US-based steel producer United States Steel Corporation has announced that it has signed an agreement with the government of the United States and the federal government of Indiana to resolve water violations with respect to the company’s Midwest plant in Portage, Indiana.
Last year, the Midwest plant discharged wastewater containing chromium into a tributary of Lake Michigan.
According to the agreement, the company’s Midwest plant will undertake substantial measures to improve its operations, minimizing the possibility for recurrence of similar incidents at the facility.
US Steel stated that it is taking numerous steps to improve upon environmental standards, including: installing a new wastewater piping system and completing containment trench repairs; implementing new spill notification procedures; redeveloping the company’s comprehensive wastewater operations and maintenance plan; implementing a more comprehensive preventive maintenance program plan; and identifying and evaluating available enhanced wastewater monitoring systems that would promote early detection and alert the company to any potential incidents.
Meanwhile, the agreement requires US Steel to pay more than $600,000 as a civil penalty and to reimburse the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Park Service (NPS) for response costs.