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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 11, 1998
WCI STEEL, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Ohio 333-18019 34-1585405
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(State or other jurisdiction (Commission (IRS Employer
of incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)
1040 Pine Ave., S.E., Warren, Ohio 44483-6528
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (330) 841-8314
N/A
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(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
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Item 5. OTHER EVENTS.
On May 11, 1998, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), on behalf of
the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), instituted a civil
action against the Company under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
of 1976, as amended (RCRA), in the United States District Court for the
Northern District of Ohio. The action seeks injunctive relief and civil
penalties for alleged violations of RCRA, the Ohio Administrative Code (OAC)
and the Company's hazardous waste management permit issued pursuant to RCRA
and OAC related to the Company's management of hazardous waste in surface
impoundments at its Warren, Ohio facility. The action alleges that from
September 1988 to the present, the Company operated hazardous waste management
units at the Warren, Ohio facility without the proper permits pursuant to RCRA
and seeks civil penalties not to exceed the statutory maximum of $25,000 per
day per violation for each day of violation prior to January 30, 1997 and
$27,500 per day per violation for each day of violation on or after January
30, 1997. The Company intends to assert several defenses, including that
these claims are subject to a five-year statute of limitations. The Company
believes that imposition of the statutory maximum penalty is unlikely based on
past judicial penalties imposed under RCRA. However, there can be no
assurance that the Company will not be found to have liability and, if it has
liability, that the statutory maximum penalty will not be imposed. If the
statutory maximum penalty or other substantial penalty were imposed, it could
have a material adverse effect on the financial condition or results of
operations of the Company.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
WCI STEEL, INC.
(registrant)
Date: May 19, 1998 /S/ BRET W. WISE
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Bret W. Wise
Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
(principal financial and accounting
officer)
/S/ JOHN P. JACUNSKI
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John P. Jacunski
Controller
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