Allegheny County Health Department fines Natrona slag processor $100k for dust emissions

The Allegheny County Health Department has fined the Harsco Corp. more than $100,000 for emissions violations related to its slag operation site in Harrison.

The fine of just over $107,000 is part of an enforcement order executed by the health department on Tuesday, Jan 7.

The Camp Hill-based company will also be required to build a total enclosure around the slag processing site to prevent emissions — like a white dust that settled over homes and cars in the Natrona Heights neighborhood last summer — from escaping the facility.

The company has a facility along the Allegheny River in Natrona, downhill from the affected properties.

“It’s really significant that they’re putting a slagging operation under a roof,” said Jim Kelly, deputy director of environmental health at the county health department. “That’s not completely unique, but it is way beyond the normal operations.”

Slagging operations are typically outside.

If the roof helps to contain emissions at Harsco, the health department will work on requiring similar enclosures at other sites, Kelly said.

Representatives from Harsco could not be reached for comment Friday.

Harsco is required to complete the work outlined in the enforcement order within 15 months, Kelly said.

The health department started investigating complaints from Natrona Heights residents in August.

They complained about a sand-like, mildly corrosive dust that left fine scratches and spots on cars.

An investigation by the health department determined that the dust was primarily lime, and that the origin was the Harsco site in Natrona.

Slag is a byproduct of steel production and is recovered and repurposed at the site.