State EPA cracks down on Republic Steel over lead emissions in air
CANTON A Stark County judge has ordered Republic Steel to make a series of changes and threatened steep fines after its northeast Canton mill exceeded the federal limit for lead emissions in the air for the second time in three years this spring.
The Ohio Attorney General's Office had sought an injunction against the company on behalf of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. Common Pleas Judge Kristin Farmer granted the injunction and signed the order on July 2.
Over three days in the second week of May, an air monitor on Georgetown Road reported lead levels of 1.69, 2.6 and 2.26 micrograms per cubic meter. For the period of March through May, emissions averaged 0.3 micrograms of lead per cubic meter of air, according to the injunction. The EPA maximum is 0.15 micrograms of lead per cubic meter of air over a three-month period.
The emissions levels prompted the Ohio EPA to order a temporary halt to leaded-steel production, which the company complied with on May 14.
Read more: https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/2021/07/16/ohio-epa-cracks-down-republic-steel-over-canton-mill-lead-emissions/7990810002/
(Akron Beacon Journal)