U.S. Steel fined $2M for rotten egg stench

PITTSBURGH – On December 29, 2023, the Allegheny County Health Department fined U.S. Steel $2.2 million for 159 violations of Pennsylvania’s limits on hydrogen sulfide pollution. Hydrogen sulfide is a respiratory irritant with a pungent rotten egg odor. The fine, which is the second-largest fine for illegal air pollution issued by the County, was accompanied by an order for U.S. Steel to develop a plan to prevent future exceedance and implement that plan within 45 days of approval by the County.

This comes after the County fined U.S. Steel  $1.8 million for hydrogen sulfide violations in March 2022 and identified U.S. Steel as the primary driver of hydrogen sulfide levels in the region. Increases in these emissions contributed to U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works topping PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center’s Toxic Ten ranking of the most-toxic industrial air polluters in Allegheny County.

In response, Zachary Barber, PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center’s clean air advocate, issued the following statement:

“For too long, U.S. Steel has been the rotten egg in Allegheny County’s fridge, blanketing our region in the pungent odor of pollution linked to respiratory problems. Last year alone, residents suffered through more than 100 days of stinky air when hydrogen sulfide levels rose above the legal limit.

We applaud the Allegheny County Health Department for taking this step to hold U.S. Steel accountable for this pollution. It’s time for the County’s most-toxic polluter to take the necessary steps to get these illegal emissions under control.”

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PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center is an environmental non-profit dedicated to protecting our air, water and open spaces. We investigate problems, craft solutions, educate the public and decision-makers, and help the public make their voices heard in local, state and national debates over the quality of our environment and our lives. For more information, visit www.pennenvironmentcenter.org