US company to pay for Clean Air Act violations

A US company and two of its subsidiary companies are to pay a two million dollar (£1.3 million) settlement for violations of the Clean Air Act. SunCoke Energy Inc has agreed to pay the money following violations at its Granite Hill and Haverhill facilities, announced the US Environmental Protection agency (EPA) and the US Justice Department.

The main violations that SunCoke was accused of were the releasing of large quantities of sulphur dioxide into the atmosphere, along with other forms of particulate waste. The amounts released by the company were much higher than the limits set in their emissions permits, but the emissions were also bypass vented into the air rather than undergoing any form of filtering to remove particulates or to lower the amount of sulphur dioxide was in the hot coking gases.

Emissions from coke ovens can cause long term, negative affects to human health. Continued exposure to the gases can result in lesions within the digestive and respiratory systems, as well as severe skin conditions and eye infections. As a whole, these emissions can lead to more health problems - as can many of the toxins released in industrial emissions - such as cancer; as well as being detrimental to environmental health.

Robert G. Dreher, acting assistant attorney general, said: "This settlement is good news for communities in Illinois and Ohio, who will benefit from these substantial reductions in harmful air pollution and enjoy cleaner, healthier air to breathe for many years to come. It also reflects our continuing commitment to protecting the people and the environment of the US through the vigorous enforcement of the Clean Air Act."   

In addition to the settlement costs, SunCoke will also have to invest in heat recovery system generators at the two facilities in question. The generators will make sure that the gases produced by the coke ovens are filtered through pollution control equipment so they are not released directly into the air. The company will also be required to monitor the levels of sulphur dioxide produced at its facilities, in an effort to improve both environmental and human health.