The Latest Penalties Against U.S. Steel for Clairton Coke Works Air Quality Violations

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 March issued U.S. Steel a demand for stipulated penalties in the amount of $238,675 for air quality violations that occurred at the Clairton Coke Works between July 1, 2023, and Sept. 30, 2023.

While the demand was dated March 31, 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.

Per the terms of a 2019 settlement agreement between ACHD and the company, 90 percent of the fine ($214,807) will go to a Community Benefit Trust that you can read more about here. The remaining 10 percent ($25,867) will go to ACHD as a civil penalty.

We also want to flag this detail in the document, which will become relevant when we tell you about another demand for stipulated penalties ACHD issued to U.S. Steel back in December:

(ACHD and U.S. Steel) are in (negotiations) of previous demands and will address any remainder settlement credits through the dispute resolution process or future demand letters.

That demand, dated Dec. 13 but just recently posted to ACHD’s enforcement docket, reflected penalties assessed for air quality violations that occurred at Clairton Coke Works from April 1, 2023, to June 30, 2023.

While the original total for those violations was $170,950, that total was reduced to just $98,485 based on the terms of a settlement agreement reached between U.S. Steel and ACHD on Sept. 22, 2023, regarding previous demands.

Ninety percent of those penalties will go to the Community Benefit Trust established by the 2019 settlement agreement we mentioned earlier, with the remaining 10 percent going to ACHD in the form of a civil penalty.

ACHD also took enforcement action against:

• Allegheny Valley Joint Sewer Authority and F/K Industries Inc for failing to properly notify ACHD before proceeding with asbestos abatement. The department issued a $1,485 civil penalty.

• Amari Painting & Lining LLC for performing abrasive blasting without a permit. ACHD issued a $3,400 civil penalty.

• Century Townhomes for failing to perform an asbestos survey prior to renovation activities.

• Tom Shernisky for disturbing asbestos-containing material without certifications or licensing. 

GASP continues to monitor the enforcement and appeals dockets and will keep you posted as new documents are made available.