Baltimore Shipyard Sues Steel Mill over Pollution

The owners of the shipyard in Sparrows Point, Maryland are suing a neighboring steel mill, claiming it has contaminated their docks and repair yard with benzene and other hazardous materials.

The federal suit was filed last week in U.S. District Court in Baltimore by SPS Limited Partnership and SPS 35, against the steel mill’s current owner, Severstal North America, and previous owner, Arcelor Mittal.

The suit seeks costs for cleanup work already conducted, as well as future cleanup. It also seeks an order requiring the mill to prevent the spread of hazardous substances from its coal-burning blast furnace and other operations to the shipyard.

Severstal spokeswoman Marika Diamond said the company does not comment on pending litigation.