Jun 19, 2019 2 min read

CLAIRTON – A coke works in Clairton resumed operations Monday night, hours after an electrical fire suspended its coke gas desulfurization process.

U.S. Steel spokeswoman Meghan M. Cox said the repairs were completed by 8:15 p.m., and that air quality monitors there didn’t detect any exceedances of sulfur dioxide pollution limits.

“Restarting the desulfurization facility and minimizing the potential for impacts to the environment and community were of the highest priority for the company,” Cox said.

Allegheny County Health Department inspectors went to the coke works Tuesday morning and they verified that the system was online again.

Health department spokesman Ryan Scarpino said the concerns of an order Monday to repair or shut down the plant were met under the terms of the inspection.

This was the second time a fire broke out at the plant. The first happened Christmas Eve, and it caused more damage and resulted in emission problems on 28 days over more than three months.

The repairs Monday fell within a 24-hour deadline the county had issued to U.S. Steel after the fire was reported about 5 a.m. in an electrical panel.

The county also said it would fine U.S. Steel $25,000 per pollution violation.

Meanwhile, the health department announced Tuesday that it was given permission to intervene in a federal citizens’ lawsuit against U.S. Steel over the Dec. 24 fire at Clairton.

The health department said it will not be issuing any fines against the company because those actions will involve the federal government.

“This joint action ensures the strongest case possible is brought against U.S. Steel, increases the resources available to the department and allows for the best possible outcome for public health and impacted residents,” the department said.