US Steel Fined for Contaminating Detroit River

Settlement: U. S. Steel has also agreed to pay a civil fine of $300,000 and will reimburse the DEQ for $50,000 in investigation costs.

Michigan has entered into an agreement with US Steel to resolve violations of wastewater discharge permits issued by the DEQ for U. S. Steel’s three facilities in Wayne County known as the Great Lakes Works.

Since taking over the Great Lakes Works from the bankrupt National Steel in 2003, U. S. Steel has had over 170 separate violations of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits for their Zug Island, 80” Hot Strip Mill, and Ecorse Mill facilities that comprise the Great Lakes Works. The violations involve excessive zinc and ammonia discharges as well as numerous sheens and discolorations observed on the Detroit River.

These violations are in addition to long-standing problems related to discoloration in the Detroit River due to discharges from the 80” Hot Strip Mill through a structure known as Outfall 009. The DEQ had previously attempted to resolve the these issues with National Steel prior to their bankruptcy.

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