May 30, 2009|By Timothy B. Wheeler | Timothy B. Wheeler,tim.wheeler@baltsun.com
Environmentalists and residents sparred with state officials and the owner of the Sparrows Point steel mill on Friday over what's being done to curb air, water and soil pollution from the 2,300-acre industrial complex.
Disputing complaints from environmental groups, a statement issued by Severstal North America Inc. said its steel mill is in compliance with a 12-year-old agreement to clean up contaminated soil and groundwater there. The company vowed to "vigorously defend" against the lawsuit that the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper organization have threatened to file alleging that the plant has done little of the remediation promised in 1997 and continues to pollute.
State Environment Secretary Shari T. Wilson also issued a statement reiterating that the steel mill is in compliance and there are no immediate health threats. But she acknowledged residents' concerns and noted that regulators have been talking with Severstal about beefing up the deadlines and requirements in the cleanup agreement.
Environmentalists expressed frustration with the lack of apparent progress.
"The residents are being asked to live with an environmental nightmare," Chesapeake Bay Foundation President William C. Baker said at a news conference at Turners Station Park in Dundalk. Across the water loomed a small hill, one of the steel mill's landfills, which activists contend contains hazardous wastes.
"We can't use the water for other than putting our boats in it to leave here," said Jerry Tomko, a retired ironworker. Fallout of gritty "kish" from the steel mill forces him to repeatedly clean his boat and house, he said, adding, "For 20 years I've been putting up with this."
