GT firms' environmental penalties

Mississippi Golden Triangle entities have been issued $463,547 in environmental penalties for violations of permits by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality since 2011. Industries in Lowndes County are the most penalized having paid out $388,177. Mississippi State University was issued a $9,500 penalty this past April 1 for having excess nitrogen oxide emissions while burning natural gas and fuel oil at the MSU Mill. MDEQ offered MSU to use $7,125 of that money to purchase modern boilers. These penalties are issued in agreement orders from MDEQ and are used in lieu of formal enforcement hearings. The most penalized ($135,000) was against Severstal North America for violations at its Columbus plant. The violations stem from a series of May 2014 emissions and incomplete compliance records from 2011-12. In 2012-13, Severstal released 215 pounds of cadmium compounds. [Cadmium is a carcinogen commonly found in batteries.] (Source: Columbus Dispatch 06/13/15) Central Mississippi Note: Steel Dynamics Inc. acquired Severstal Columbus in September 2014 for $1.625 billion. SD produces corrosion-resistant steel including hot dipped galvanized Galvalume and painted steel at its facilities in Indiana, Pittsburgh and Columbus.