Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has announced a proposed settlement agreement with Republic Steel to address allegations of air-pollution violations at the company’s Canton mill, slated for permanent closure under the supervision of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
Under the terms of the settlement, Republic Steel will pay $300,000 to the city of Canton for a residential house-cleaning program or another community project aimed at benefiting local residents impacted by the excessive emissions from the now-shuttered mill.
Ohio Attorney General Yost expressed concern about the impact of emissions on area homeowners, stating, “The emissions left black dust scattered across homes and neighborhoods, posing an unacceptable and unhealthy nuisance. The required comprehensive cleanup effort, combined with this settlement, is a crucial step toward the long-term well-being of northeastern Ohio.”
In addition to the financial compensation, Republic Steel has agreed to pay $60,000 to the Ohio EPA for future air monitoring and is obligated to submit its shutdown plan to the Ohio EPA. Within 30 days of the judge signing the order, the company must request from the Ohio EPA a permanent shutdown and termination of all air permits associated with the Canton mill site. Throughout this process, Republic Steel is required to comply with Ohio’s air-pollution-control laws and rules, including regulations addressing emissions that might temporarily persist during the closure.
The settlement includes a detailed schedule of stipulated penalties if Republic Steel fails to comply with any aspects of the agreement. Attorneys from Attorney General Yost’s Environmental Enforcement Section represented the Ohio EPA and the Air Pollution Control Division of the Canton City Health Department in this case.