Steel mill owner to pay $3 million settlement over 2019 chemical spill in Lake Michigan

State and federal governments, along with local environmental groups, have filed a consent decree to hold “serial polluter” Cleveland-Cliffs accountable.

By Nereida Moreno
Indiana Dunes
The mouth of the Burns Waterway that connects to Lake Michigan. Michael Puente / WBEZ
Indiana Dunes
The mouth of the Burns Waterway that connects to Lake Michigan. Michael Puente / WBEZ

Steel mill owner to pay $3 million settlement over 2019 chemical spill in Lake Michigan

State and federal governments, along with local environmental groups, have filed a consent decree to hold “serial polluter” Cleveland-Cliffs accountable.

By Nereida Moreno
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The steel mill owner Cleveland-Cliffs has agreed to pay $3 million to settle lawsuits by government and non-profit organizations. The company is accused of violating the Clean Water Act more than 100 times, including a cyanide and ammonia spill in August 2019 that killed thousands of fish and closed Lake Michigan beaches.

Reset checks in with one of the groups involved in the legal battle.

GUEST: Howard Learner, executive director at Environmental Law & Policy Center