CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced March 7 that S.H. Bell Co. must monitor and take measures to reduce manganese emissions from its 92-acre raw products storage and handling facility along border of Pennsylvania and Ohio in Ohioville, Pennsylvania. and East Liverpool, Ohio.
Manganese, a naturally occurring element often found in soils, rocks and foods, is used to produce steel. The element can be harmful to humans if it is inhaled. It can cause neurological and neuropsychological damage.
According to EPA, S.H. Bell was emitting elevated levels of manganese from the facility. EPA took action against the facility using its authority granted under the Clean Air Act and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (or CERCLA also known as the Superfund law).
Under terms of the consent decree settling the allegations, S.H. Bell must take fugitive dust control measures, install a tracking system for manganese materials, record video of its facility operations, conduct fence line monitoring and look into any corrective action needed if manganese emissions again exceed the proper level.