A federal suit was filed last week in the US District Court in Baltimore by SPS Limited Partnership, LLLP and SPS 35, LLC--owners of the Sparrows Point Shipyard--against Severstal, current owner of the Sparrows Point steel mill, along with previous owner ArcelorMittal, claiming the mill has contaminated their docks and repair yard with benzene and other hazardous materials.
The suit seeks reimbursement costs for cleanup work the shipyard has already conducted, as well as any cleanup in the future. Additionally, the suit demands that mill be required to prevent the spread of hazardous substances from its blast furnace and other operations to the shipyard.
Severstal spokeswoman Marika Diamond declined to comment to the press.