Sparrows Point settles air pollution case documented by this website
RG Steel agrees to pay $135,000 fine for releasing untreated pollutants from L blast furnace.
Above: The Sparrows Point sintering plant, which processed iron ore for the L blast furnace, at work in October 2009.
RG Steel Sparrows Point has agreed to pay $135,000 in fines for air pollution problems exposed by a series of articles in The Brew.
The fine is part of a settlement announced today between the company and the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) to resolve air pollution violations caused by the mill’s blast furnace two years ago.
These problems came vividly to light in a Sept. 29, 2009 furnace “slip” that caused a hundred-foot-high fireball to erupt from the “L” blast furnace. The explosion released high concentrations of carbon monoxide and other toxic gases that spread across the Baltimore county communities of Edgemere, Lodge Forest, Turners Station and Dundalk.
Over the next three months, The Brew investigated the September blast and reported that a constant stream of furnace slips was releasing untreated pollutants through “dirty gas” bleeder valves.
The Brew also noted that MDE officials had been willing to accept the steel mill’s assertion that the furnace slips were under control.
L blast furnace regularly released untreated pollutants in late 2009 and early 2010. (Photo by Mark Reutter)
On December 21, 2009, the agency ended its defense of the steel company and demanded further explanation, citing “a recent article in the Daily [stet] Brew.” The company refused, which ultimately resulted in the state subpoenaing the daily logs of the blast furnace.
Log Reports Critical to the Case
The logs showed that the furnace had malfunctioned roughly 400 times between September 2009 and February 2010, releasing large amounts of untreated pollutants.
The Brew used the Maryland Public Information Act to review the logs and published portions of the reports that pointed to widespread violations of state and federal air pollution statutes.
Evidence from the log reports were a key part of the state’s legal complaint that resulted in today’s announcement of a settlement. The violations took place when the mill was owned by Severstal North America.
The settlement further noted air pollution violations at the sintering plant and basic oxygen furnace (BOF). The sintering plant, which feeds iron ore fines into the L furnace, was closed on Oct. 29, 2009 by Severstal. It’s been returned to production by RG Steel.
Telltale rust-colored pollutants escape from the basic oxygen furnace (BOF) in October 2009. NOTE: the time notation is inaccurate. (Photo by Mark Reutter)
RG Steel, which purchased Sparrows Point from Severstal in March, has agreed to take steps to control air pollution at the mill.
Within the next two months, for example, the company pledged to submit a plan to minimize emissions from the dirty gas bleeder valves. The plan “shall include procedures for operating and maintaining the gas bleeder valves during facility startup and shutdown operations and during malfunction events.”
Other stipulations require the valves not to be opened during shutdowns until the gas pressure is below a certain level and for a consultant to analyze the feasibility of installing scrubbers on the dirty gas bleeders.
The consent decree was signed by Sparrows Point general manager Glenn G. Mikaloff, state director of air and radiation management George S. Aburn Jr., and assistant Maryland attorney general Michael F. Strande.