Environmental groups claim victory in EPA ruling on U.S. Steel’s Clairton plant

By Justin Vellucci
Trib Total Media
Government regulators sided with environmental advocates, in part, when they ruled recently that a U.S. Steel plant in the Mon Valley might be violating clean-air laws under a current permit that restricts its emissions.
The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) delivered a split decision last month over petitions by four environmental groups, who claimed county permits for Clairton Coke Works don’t comply with some Clean Air Act requirements. The agency sided with the petitioners on some claims — such as inadequate emission testing and compliance schedules — and disagreed with others.
Allegheny County health officials now must revise the plant’s Title 5 permit to ensure that emissions are more closely regulated, among other changes, EPA officials said.
Allegheny County spokeswoman Amie Downs confirmed the health department received the EPA notice and is drafting a response.
“It would be inappropriate to comment before that response is complete,” Downs said.
U.S. Steel “will work with the Allegheny County Health Department to appropriately respond to the EPA order,” spokeswoman Amanda Malkowski added.

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