EPA Postpones Hazardous Air Pollution Compliance Deadlines for Iron & Steel Making Facilities Like U.S. Steel’s Edgar Thomson Works

Bad news to report today, friends. Here’s what’s going on: As you may recall, back in July, we blogged about the EPA’s proposal to postpone compliance deadlines in the revised National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for integrated iron and steel manufacturing facilities (the II&S NESHAPs), including U.S. Steel’s Edgar Thomson Works in Braddock. 

GASP also spoke out against the proposed postponement in September.

Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, EPA has decided to go ahead with its proposed postponement of the compliance deadlines in the II&S NESHAPs. 

On Dec. 3,EPA published a rule in the Federal Register that finalized the postponement that it proposed earlier in the year. 

 As was the case for the postponement of deadlines for standards for coke ovens’ emissions of hazardous air pollutants, EPA relied on “infeasibility” and “national security” concerns to justify the delay.

 “This is yet another decision by EPA to put corporate convenience ahead of public health,” said GASP’s Senior Attorney John Baillie. “It is a disappointment.”