NEW YORK — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is seeking comment related to a lawsuit over an operating permit granted for U.S. Steel Corp.’s Granite City Works in southern Illinois.

The lawsuit, filed in August 2011 in U.S. District Court in Illinois, stems from allegations by nonprofit environmental group American Bottom Conservancy that the EPA violated the Clean Air Act by not responding to a petition challenging the permit for the Pittsburgh-based steelmaker’s facility within the required time (amm.com, Feb. 4, 2011).

Last month, the EPA entered into an agreement to grant or deny the group’s petition by Dec. 3 (amm.com, July 30).

Under the Clean Air Act, anyone can petition the EPA to object to an air permit if the agency doesn’t issue an objection in writing within 45 days of receipt.

U.S. Steel declined to comment.