Gerdau Specialty Steel, North America(Gerdau) owns and operates a steel mini-mill in Jackson, Michigan. EPA inspectors and consultants hired by Gerdau separately observed electric arc furnace (EAF) emissions to the open, uncontrolled roof monitor of the melt shop.
The EPA issued two NOVs in September 2014 and June 2016 alleging violations of the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP): Area Sources: Electric Arc Furnace Steelmaking Facilities (40 C.F.R. Part 63, Subpart YYYYY), the facility's Title V permit. The violations include opacity exceedances at the facility's melt shop (containing two EAFs)(40 CFR Section 63.10686(c)(2)), failure to conduct operation and maintenance inspections (Title V permit requirement), failure to conduct stack testing (40 CFR Section 63.10686(d)(1)), failure to conduct opacity readings (40 CFR Section 63.10686(d)(2)), and failure to maintain pressure drop (Title V permit requirement). In addition, EPA alleged that Gerdau failed to operate its existing capture and control system in accordance with good air pollution control practices as required in the General Provisions (40 CFR Section 63.10690 and Section 63.6(e)).
The main pollutant of concern is particulate matter (PM)emissions from the facility's EAFs and melt shop operations.
The parties have reached an agreement in principle on injunctive relief that will resolve the violations cited in the NOVs. The injunctive relief includes: modification of the