EPA conducted a multimedia inspection of this facility in June 2012. Four violations of the Clean Air Act and the facilityÂs Title V permit were identified during the inspection and upon review of the records collected during the inspection:
(1) NLMK exceeded a metal throughput limit at the Melt Shop on nine occasions in 2010 and 2011;
(2) NLMK did not prepare or implement Preventative Maintenance Plans for the Melt Shop Baghouse, the Hot Strip Mill SCR and the Reheat Furnace;
(3) NLMK failed to calibrate or replace the instruments used to determine the differential pressure across the Melt Shop Baghouses as required; and
(4) NLMK exceeded a NOx emission limit at the Reheat Furnace on five days in 2012.
EPA issued a Finding of Violation (FOV) to NLMK for violations of the Clean Air Act on December 21, 2012. A Section 113 Conference was held on January 29, 2013. On June 21, 2013, EPA issued NLMK an Administrative Consent Order which required NLMK to implement and maintain a new program for monitoring and calculating their Melt Shop throughput; implement a program to timely calibrate instruments used to determine pressure differentials across the baghouse; and draft and implement Preventative Maintenance Plans for its baghouse, Reheat Furnace, and SCR.
The Administrative Penalty Order (APO) and Consent Agreement and Final Order (CAFO) require NLMK to pay a civil penalty of $148,712 and would resolve the alleged violations.