Allegheny Co. Health Department Issues More Penalties to U.S. Steel for Air Quality Violations at Clairton Coke Works

Editor’s Note: The Allegheny County Health Department periodically updates its website to include documents related to air quality enforcement actions. As part of our watchdog work, GASP monitors this webpage, and reports on the air quality violations posted there. 

The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) in April issued U.S. Steel a demand for stipulated penalties in the amount of $216,325 for air quality violations that occurred at the Clairton Coke Works between Oct. 1, 2023, and Dec. 31, 2023.

While the demand was dated April 18, it was only recently posted to the ACHD enforcement docket. The demand letter details the various types of violations and includes myriad charts and graphs - you can check it out here.

“It’s disturbing to see how U.S. Steel’s compliance has plummeted - especially when it comes to leaking coke oven doors,” GASP Executive Director Patrick Campbell said. “And despite all its talk and TV and radio ads hailing itself as a good neighbor, they are still racking up penalties related to hydrogen sulfide, which has been not only a quality of life matter but a public health matter than needs to be addressed ASAP.”

Per the terms of a 2019 settlement agreement between ACHD and the company, 90 percent of the fine ($194,692.50) will go to a Community Benefit Trust that you can read more about here. The remaining 10 percent ($21,632) will go to ACHD as a civil penalty.

However, the demand letter also included this verbiage:

The Department and U.S. Steel are in negations of previous demands and will address any remaining settlement credits through the dispute resolution process or future demands.

GASP continues to follow U.S. Steel enforcement issues closely and will keep you posted as more information becomes available.