Pittsburgh-based United States Steel Corp. recently signed a consent decree, addressing the 2018 Clairton Plant fire and power outages that occurred at the plant in 2019 and 2022. It was signed with the Allegheny County Health Department, Clean Air Council, and PennEnvironment.
“At U. S. Steel, there are more than 3,000 hardworking men and women in the Mon Valley who strive every day to make essential steel in a way that complies with all environmental regulations,” Kurt Barshick, Mon Valley Works vice president, said. “When we miss that mark, we will make changes so we can do better. We’re glad that a significant amount of funds from this agreement will make their way back into the communities where we live and work.”
The company agreed to pay the Allegheny County Clean Air Fund $500,000; Contribute $4.5 million to projects supporting public health and welfare and/or air quality improvement in the Mon Valley; cover part of PennEnvironment and Clean Air Council’s litigation costs; invest approximately $19.5 million to upgrade coke oven gas cleaning facilities; and permanently idle the plant’s Battery No. 15.
The battery has been on hot idle. The permanent idle will not result in any job cuts.
The company also agreed to a lower hydrogen sulfide limit.