Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Contact: Anne Perry Moore, 218-723-2356 Toll-free: 1-800-657-3864 Duluth, Minn. - The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and the U.S. Steel Corporation reached an agreement that resolved the company's alleged past failure to comply with state air and water quality permits at its Minntac facility in Mountain Iron, Minn. As a result, the company has agreed to pay a $119,544 civil penalty and submit air and water quality equipment compliance plans. The Mountain Iron facility processes mined iron ore into taconite pellets. After crushing the ore, the resulting waste rock and water are discharged into the company's on-site tailings basin. The company's state air quality permit requires operation of the facility's air pollutant control and monitoring equipment within specified operating ranges (for pressure drop and water supply), to demonstrate good operating practices are being followed to minimize emissions. Between late 2006 and late 2007, monitoring records documented failure to operate many units within these operating ranges, and failure to maintain required records or take appropriate corrective actions for some of these air pollution control devices. The company's state water quality permit requires proper operation and maintenance of its wastewater treatment system. The system treats water used to remove pollutants from facility smokestack emissions and this water is discharged into the tailings basin. The company's wastewater treatment monitoring records from 2006 through 2008 showed that the system was not meeting pollutant-removal requirements. As a result of this agreement, U.S. Steel-Minntac representatives will evaluate the wastewater treatment system and take whatever actions are needed to ensure the facility stays within the terms spelled out in its permit. A stipulation agreement such as this is one of the tools used to achieve compliance with environmental laws. When calculating penalties, the MPCA takes into account how seriously the violation affected the environment, whether it is a first time or repeat violation, and how promptly the violation was reported to appropriate authorities. It also attempts to recover the calculated economic benefit gained by failure to comply with environmental laws in a timely manner. For a comprehensive list of enforcement actions by the MPCA, go to the agency Web site at www.pca.state.mn.us/newscenter/enforcement.html. For more information about air quality permits, call Steven Palzkill, MPCA air quality inspector, at 218-529-6255. For more information on water quality permits, call John Thomas, MPCA water quality inspector, at 218-723-4928. Both may be reached toll-free at 1-800-657-3864.