EPA Regional Office Begins Investigation at Former Steel Plant
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 announced that an environmental investigation has begun at the Hamilton ARMCO site, in New Miami, Ohio.
The Phase 1 work will determine the nature and extent of contamination and will include sampling of soil, ground water, surface water and sediment and installation of monitoring wells. Sampling areas will include former by-product areas such as air sludge scrubbers, a rail yard, stormwater outlets, drainage ditches, fuel storage tanks, wastewater settling ponds and a closed landfill.
The site started out as a coke plant. It also was the site of iron, steel and road tar manufacturing. Now vacant, the property was purchased by AK Steel in 1994 and subsequently blast furnaces, buildings and other structures were demolished.
The work now under way will be performed by AK Steel contractors under EPA oversight in consultation with Ohio EPA.
EPA Cites WCI Steel For Clean-Air Violations
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has cited WCI Steel Inc. for alleged clean-air violations at the company's iron and steel plant in Warren, Ohio.
EPA alleges that WCI Steel violated its state operating permit and its permit to prevent deterioration of air quality by failing to control particulate (smoke, ash, dust) emissions from parts of two casthouses at the plant. The alleged violations were discovered during an EPA inspection in March and from information submitted by the company in June.
The EPA noted that the citations are preliminary findings of violations. To resolve them, EPA may issue a compliance order, assess an administrative penalty or bring suit against the company. WCI Steel has 30 days from receipt of the notice to meet with EPA to discuss resolving the allegations.
EPA Cites Barron County Solid Waste Management Board For Clean-Air Violations
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has cited the Barron County Solid Waste Management Board for alleged clean-air violations at the Barron County Waste-to-Energy Facility in Almena, Wis.
EPA alleges that two Barron County waste- and refuse-fired municipal incinerators emitted excessive amounts of hydrochloric acid and particulates (smoke, dust, ash) during stack tests done on May 3-4.