The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has ordered the limestone plant in Giles County to pay $14,007.
The government stated in a consent order dated January 22 that the Lhoist plant violated a compliance agreement by failing to have continuous monitoring systems operational for 1,172 hours last year, which is equivalent to nearly 49 days.
The Lhoist Kimballton facility, near Ripplemead, processes lime, which is required to make steel.
Issues with air pollution breaches at this plant extend back at least to 2017, when air monitoring began. That year, Sulphur dioxide levels were more than double the EPA limit.
In 2022, the state Air Pollution Control Board included that part of Giles County to its list of places that do not meet national air quality criteria.
DEQ has permitted the company to continue operations despite many breaches, but the government wants Lhoist to do frequent air quality monitoring at their facility.
RadioIQ contacted the corporation, situated in Fort Worth, Texas, but did not receive a response.
