Republic Steel, a subsidiary of Mexican steel giant Grupo Simec, will install pollution controls at its Canton, Ohio facility to reduce airborne lead emissions as part of a consent decree with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Dept. of Justice announced on Dec. 2.
EPA and the Justice Dept. allege that lead emissions from the facility have exceeded the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for lead, which is 0.15 micrograms per cu meter of air. They also allege that Republic Steel has failed to test and monitor emissions during degassing operations in its steel manufacturing process. The settlement terms are included in a proposed consent decree filed with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.