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EPA reaches agreement with Republic Engineered Products on clean-air violations

Release Date: 08/07/2008
Contact Information: William Omohundro, 312-353-8254, omohundro.william@epa.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 08-OPA127

CHICAGO (Aug. 7, 2008) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has reached an agreement with Republic Engineered Products Inc. on alleged Clean Air Act violations at the company's steel mill at 1807 E. 28th St., Lorain, Ohio. Republic agreed to pay a $210,000 penalty.

The agreement resolves EPA allegations that Republic violated state regulations and its state operating permit by exceeding limits on opacity, or the amount of light obscured by particulates (smoke, dust, ash), from its basic oxygen process vessels and its blast furnace cast house.

The alleged violations were discovered during EPA and Ohio EPA inspections and from information submitted by Republic.

Inhaling high concentrations of particulates can affect children, the elderly and people with heart and lung diseases the most.

Information about EPA Region 5's air enforcement program is at https://www.epa.gov/region5/air/enforce/index.html. Potential environmental violations may be reported at https://www.epa.gov/compliance/complaints.