ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY HEADLINESEnvironment and Sustainability
EPA Settles PCB Violations with Severstal Sparrows Point
Oct. 9, 2008 Severstal Sparrows Point, LLC has settled a case involving alleged violations of federal regulations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) at its Sparrows Point, Md., steelmaking facility.
In a consent agreement with the EPA, the company has agreed to pay a $107,500 civil penalty to resolve alleged violations of PCB regulations. The violations were uncovered during an August 2005 inspection when the plant was owned and operated by the former ISG Sparrows Point, LLC.
PCBs, which are classified as a probable human carcinogen, were once widely used as a nonflammable coolant for transformers and other electrical equipment. In 1976, Congress enacted the Toxic Substances Control Act, which strictly regulated the manufacture, use and disposal of PCBs.
Alleged violations at the facility included the storage of combustible materials near PCB transformers; failure to perform daily inspections to verify containment of a PCB transformer leak; failure to include required information in quarterly PCB transformer inspection and maintenance records and in written annual document logs; improper storage of PCB articles for reuse and for disposal; improper disposal of PCB waste; and failure to include required information in prepared manifests that accompanied the off-site transport of PCB containers and PCB articles.
According to the EPA, ISG Sparrows Point, LLC cooperated with EPA’s investigation and Severstal Sparrows Point, LLC has certified that the facility now is in full compliance with PCB regulations.