Cleveland-Cliffs Steel LLC – Emissions Trend
East Chicago, IN · 2019–2023 · Parent: Cleveland-Cliffs Inc
This page assembles 5 consecutive years of EPA Toxics Release Inventory Form R filings for Cleveland-Cliffs Steel LLC, spanning 2019–2023. Each annual total aggregates on-site air emissions, surface-water discharges, land disposal, and off-site transfers reported by the facility under EPCRA Section 313, which requires disclosure whenever a listed chemical is manufactured, processed, or otherwise used above threshold quantities.
Reported releases opened at 922.8K in 2019 and closed at 438.3K in 2023 – a decrease of 52.5% over the window. The chart below stacks the four TRI release media (air, water, land, off-site) and overlays the yearly total. The top contributor by cumulative mass is Zinc compounds at 7.3M, followed by Manganese compounds at 1.9M.
Because TRI figures are estimated, not metered, year-over-year deltas can reflect methodology revisions, ownership changes, or shifts in what a facility classifies as reportable, not only physical emission changes. Treat the trajectory as a disclosure record, and cross-reference with the EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) system for the fuller regulatory picture on this primary metals facility.
Total Releases by Category
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Year | Total | Chemicals | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 922.8K lbs | 23 | - |
| 2020 | 3.6M lbs | 23 | +293.9% |
| 2021 | 697.8K lbs | 23 | -80.8% |
| 2022 | 5.1M lbs | 20 | +633.8% |
| 2023 | 438.3K lbs | 18 | -91.4% |
Top Chemicals by Year
| Chemical | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zinc compounds | 88.3K | 2.6M | 60.2K | 4.2M | 308.6K | 7.3M |
| Manganese compounds | - | 777.4K | 515.0K | 655.8K | - | 1.9M |
| Manganese And Manganese Compounds | 685.3K | - | - | - | 77.3K | 762.6K |
| Lead compounds | - | 68.8K | 15.4K | 91.7K | - | 175.9K |
| Ammonia | 29.0K | 24.5K | 25.2K | 24.0K | 24.3K | 127.0K |
| Chromium compounds (except for chromite ore mined in the Transvaal Region) | - | 50.0K | 32.4K | 44.1K | - | 126.6K |
| Copper compounds | - | 22.6K | 12.6K | 21.5K | - | 56.6K |
| n-Hexane | 9.4K | 10.0K | 9.3K | 12.0K | 13.0K | 53.7K |
| Chromium and Chromium Compounds(except for chromite ore mined in the Transvaal Region) | 44.2K | - | - | - | 3.1K | 47.4K |
| Hydrogen sulfide | 12.7K | 5.7K | 11.2K | 1.6K | - | 31.2K |
| Lead And Lead Compounds | 20.6K | - | - | - | 6.9K | 27.5K |
| Vanadium compounds | 325 | 9.1K | 204 | 14.1K | 1.1K | 24.8K |
| Cadmium compounds | - | 8.8K | 1.9K | 12.1K | - | 22.9K |
| Copper And Copper Compounds | 16.8K | - | - | - | 1.7K | 18.4K |
| Nickel compounds | - | 6.5K | 5.4K | 4.2K | - | 16.1K |
About This Data
Trend data is sourced from the EPA Toxic Release Inventory (TRI). Facilities report annually. Release quantities are self-reported estimates. Year-over-year changes may reflect changes in production, pollution control measures, reporting methodology, or chemical thresholds.
A decrease in reported releases does not necessarily indicate improved environmental performance, as it may reflect production cutbacks, facility closures, or changes in reporting requirements. Similarly, increases may reflect expanded production rather than degraded environmental practices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cleveland-Cliffs Steel LLC getting cleaner or dirtier? ▼
What time period does this trend data cover? ▼
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.