Document 2JQK8m9pGoqyQVwK1R7Dawm97
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
REGION III Four Penn Center - 1600 John F Kennedy Blvd
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-2852
Report Title: Inspection Date(s): Regulatory Program(s):
Clean Air Act Inspection of US Steel Edgar Thompson March 23, 2023 Title V, NESHAP
Company Name: Facility Name: Facility Location:
Latitude: County/Parish:
US Steel Edgar Thompson Plant US Steel Edgar Thompson Plant 13th Street & Braddock Avenue Braddock, PA 15104 40.2355 Allegheny County
Longitude: -79.5138
AFS Number: Permit Number: NAICS Code: Unique Project #:
3400076475 0051a 3311110 3E23CA082A
SIC: 3312
Facility Representatives:
Chris Hardin, Environmental Headquarters
Phone: 412-675-7459 Contact:
cwharding@uss.com
Coleen Davis, MVW Environmental
Phone: 412-233-1200 Contact:
cdavis@uss.com
Matthew DeLibero, MVW Environmental
Phone: 412-233-1200 Contact:
mjdelibero@uss.com
Point of Contact
EPA Inspectors: Christopher Williams, AED Phone: 202-564-7889 Contact: Paul Arnold, Environmental Engineer Phone: 215-814-2194 Contact:
williams.christopher@epa.gov arnold.paul@epa.gov
State/Local Inspectors:
Allason Holt and Nick Delphia, ACHD
Phone: 412-578-8141 412-584-7889
Contact: allason.holt@alleghenycounty.us nicholas.delphia@alleghenycounty.us
EPA Lead Inspector Signature
PAUL ARNOLD
Digitally signed by PAUL ARNOLD Date: 2023.04.20 13:18:58 -04'00'
Paul Arnold
Four Penn Center - 1600 John F Kennedy Blvd
(3ED21)
Date
Supervisor Signature
Philadelphia, PA 19103-2852
KRISTEN
Digitally signed by KRISTEN HALL
HALL
Date: 2023.04.20 13:26:59 -04'00'
Kristen Hall
Date
Section
Table of Contents
Page
I Introduction............................................................................ 3 A Summary of the Facility.................................................................................. 3 B Inspection Opening Conference...................................................................... 3
II Site Activity/Process Information.................................................................... 3
III Observations.................................................................................................... 4
IIII Records Review...............................................................................................
V Closing Conference......................................................................................... 4
VI List of Attachments.......................................................................................... 4
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I. Introduction
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducted Geospatial Measurement of Air Pollution (GMAP) monitoring at US Steel Edgar Thompson Plant (ET or Facility) to verify compliance with applicable State and Federal regulations. The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) was notified of the inspection on March 3, 2023, via email. On March 16, 2023, EPA notified the Facility of the planned inspection, via phone.
A. Summary of the Facility
The Facility is located at 13th Street and Braddock Avenue, Braddock, PA 15104. ET is an iron and steel making facility that primarily produces steel slabs. ET began operation in 1875. ET is sited on about 200 acres and operates 24 hours a day.
The Facility received a Title V Operating Permit (0051a), from ACHD issued on April 13, 2016 and amended on June 21, 2019.
ET is classified as a Major source for Carbon Monoxide (CO), Oxides of Nitrogen (NOX), Particulate Matter (PM), Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), and Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs). The Facility is subject, or potentially subject, to the following federal regulations:
40 CFR Part 63, Subpart FFFFF
B. Inspection Opening Conference
At 3:15 PM on March 22, 2023, EPA inspectors arrived at the Facility for GMAP monitoring and conducted a brief opening conference. ET was represented by Matthew DeLibero, Brett Tunno, Coleen Davis, and Chris Hardin. Gary Fischman and Cali Conley, of ACHD, were also present. EPA inspectors, Paul Arnold, Christopher Williams, Philip Myers, and Armando Bustamante presented their credentials and explained the purpose of the visit was to conduct mobile monitoring using Geospatial Measurement of Air Pollution (GMAP). Chris Williams explained that the GMAP vehicle had the capability to monitor Volatile Organic Compounds (V0C), Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) and Benzene. EPA informed the facility representatives of their right to claim any confidential business information (CBI). At that time, ET representatives did not claim any photos or documentation as CBI.
II. Site Activity/Process Description
The ET Plant is a steel processing facility. ET is an iron and steel making facility that produces steel slabs. ET uses coke from the US Steel Clairton Plant to produce steel slabs. Coke is charged in the blast furnaces in the iron making process. Molten iron is transferred from the blast furnace into transfer ladles. The hot metal is then transferred to a hot metal mixer for desulfurization. Desulfurized hot metal is then introduced into the basic oxygen process (BOP), where the hot
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metal is transformed into molten steel. The liquid steel is tapped from the BOP vessels and transferred to the Vacuum Degasser where the steel is refined.
The opening conference concluded at 10:45 AM.
III. Observations
EPA inspectors were led on a drive through the Facility at 10:50 AM by representatives of US Steel. At 10:53 AM, EPA initiated GMAP monitoring. Allason Holt and Nick Delphia, of ACHD, and Paul Arnold, Christopher Williams, Philip Myers, and Armando Bustamante, of EPA, were present during GMAP monitoring.
The EPA GMAP vehicle was lead through various interior roads of the Facility. EPA observed GMAP readings, which are represented in Table 1. A designation of "elevated" means elevated concentrations of the listed pollutant were measured above background levels using GMAP. Actual numeric concentration readings observed during the monitoring event were not yet verified at the time of this report, but can be shared, with ET, once the data becomes verified and available.
TABLE 1 Time VOC (ppb) Benzene (ppb) H2S(ppb) 11:28 am elevated 11:30 am elevated The GMAP monitoring concluded at 11:40 AM.
Approximate Location Boiler Blast Furnace Boiler Blast Furnace
IV. Closing Conference
EPA inspectors and Allason Holt and Nick Delphia, of ACHD, and Coleen Davis, Matthew DeLibero, Brett Tunno, and Chris Hardin, of US Steel, had a brief closing conference to ask additional questions and discuss observations. The EPA inspectors noted that the investigation is on-going, and any areas of concern identified in the final reports do not necessarily reflect a violation or deviation, rather, they are areas that will require further investigation. EPA also noted that they would issue an inspection report within in 60 days, with a copy to the County. Simultaneously, EPA will perform a detailed review of records and may have additional questions. The inspection concluded at 12:00 PM.
The following have been identified as potential issues during the inspection. These are issues that require either further investigation by EPA, or additional information or explanation by ET.
EPA detected elevated above background VOC concentrations above background using GMAP in the vicinity of the Boiler Blast Furnace.
V. List of Attachments
Attachment 1: Opening Conference sign in sheet.
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Unique Project #: 3E23CA082A
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