ArcelorMittal Weirton LLC resolves hazardous waste violations

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a settlement with ArcelorMittal Weirton LLC related to alleged hazardous waste violations at the West Virginia facility.

In addition, the EPA says the company has certified the facility’s compliance with federal hazardous waste laws. The tin plate operation is located on the northern panhandle of West Virginia along the Ohio River in the city of Weirton.

EPA cited ArcelorMittal for violating the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the federal law governing the treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous waste. RCRA is designed to protect public health and the environment, EPA says, and avoid long and extensive cleanups, by requiring the safe, environmentally sound storage and disposal of hazardous waste.

Among the concerns noted during an EPA inspection of the electroplating facility were uncontained toxic hazardous waste, such as lead, cyanide and chromium—a known carcinogen -- on equipment, the facility floor and outside the building.

The settlement reflects the company’s compliance efforts and its cooperation with EPA’s investigation, according to the agency. As part of the settlement, ArcelorMittal Weirton has not admitted liability. Under the settlement, ArcelorMittal Weirton will pay a $93,288 penalty.

By failing to properly manage hazardous waste, EPA says there is the potential for employees to be exposed to hazardous constituents or result in the release of hazardous constituents into the environment via soil or groundwater. The inspection did not identify any releases into the environment.

EPA cited ArcelorMittal Weirton for violations including:

• failure to ship a variety of hazardous wastes off-site in a timely manner;
• failure to minimize the risk of release of hazardous waste;
• failure to make a hazardous waste determination; and
• failure to properly label and date spent batteries.

ArcelorMittal Weirton LLC is part of Luxembourg-based ArcelorMittal, a leading supplier of steel products in all major markets, and a major iron ore producer. The facility employs more than 850 workers and makes tin plate, cold-rolled sheet, serving the distribution and packaging markets.