Explosions at U.S. Steel Plant Near Pittsburgh Leave One Dead, Two Missing
Explosions at a U.S. Steel plant near Pittsburgh left one dead, two missing and at least nine others in hospitals Monday, with emergency workers searching the badly charred rubble for victims, officials said. The explosions sent black smoke spiralling into the midday sky in the Mon Valley, a region of the state synonymous with steel for more than a century.
An Allegheny County emergency services spokesperson, Kasey Reigner, said one person died and two were currently believed to be unaccounted for. Others were treated for injuries, Reigner said. Allegheny County Emergency Services said a fire at the plant started around 10:51 a.m.
The explosions sent a shock through the community and led to officials asking residents to stay away from the scene so emergency workers could respond. “It felt like thunder,” Zachary Buday, a construction worker near the scene, told WTAE-TV. “Shook the scaffold, shook my chest, and shook the building, and then when we saw the dark smoke coming up from the steel mill and put two and two together, and it’s like something bad happened.”
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said via X that “multiple explosions” occurred at the facility. Allegheny Health Network said it had seven patients from the explosion being treated by its hospitals. University of Pittsburgh Medical Center said it is treating two patients at UPMC Mercy, the region’s only level one trauma and burn center.
Resident Reactions and Concerns
Clairton residents like Amy Sowers, 49, felt an explosion nearby. Sowers, who was sitting on her porch located less than a mile from the plant, felt her house shake. “I could see smoke from my driveway,” she said. “We heard ambulances and fire trucks from every direction.”
Sowers decided to leave the area after she said she smelled a faint smell in the air. Sowers, who grew up in Clairton, has seen several incidents at the plant over the years. Despite health concerns, Sowers said many residents cannot afford to leave. A maintenance worker was killed in an explosion at the plant in September 2009. In July 2010, another explosion injured 14 employees and six contractors.
“Lives were lost again,” Sowers said. “How many more lives are going to have to be lost until something happens?”
Air Quality Concerns and Health Warnings
The plant, a massive industrial facility along the Monongahela River south of Pittsburgh, is considered the largest coking operation in North America and is one of four major U.S. Steel plants in Pennsylvania that employ several thousand workers. In a statement, U.S. Steel said an “incident” occurred at the plant’s coke oven batteries 13 and 14.
The company, now a subsidiary of Japan-based Nippon Steel Corp., said emergency teams were immediately dispatched to the scene, but it gave no other details about the cause of the explosions, casualties or damage. The company’s CEO, David Burritt, said in the statement that U.S. Steel is working with authorities to investigate the cause.
The plant converts coal to coke, a key component in steel production. To make coke, coal is baked in special ovens for hours at high temperatures to remove impurities that could otherwise weaken steel. The process creates what’s known as coke gas — made up of a lethal mix of methane, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide.
Plant History and Pollution Concerns
The plant has a long history of pollution concerns. In 2019, it agreed to settle a 2017 lawsuit for $8.5 million. Under the settlement, the company agreed to spend $6.5 million to reduce soot emissions and noxious odors from the Clairton coke-making facility. The company also faced other lawsuits over pollution from the Clairton facility, including ones accusing the company of violating clean air laws after a 2018 fire damaged the facility’s sulfur pollution controls.
In February, a problem with a battery at the plant led to a “buildup of combustible material” that ignited, causing an audible “boom,” the Allegheny County Health Department said. Two workers who got material in their eyes received first aid treatment at a local hospital but were not seriously injured. Last year, the company agreed to spend $19.5 million in equipment upgrades and $5 million on local clean air efforts and programs as part of settling a federal lawsuit filed by Clean Air Council and PennEnvironment and the Allegheny County Health Department.
Environmental Group Calls for Investigation
David Masur, executive director of PennEnvironment, another environmental group that has sued U.S. Steel over pollution, said there needed to be “a full, independent investigation into the causes of this latest catastrophe and a re-evaluation as to whether the Clairton plant is fit to keep operating.” In June, U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel announced they had finalized a “historic partnership,” a deal that gives the U.S. government a say in some matters and comes a year and a half after the Japanese company first proposed its nearly $15 billion buyout of the iconic American steelmaker.
Conclusion
The explosions at the U.S. Steel plant near Pittsburgh have raised concerns about the safety and environmental impact of the plant. The incident has resulted in one death, two missing people, and several injuries. The plant has a history of pollution concerns, and environmental groups are calling for an investigation into the cause of the explosions and the plant’s fitness to operate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What happened at the U.S. Steel plant near Pittsburgh?
A: Explosions occurred at the plant, resulting in one death, two missing people, and several injuries.
Q: What is the plant’s history of pollution concerns?
A: The plant has a long history of pollution concerns, including lawsuits over soot emissions and noxious odors. In 2019, it agreed to settle a lawsuit for $8.5 million and spend $6.5 million to reduce emissions.
Q: What is the current status of the plant’s operations?
A: The plant is currently operating, but environmental groups are calling for an investigation into the cause of the explosions and the plant’s fitness to operate.
Q: What is the impact of the plant’s operations on the local community?
A: The plant’s operations have raised concerns about air quality and health warnings for local residents. The Allegheny County Health Department has advised residents within 1 mile of the plant to remain indoors and avoid drawing in outside air.
