Harmful air pollution from U.S. Steel reduced as a result of PennEnvironment, Clean Air Council Lawsuit

U.S. Steel has permanently shut down Battery 15 and applied for tighter limits on pollution linked to asthma 

PITTSBURGH (June 4, 2024) – U.S. Steel has permanently shut down coke Battery 15, one of the oldest and most-polluting parts of the Clairton Coke Works, and has formally applied to the Allegheny County Health Department to remove the battery from its Clean Air Act permits. The closure of Battery 15, which had previously been temporarily idled, will permanently ratchet down emissions of harmful emissions such as sulfur compounds (linked to asthma and respiratory problems), benzene (linked to cancer), and fine particulates (linked to cardiovascular and other health problems). At the time of its closure, Battery 15 contained more than 10% of the remaining coke ovens at Clairton Works. The closure was confirmed in a filing with the Allegheny County Health Department on May 30, 2024. 

That filing also includes an application by U.S. Steel to tighten the limit on emissions of hydrogen sulfide (a respiratory irritant), reducing the allowable limit nearly 30% from 35 to 25 grains per cubic foot of gas facility-wide.

Both of these changes were required under the terms of the historic settlement of federal Clean Air Act litigation by PennEnvironment, the Clean Air Council and Allegheny County. The lawsuit was filed in response to thousands of violations of air pollution limits after the massive fire at U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works on Christmas Eve, 2018.

Zachary Barber, the Clean Air Advocate with PennEnvironment, issued the following statement:

“Pittsburghers can breathe a little easier with the news that Allegheny County’s most-toxic polluter, the Clairton Coke Works, has permanently reduced its emissions of harmful air pollutants. Tightening pollution limits for hydrogen sulfide gas and requiring the permanent closure of one of the dirtiest parts of the Clairton Coke Works will pay public health dividends to local residents for years to come.”

Alex Bomstein, the Executive Director of Clean Air Council, issued the following statement:

“When we sued U.S. Steel, our number one priority was protecting the health of residents in the Mon Valley. The closure of Battery 15 was one of the most important steps toward that goal that we achieved in our historic legal victory over U.S. Steel.  While nothing can undo the damage caused by U.S. Steel’s previous emissions, these reductions will reduce future harm and move the region toward the cleaner, more wholesome air it deserves.”