PITTSBURGH (AP) -- United States Steel Corp. has reached a deal with the Allegheny County Health Department to correct air pollution violations at two plants.
Under the deal, U.S. Steel will reduce emissions at the Clairton Coke Works and the Edgar Thompson Works in Braddock, the health department said in a statement.
The Pittsburgh-based steel maker has agreed to pay a penalty of $301,800 for past violations. It has also agreed to pay penalties of between $500 and $2,000 per day should it miss deadlines for taking corrective actions.
At the Clairton plant, nine of the 12 coke batteries will undergo comprehensive repairs and maintenance.
Coke is a fuel used in steel production. It is made by baking coal in large ovens to remove impurities, a process known to cause air pollution.
In December, U.S. Steel proposed a $1 billion plan to upgrade the Clairton facility, the country's largest coke-making facility. The new technology will reduce environmental emissions.
