Pittsburgh, PA–Feb. 26[–The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) has fined U.S. Steel nearly $2 million for 362 air quality “pushing” violations that occurred at its Clairton Coke Works facility between March 16, 2022, and Dec. 31, 2023, thereby causing uncontrolled pollutants into the nearby atmosphere.
According to a press statement from the ACHD, the coke works were in violation for “uncontrolled pushes” occur when coke, a component used in steelmaking, is mechanically pushed from an oven into a traveling car, then taken to a quench station where it is cooled with water, according to health department documents. During “normal operation,” a fume collection hood is connected to a fan to curb emissions.
“Process and equipment failures” at the plant led coke emissions to drift into Mon Valley air without being filtered properly, the health department said.
The latest fine comes on the heels of another seven-figure penalty levied against the Pittsburgh-based steel giant. In late 2023, the Health Department fined the corporation more than $2.2 million for ongoing violations of state emission standards for air quality control at the site.
The violations come at a time when U.S, Steel is in continued talks with Nippon Steel to finalize its sale to the Japanese steelmaker
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