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State Senator Catherine Cloutier (R-Heatherbrooke) and State Representative Robert J. Valihura, Jr. (R-Delaware North) today announced that Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control officials have begun the criminal legal process against CitiSteel by issuing warrants with respect to the environmental releases from the CitiSteel site in Claymont.

This action was taken in response to the lawmakers' repeated inquiries about the excessive number of releases at CitiSteel during the last several weeks, which releases, despite CitiSteel's knowledge their causes, have not been abated and which demonstrate a willful lack of understanding of the effects of these releases on the well-being of the Claymont community.  The white dust material, which spreads outside the confines of the CitiSteel site into some of the surrounding neighborhoods appears to be a byproduct of the steelmaking process, and, as recently confirmed by CitiSteel, is emanating from the ladle slag dumping area on the CitiSteel site.

Senator Cloutier said, "For the last three years the Claymont community has been plagued by this white metallic powdery substance which has scarred vehicles and created an unacceptable and unknowable health hazard in the community.  The source of such release was unknown.  Recently, it was discovered through eyewitness accounts that this material was being released from CitiSteel.  Although assurances were given by the company to Delaware environmental regulators that these releases would stop, they have now actually increased.  At our request, DNREC has taken this action to bring criminal charges against CitiSteel for its continuing failure to comply with its state law pollution control obligations."

Rep. Valihura, also expressing his concern about the environment and quality of life in Claymont, added, "CitiSteel, while finally acknowledging it was the source of these releases, had an obligation to refrain from the activities which created this air hazard and to work with the community toward a resolution.  We were hopeful that new management at CitiSteel would resolve this longstanding problem, and appeared to want to do so, but the problem simply escalated in the last several weeks.  Today's action demonstrates our resolve to ensure a quality environment for the citizens of Claymont."

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