SunCoke Energy and Cokenergy to resolve Clean Air Act violations
Staff Writer |
SunCoke Energy, its subsidiary Indiana Harbor Coke Company (IHCC), and Cokenergy have agreed to resolve alleged Clean Air Act violations relating to excess emissions of coke oven gases from their coke plant in East Chicago, Indiana.
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This was announced by the Department of Justice, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Office of the Indiana Attorney General, and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.
Implementation of the Consent Decree’s requirements will result in estimated annual emissions reductions of 2,075 tons of coke oven emissions, which are hazardous air pollutants, and include 1,895 tons of SO2, 125 tons of particulate matter, 55 tons of volatile organic compounds, and 680 pounds of lead.
In addition, under the settlement agreement Cokenergy will spend $250,000 on a lead abatement project in the East Chicago area to reduce lead hazards in schools, day-care centers, and other buildings with priority given to young children and pregnant women.
Additionally, the companies will provide copies of reports submitted under the Consent Decree to two public libraries in East Chicago.
The settlement also requires comprehensive coke oven rebuilds to address oven leaks, including potential permanent shut down of the worst performing battery.
The companies have agreed to enhanced monitoring and testing requirements, including two stack tests to measure lead emissions.
Further, the settlement requires implementation of preventive maintenance and operations plans to minimize excess emissions. Finally, the companies will pay a $5 million civil penalty, to be split evenly between the United States and the State of Indiana.
The primary violations alleged relate to leaking coke ovens and excessive bypass venting of hot coking gases directly to the atmosphere, resulting in excess SO2, particulate matter, and lead emissions from the facility’s coke ovens and bypass vent stacks, in violation of applicable permit limits. SO2 contributes to acid rain and exacerbates respiratory illness, particularly in children and the elderly.
Exposure to particulate pollution has been linked to health impacts that include decreased lung function, aggravated asthma and premature death in people with heart or lung disease.
EPA has recognized that lead poisoning is the number one environmental health threat in the United States for children ages 6 and younger. In addition, coke oven emissions are a known human carcinogen.
Chronic exposure in humans can result in conjunctivitis, severe dermatitis and lesions of the respiratory system and digestive system. ■