STATE OF INDIANA

COUNTY OF MARION

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SS:

BEFORE THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT
OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

 

COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT
OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT,

Complainant,

v.

STEEL DYNAMICS, INC.,

Respondent.

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Case No. 2008-17818-A

 

 

AGREED ORDER

 

Complainant and Respondent desire to settle and compromise this action without hearing or adjudication of any issue of fact or law, and consent to the entry of the following Findings of Fact and Order.  Pursuant to IC 13-30-3-3, entry into the terms of this Agreed Order does not constitute an admission of any violation contained herein.  Respondent's entry into this Agreed Order shall not constitute a waiver of any defense, legal or equitable, which Respondent may have in any future administrative or judicial proceeding, except a proceeding to enforce this order.

 

I.  FINDINGS OF FACT

 

1.                  Complainant is the Commissioner (“Complainant”) of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (“IDEM”), a department of the State of Indiana created by Indiana Code (“IC”) 13-13-1-1.

 

2.                  Respondent is Steel Dynamics, Inc. (“Respondent”), which owns and operates the direct reduced iron facility (“Iron Dynamics Division”), with I.D. No. 033-00076, located at 4500 County Road 59 in Butler, DeKalb County, Indiana (“Site”).

 

3.                  IDEM has jurisdiction over the parties and the subject matter of this action.

 

4.                  Pursuant to IC 13-30-3-3, IDEM issued a Notice of Violation (“NOV”) via Certified Mail to:

 

Mr. Keith Busse, President & Registered Agent

Steel Dynamics, Inc.

6714 Pointe Inverness Way, Suite 200

Fort Wayne, Indiana 46804

 

5.                  During an investigation conducted by a representative of IDEM based on information reported by Respondent in the Annual Compliance Certification required to be submitted for operations during the 2006 calendar year pursuant to Part 70 Permit No. 033-12614-00076 (“Part 70 Permit”), the following violations were found:

 

a.         Pursuant to 326 IAC 2-2-3, Significant Source Modification No. 033-15955-00076 as modified by Amendment No. 033-17732-00076 and Condition D.2.6 of the Part 70 Permit, the baghouses for particulate matter/particulate matter 10 microns or less in aerodynamic diameter (“PM/PM10”) and lead control shall be in operation and control emissions from the Rotary Hearth Furnace fugitives and briquetters at all times the Rotary Hearth Furnace and briquetters are in operation.

 

Respondent failed to operate the baghouse controlling the Rotary Hearth Furnace fugitives and briquetters while these processes were in operation, in violation of 326 IAC 2-2-3, Significant Source Modification No. 033-15955-00076 as modified by Amendment No. 033-17732-00076 and Condition D.2.6 of the Part 70 Permit.

 

b.         Pursuant to Construction Permit No. 033-9187-00043 and Condition D.3.14(b)(1) of the Part 70 Permit, Respondent shall have a certified visible emission observer observe opacity of the visible emissions from the Submerged Arc Furnace (SAF) Stack 58 at least once per day when the SAF is operating.  Records shall be maintained of the visible emission observations pursuant to Conditions D.3.14(b)(1) and D.3.18(b) of the Part 70 Permit .

 

Respondent failed to take and/or record opacity observations of the visible emissions from Stack 58 at least once per day when the SAF was operating, in violation of Construction Permit No. 033-9187-00043  and Conditions D.3.14(b)(1) and D.3.18(b) of the Part 70 Permit.

 

c.         Pursuant to Construction Permit No. 033-9187-00043 and Conditions D.3.16(a) and D.3.18(e) of the Part 70 Permit, Respondent shall record the pressure drop and flow rate of the scrubber used in conjunction with the SAF at least once per day when the SAF is in operation.

 

Respondent failed to record the pressure drop and flow rate of the scrubber used in conjunction with the SAF at least once per day when the SAF was in operation, in violation of Construction Permit No. 033-9187-00043 and Conditions D.3.16(a) and D.3.18(e) of the Part 70 Permit.

 

d.         Pursuant to Condition D.4.5(a) of the Part 70 Permit, Respondent shall perform visible emission notations of the receiving shed and railcar dumper Stacks 67 and 68 exhaust once per day during normal daylight operations and a trained employee shall record whether emissions are normal or abnormal.  Pursuant to Condition D.4.8(a) of the Part 70 Permit, Respondent shall maintain records of visible emission notations of the shed and railcar dumper Stacks 67 and 68 exhaust.

 

Respondent failed to perform and/or record visible emission notations of the receiving shed and railcar dumper Stacks 67 and 68 exhaust, in violation of Conditions D.4.5(a) and D.4.8(a) of the Part 70 Permit.

 

e.         Pursuant to Conditions D.4.6(a) and D.4.8(b) of the Part 70 Permit, Respondent shall record the pressure drop across the baghouse used in conjunction with the railcar unloading shed and rail car dumper at least once per day when these processes are in operation.

 

Respondent failed to record the pressure drop across the baghouse used in conjunction with the railcar unloading shed and rail car dumper at least once per day when these processes were in operation, in violation of Conditions D.4.6(a) and D.4.8(b) of the Part 70 Permit.

 

f.          Pursuant to Condition D.8.7(a) of the Part 70 Permit, Respondent shall perform visible emission notations of the Stack 80 exhaust once per day during normal daylight operations and a trained employee shall record whether emissions are normal or abnormal.  Pursuant to Condition D.8.8(a) of the Part 70 Permit, Respondent shall maintain records of visible emission notations of the Stack 80 exhaust.

 

Respondent failed to perform and/or record visible emission notations of the Stack 80 exhaust, in violation of Conditions D.8.7(a) and D.8.8(a) of the Part 70 Permit.

 

6.                  This Agreed Order, and compliance with its terms and conditions, shall resolve all violations listed in Findings of Fact Paragraph No. 5 and/or cited in the Notice of Violation issued to Respondent.

 

7.                  In recognition of the settlement reached, Respondent waives any right to administrative and judicial review of this Agreed Order.

 

II.  ORDER

 

1.                  This Agreed Order shall be effective (“Effective Date”) when it is approved by Complainant or Complainant’s delegate, and has been received by Respondent.  This Agreed Order shall have no force or effect until the Effective Date.

 

2.                  Respondent shall control PM/PM10 and lead emissions from the Rotary Hearth Furnace fugitives and briquetters while these processes are in operation as required by Condition D.2.6 of the Part 70 Permit.

 

3.                  All submittals required by this Agreed Order, unless Respondent is notified otherwise in writing by IDEM, shall be sent to:

 

Janusz Johnson, Enforcement Resource Manager

Office of Air Quality, Compliance and Enforcement Branch

Mail Code 61-50

Indiana Department of Environmental Management

100 North Senate Avenue

Indianapolis, IN 46204-2251

 

4.                  Respondent is assessed a civil penalty of Nine Thousand Two Hundred dollars ($9,200).  Said penalty amount shall be due and payable to the Environmental Management Special Fund within thirty (30) days of the Effective Date.  In the event that the civil penalty is not paid within thirty (30) days of the Effective Date, Respondent shall pay interest on the unpaid balance at the rate established by IC 24-4.6-1-101.  The interest shall continue to accrue until the civil penalty is paid in full.

 

5.                  Civil penalties are payable by check to the “Environmental Management Special Fund.”  Checks shall include the Case Number of this action and shall be mailed to:

 

Indiana Department of Environmental Management

Cashier – Mail Code 50-10C

100 North Senate Avenue

Indianapolis, IN 46204-2251

 

6.                  This Agreed Order shall apply to and be binding upon Respondent and its successors and assigns.  Respondent’s signatory to this Agreed Order certifies that he or she is fully authorized to execute this Agreed Order and legally bind Respondent.  No change in ownership, corporate, or partnership status of Respondent shall in any way alter its status or responsibilities under this Agreed Order.

 

7.                  In the event that any terms of this Agreed Order are found to be invalid, the remaining terms shall remain in full force and effect and shall be construed and enforced as if this Agreed Order did not contain the invalid terms.

 

8.                  Respondent shall provide a copy of this Agreed Order, if in force, to any subsequent owners or successors before ownership rights are transferred.  Respondent shall ensure that all contractors, firms and other persons performing work under this Agreed Order comply with the terms of this Agreed Order.

 

9.                  This Agreed Order is not and shall not be interpreted to be a permit or a modification of an existing permit.  This Agreed Order, and IDEM’s review or approval of any submittal made by Respondent pursuant to this Agreed Order, shall not in any way relieve Respondent of its obligation to comply with the requirements of its applicable permit or any applicable Federal or State law or regulation.

 

10.             Complainant does not, by its approval of this Agreed Order, warrant or aver in any manner that Respondent’s compliance with any aspect of this Agreed Order will result in compliance with the provisions of any permit, order, or any applicable Federal or State law or regulation.  Additionally, IDEM or anyone acting on its behalf shall not be held liable for any costs or penalties Respondent may incur as a result of Respondent’s efforts to comply with this Agreed Order.

 

11.             Nothing in this Agreed Order shall prevent or limit IDEM’s rights to obtain penalties or injunctive relief under any applicable Federal or State law or regulation, except that IDEM may not, and hereby waives its right to, seek additional civil penalties for the same violations specified in the Notice of Violation issued to Respondent or this Agreed Order.

 

12.             Nothing in this Agreed Order shall prevent IDEM from communicating with the EPA or any other agency or entity about any matters relating to this enforcement action.  IDEM or anyone acting on its behalf shall not be held liable for any costs or penalties Respondent may incur as a result of such communications with the EPA or any other agency or entity.

 

13.             This Agreed Order shall remain in effect until Respondent complies with the terms of Order Paragraph No. 4.  IDEM will issue a Resolution of Case letter to Respondent thereafter.

 

 

TECHNICAL RECOMMENDATION:

 

RESPONDENT:

Department of Environmental Management

 

Steel Dynamics, Inc.

 

 

 

By:

 

 

By:

 

 

Roger Letterman, Chief

 

Printed:

 

 

Compliance and Enforcement Section 3

 

Title:

 

 

Office of Air Quality

 

 

 

Date:

 

 

Date:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COUNSEL FOR COMPLAINANT:

 

COUNSEL FOR RESPONDENT:

For the Department of Environmental Management

 

as to form only

 

 

 

By:

 

 

By:

 

 

Deputy Attorney General

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date:

 

 

Date:

 

 

 

 

 

 

APPROVED AND ADOPTED BY THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL

MANAGEMENT THIS

 

DAY OF

 

, 2009.

 

 

For the Commissioner:

 

 

 

Signed on November 20, 2009

 

Daniel Murray

 

Assistant Commissioner

 

Office of Air Quality