The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) and Evraz Inc., North America, have signed a consent decree that requires Evraz Claymont Steel, Claymont, Del., to implement a series of investments and operational changes to control dust and other emissions at its steel mill.
The decree was announced by the DNREC’s Secretary Collin O’Mara and Michael Rehwinkel, president and CEO, Evraz Inc. North America.
The investments will include the installation of pollution controls to significantly improve air quality in neighborhoods surrounding the steel mill. The agreement resolves outstanding compliance issues and builds upon years of civic leadership by local residents to improve the health of their community.
Under the agreement, DNREC will require Evraz to control emissions from several operations in the facility’s melt shop by modernizing an existing baghouse, increasing baghouse capacity and installing additional equipment. Evraz will be required to continue its enhanced mercury pollution prevention program, which began in January 2007, to reduce mercury sources and emissions.
Other requirements include implementing operational practices that will reduce the potential for emissions and continued particulate monitoring around the facility. The agreement establishes schedules for the acquisition of permits and other approvals, and financial stipulated penalties if the terms and conditions are not met.
Other actions required by Evraz include the following:
- Design, facilitate and install additional baghouse capacity and capture equipment no later than August 2013.
- Install control technology and to capture emissions from the electric arc furnace, stir station and ladle reheat operations and direct emissions to a baghouse.
- Move the slag cooling operations, currently conducted outside, to inside the melt shop within six months of the effective date of the order.
- Relocate the ladle slag dump area inside of the facility and install a water suppression system.
- Implement feed controls at the stir station until additional baghouse capacity and associated equipment are operational.
- Modify the tapping hood to ensure proper alignment for tapping operation and for use during the ladle reheat process.
- Submit an updated Title V renewal permit application within 30 days of the order’s effective date.
- Maintain operations of four ambient air quality monitors and submit monitoring reports to DNREC.
- Continue to implement its enhanced mercury pollution prevention program, including quarterly testing for mercury emissions from appropriate units.
If the terms of the agreement are approved by the court, the consent decree will resolve outstanding compliance issues related to fugitive dust emissions and mercury emissions from the facility, including issues remaining from two conciliation orders issued in 2006.