U.S. Steel Reaches Settlement Involving Gary Plant
(photo courtesy of our partners at The Times of Northwest Indiana)
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowPittsburgh-based U.S. Steel Corp. (NYSE: X) has agreed to pay a $2.2 million civil penalty following a lawsuit by the U.S. Department of Justice and the states of Indiana, Illinois and Michigan. In addition to the fine, U.S. Steel will begin efforts to reduce pollution at its three Midwest iron and steel manufacturing plants, including a facility in Gary.
Under the consent decree, U.S. Steel will invest $800,000 to remove contaminated transformers at its Gary Works facility as well as its facility in Ecorse, Michigan. The company will also repair an opening in a metal shell that surrounds a blast furnace at the Gary facility, which will eliminate excess emissions.
Additionally, U.S. Steel has agreed to replace potentially PCB-contaminated lights at nearby Gary schools with non-toxic and energy-efficient lights. The company will also remove and dispose of tires that were dumped at various locations in Gary.
"I applaud the united, collaborative effort by all parties who worked to resolve this matter and to hold accountable those responsible for polluting the environment," said Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller. "No one should be subjected to living and working in a polluted environment."
U.S. Steel will also conduct similar efforts in Ecorse and Granite City, Illinois.