of fact above.
3.
All submittals required by this Agreed Order,
unless IDEM notifies the Respondent otherwise in writing, shall be sent to:
Jennifer
Bailey, Senior Enforcement Case Manager
Office of Air Quality
Indiana
Department of Environmental Management
100 North
Senate Avenue
Indianapolis,
IN 46204-2251
Jbailey2@idem.in.gov
4.
Pursuant to IC 13-30-4-1, Respondent is
assessed and agrees to pay a civil penalty of Seventy-Four Thousand Two Hundred
Fifty Dollars ($74,250). Said penalty
amount shall be due and payable to the Environmental Management Special Fund
within thirty (30) days of the Effective Date; the thirtieth day being the “Due
Date.”
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
Accounts
Receivable
IGCN, Room
1340
100 North
Senate Avenue
Indianapolis,
IN 46204
6.
In the event that the monies
due to IDEM pursuant to this Agreed Order are not paid on or before their Due
Date, Respondent shall pay interest on the unpaid balance at the rate
established by IC 24-4.6-1. The interest shall be computed as having accrued from
the Due Date until the date that Respondent pays any unpaid balance. Such interest
shall be payable to the Environmental Management Special Fund,
and shall be payable to IDEM in the manner specified in Paragraph 5,
above.
7.
Signatories to this Agreed Order certify that
they are fully authorized to execute this Agreed Order and legally bind the
party they represent.
8.
This Agreed Order shall apply to and be binding
upon Respondent and all successors and assigns. Respondent shall provide a copy
of this Agreed Order, if in force, to any subsequent owners, successors, or
assigns before ownership rights are transferred.
9.
No change in ownership, corporate, or
partnership status of Respondent shall in any way alter the Respondent’s status
or responsibilities under this Agreed Order.
10.
Respondent shall ensure that all contractors,
firms, and other persons performing work under this Agreed Order comply with
the terms of this Agreed Order.
11.
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.
12.
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 the obligation
to comply with the requirements of any applicable permits or any applicable
Federal or State laws or regulations.
13.
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.
14.
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 violations specified in this Agreed Order.
15.
Nothing in this Agreed Order shall prevent IDEM
or anyone acting on its behalf from communicating with the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (“U.S. 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 U.S. EPA or any
other agency or entity.
16.
This Agreed Order shall remain in effect until
Respondent has complied with all terms and conditions of this Agreed Order and
IDEM has issued a Resolution of Case letter to Respondent.
TECHNICAL
RECOMMENDATION: |
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RESPONDENT: |
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Department
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United States Steel Corporation |
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David
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Enforcement
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Office
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COUNSEL
FOR COMPLAINANT: |
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COUNSEL
FOR RESPONDENT: |
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For
the Department of Environmental Management |
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By: |
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APPROVED
AND ADOPTED BY THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL |
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MANAGEMENT THIS |
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DAY OF |
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2021. |
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For
the Commissioner: |
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Signed
on April 20, 2021 |
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Matthew
Stuckey |
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Assistant
Commissioner |
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Office
of Air Quality Indiana
Department of Environmental Management |
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