Welcome To the New Baltimore Brew

We're currently working on the new and improved version of the Baltimore Brew.

Pardon our mess as over the coming weeks we introduce new features and layouts to the website.

We value your feedback, please don't hesitate to email us about the site: admin@baltimorebrew.com.

Feedback

Sparrows Point steel mill cited for violating Maryland air quality laws

Brew Editors 9 months ago, November 7, 2009 View Comments

by FERN SHEN

     The Severstal steel mill at Sparrows Point broke state air pollution laws on multiple occasions over the past year, according to the Maryland Department of the Environment.

     The company was informed on Sept. 24 by letter that it was being cited by MDE for instances in which it failed to control the emission of volatile organic compounds, air toxins and particulate matter at the Baltimore County mill. MDE’s letter said Severstal faces possible civil penalties that include fines of as much as $25,000 per violation.

     MDE disclosed the citations Friday in a routine monthly news release of state actions against companies and individuals across Maryland. According to MDE’s September 24 letter to Severstal:

     * The steelmaker’s “sintering” plant emitted excessive amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for 13 days between Sept. 13, 2008 and Oct. 23, 2008. This occurred again on June 25, 2009.

     * For 22 days between Nov. 10, 2008 and Jan. 14, 2009 the company failed to run its pollution scrubber at the Cold Reduction Mill properly.

     * The company also failed to take the proper steps to limit particle pollution on May 13. 2009.  (MDE contends in this instance that the company “failed to use flame suppression during re-ladling in the emergency pit when an employee improperly shut down the natural gas suppression control equipment.”)

    MDE spokesman Jay Apperson said the company has been cooperating in discussion about the alleged violations with the state. Severstal has also been meeting with MDE over the Sept. 29 furnace fire at the plant, which is still under investigation by the state.

    The Daily Drip

    • September 2, 2010

      • Highlights from Investigative Voice’s coverage of pretrial deliberations, as three men go on trial for the 2008 killing of Baltimore City Councilmember Kenneth H. Harris. “You look at my face when you’re talking to me!” Circuit Court Judge David Ross said yesterday to Assistant State’s Attorney Cynthia M. Banks, who was reading from a notepad [...]

      • Here’s another opportunity for Baltimore bicyclists to assert themselves: city transportation officials are installing an automatic bike counter on the Fallsway. This comes from a bulletin from the city Department of Transportation, which tells cyclists to “just look for the diamond-shaped groove and ride over it. “If we have the traffic numbers and public support,” [...]

    • September 1, 2010

      • Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has announced that the famous Georgia-based Le Mans racing series will participate in the Baltimore Grand Prix racing events this weekend.

      • The unidentified gun man who allegedly entered and fired shots inside the Discovery Communications building in Silver Springs, MD some time earlier today has supposedly released the following list of demands, which are published on a website with the URL http://savetheplanetprotest.com, the link to which has been circulating around Twitter.  Discovery Communications is the umbrella company [...]

    More of the Daily Drip »

    Twitter

    Facebook