On February 12, 2014, EPA issued to Alton a Finding of Violation in which EPA alleged that Alton violated: provisions of the General Provisions (Subpart A) of the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP), opacity limits required by the NESHAP for Electric Arc Furnace Steelmaking Facilities (Subpart YYYYY), and its Title V Permit at its steel making facility. Specifically, EPA alleged that Alton exceeded the 6 percent opacity at their melt shop roof and did not conduct opacity observations in accordance with EPA Reference Method 9.
Alton determined that there were holes in their melt shop roof, which they repaired. Alton will perform semi-annual melt shop roof maintenance. Alton corrected their EPA Reference Method 9 opacity observation forms. Additionally, Alton tested baghouse efficiency, and opacity and particulate matter emissions at their baghouses and melt shop roof on June 23 ? 24, 2014, and did not report any exceedances of emission limits.
Pursuant to the CAFO, Alton will pay a settlement penalty of $59,485, which takes into consideration Alton?s cooperation in this matter and return to compliance.