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A Chicago steel forging plant has agreed to overhaul its pollution monitoring systems to resolve allegations that it repeatedly violated air quality limits and state environmental regulations, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced Friday.

The settlement marks a significant development in the Finkl & Sons Pollution Deal suit, a case centered on nitrogen oxide emissions from one of the city’s long-standing industrial operations.

Claims of Excessive NOx Emissions in an Environmental Justice Community

Raoul’s office said A. Finkl & Sons Co. was accused of emitting levels of nitrogen oxides that exceeded what its air permit allowed. The plant sits in Chicago’s Burnside neighborhood, a community formally designated by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency as an environmental justice area — regions where pollution concerns and public health vulnerabilities often collide.

Raoul praised the company for cooperating as the case moved toward resolution, saying he remains committed to “protecting all Illinois communities from the health and environmental impacts of pollution and holding companies accountable.”

Consent Order Requires New Continuous Monitoring System

Under the consent order, the company will install and operate a new continuous emissions monitoring system on its baghouse exhaust — the system responsible for capturing particulate matter as steel is heated, melted, and shaped. The attorney general’s office said this upgraded technology will provide more precise real-time data on nitrogen oxide levels.

“Finkl owns an integrated steel forging facility where melted recycled steel scrap material is forged into shapes and sold to customers,” Raoul’s office noted, describing the industrial process that generates emissions at the heart of the dispute.

State Alleges Poor Equipment Operation Led to Violations

The state’s complaint asserts that Finkl failed to properly operate and maintain essential pollution-control equipment, resulting in elevated NOx emissions. The suit contends that these lapses contributed to the air-quality violations cited by state regulators.

EPA: NOx Exposure Can Aggravate Respiratory Illness

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, breathing high concentrations of nitrogen oxides can irritate airways and worsen respiratory conditions such as asthma — a risk that regulators say is particularly concerning for vulnerable communities living near heavy industry.

With the settlement in place, Finkl & Sons must now move forward with the monitoring upgrades as Illinois officials continue emphasizing heightened accountability for pollution-related threats across the state.