The Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment - Division of Environmental Quality (“ADEQ”) and Nucor Corporation (“Nucor”) entered into an October 24th Consent Administrative Order (“CAO”) addressing alleged violations of an Air Permit. See Case #: CAO-25-0073.
The CAO provides that Nucor operates a scrap steel mill located in Blytheville, Arkansas.
The facility operates pursuant to a Title V Air Permit.
ADEQ is stated to have received correspondence from Nucor on June 19, 2025, stating that on April 24, 2025, an HCl emissions test was going to result in an exceedance. The exceedance is stated to have been caused by incorrectly installed vanes in the drop separators located downstream of the fume scrubber. Further, Nucor is stated to have submitted on June 19, 2025, an Upset Condition Reporting Form indicating an upset condition at SN-200 from April 24, 2025 through May 19, 2025. This form stated that the exceedance of the HCl emission rate limits at SN-200 was due to incorrectly installed separator vanes. The vanes are stated to have since been reinstalled in the correct orientation.
Nucor on June 20, 2025, is stated to have submitted a stack test report regarding the HCl testing conducted at SN-200 on April 24, 2025. ADEQ is stated to have informed Nucor that the stack test report indicated that SN-200 was out of compliance with the Permit at the time of testing. On July 29, 2025, Nucor submitted a compliance test protocol form to ADEQ, notifying ADEQ that re-testing of SN-200 would occur on August 8, 2025, for HCl.
Nucor submitted a stack test report on September 5, 2025, to which ADEQ responded that the stack test report indicated that SN-200 was in compliance with the Permit at the time of the testing.
ADEQ received Nucor’s written response regarding actions taken to correct the non-compliance items on February 3rd. Nucor stated that upon further investigation, it was determined that Pickle Line 2 scrubber media had failed and was subsequently replaced. Nucor undertook annual inspections of the scrubber media and triennial replacement of the scrubber media, if inspections indicate degradation to ensure ongoing compliance and to prevent future reoccurrences.
The CAO lists the following alleged violations:
- Exceedance of a non-criteria pollutant emission limit.
- Failure to comply with a delegated NESHAP requirement.
The CAO assess a civil penalty of $4,000.
A copy of the CAO can be found here.
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