The Biden administration announced earlier this month that projects funded under the $1.2 trillion bipartisan Infrastructure Bill must only use steel and ferrous made in the United States. This could lead to increased metal manufacturing and pollution here in Indiana.
The Office of Management and Budget April 18th, memo releasedFederal agencies were informed by a representative of the American Iron and Steel Association that all infrastructure projects funded under the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act must use iron and/or steel that was produced in the United States at all stages of the manufacturing process.
This guidance could lead to an increase in steel and iron production at Indiana’s mills. It would also require an expansion of highly polluting processes that already strain the industry’s ability to prevent toxic emissions into the air and waterways.
Construction is based on iron or steel. Rebar and other reinforcing metals are used to construct bridges, tunnels and highways as well as other important infrastructure.
As of 201721% of the structural steel used in the United States was sourced from overseas and 14% was made outside the U.S. The U.S. Current rankFourth in the world for raw steel production, and eighth in pig iron production, which is the crude iron used in making steel and other alloys.
The steel industry was hit hard by economic difficulties in the early years of the pandemic. However, some companies have reported a rebound. Record earnings.
President Joe Biden stated that the federal government must support American manufacturing to fully rebuild the economy.
Biden stated in a speech April 14 that every action I took to rebuild our economy since day one has been guided and guided by the principle Made in America. It means using products and parts made in America. It is about bringing back manufacturing jobs and building supply chains here at the home, not outsourcing from abroad.
The U.S. government has the power to order federal agencies that purchase products made in the U.S. via the 1933 Buy American ActA Great Depression-era law that required government contracts over $10,000 to use U.S. manufactured products or raw material. The law, which was subject to multiple exceptions and waivers over the years, was relaxed through trade agreements, executive orders, and other measures.
Biden’s Buy American guidance could lead to an increase in steel production, but Indiana-based companies have been reluctant to comment on whether they expect this to happen.
U.S. Steel Corp.’s Gary Works in Gary in Indiana is one the largest steel mills in the world. The Indiana Environmental Reporter was told by U.S. Steel Corp. that any projections about whether the administration’s guidance would lead to more production are purely speculation. Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. is the largest producer of flat-rolled metal in North America, and recently acquired several mill facilities in northwest Indiana.
Both companies are thriving. ProjectedThe conflict in Ukraine, whose main military focus is currently in the Donbas Basin of the world’s largest metal-producing regions, will result in an increase in domestic steel production here and abroad.
The Biden administration’s guidance may push manufacturing up even more, which could have major consequences for Indianas environment.
Indiana is the top steel producerThe United States will produce 24.3 million tonnes of steel by 2021. This is mainly at steel mills that border Lake Michigan.
For many years, the states mills have been leading production or at the top of the heap for many years. However, the productivity has caused problems in the Hoosier state’s air and water quality.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has cited U.S. Steel, and Cleveland-Cliffs for violating federal and state laws that regulate air and water pollution.
In 2021, Cleveland Cliffs purchased the steelmaking facilities and other facilities once owned by ArcelorMittal S.A. Since 2015, several violations of their air and water permits have been committed by the Indiana Harbor- and Burns Harbor-based companies.
Civil penalties were imposed on the Indiana Harbor facility for violating civil rights. $7,0002016: Kilns emitted twice as much particulate matter in 2016. $6,200for more violations of the air permit monitoring. In 2017Eight times, IDEM inspectors and EPA inspectors found that the facility had discharged oil into the Indiana Harbor Ship Canal. This could be a violation of the Clean Water Act. To resolve the matter, the company signed a consent decree with EPA and the state. They agreed to take corrective steps to prevent future oil spillages.
The monitoring violations at the Cleveland-Cliffs Burns Harbor facility have been long-standing, making it difficult for us to determine how much it has affected the state’s environment.
In 2015IDEM fined the company $5,000 because of permit violations related to particulate matter emissions.
Between 2018 and 2020The Burns Harbor facility was found to have violated legally mandated monitoring regulations. This included not collecting monitoring data and not calibrating monitoring devices. It also failed long-term reporting requirements for emission limit deviations. These violations led to a $100,800 civil penalty.
The blast furnace water circulation system failed at Burns Harbor in August 2019. This caused large amounts of cyanide to be released into the Little Calumet River. The release killed thousands upon fish and caused closures of beaches in Indiana Dunes National Park. However it did not affect drinking waters in the area.
During the investigation into the release, IDEM inspectors discovered multiple sample collection and testing violations. They also found potentially illegal procedures to dilute water samples. ArcelorMittal denied manipulating data but monitoring violations continued at the facility while it was being sold to Cleveland-Cliffs.
Cleveland-Cliffs stated that it will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2030. However, the company has struggled to meet its permit requirements. At least five of its documents have been documented. Compliance with effluent limitsInfractions found in the last year
The U.S. Steel Midwest Plant also has a troubled record of discharges. The plant discharged almost 2,000 gallons of water in 2017. 300 poundsHexavalent chromium, a cancer-causing compound, into Burns Waterway, which led to a consent order with federal and State authorities that required the company pay a $601,242 civil penalty as well as additional regulatory requirements.
The plant reported that it discharged double the amount of total chromium six months after the accident. IDEM inspectors found numerous violations of operation, self-monitoring, and effluent limits compliance.
An anonymous complaint to IDEM in 2018 led to inspectors discovering that the facility was leaking foam and scum into Burns Waterway. The inspectors later foundThe causes were oil and grease in certain instances and sulfuric acid elsewhere.
U.S. Steel was penalized $950,000 for multiple violations to permit requirements.
The company stated that a 2021 acid shipment was not received. This set off a series events that culminated in a
The Burns Waterway was sprayed with a lot of iron, which turned it reddish-orange. The U.S. Department of Justice The discharge was a violation to the 2017 consent decree. We are investigating what penalty will result.
U.S. Steels’ largest facility, Gary Works, has experienced a similar situation. Troubled history, with multiple emission, monitoring, and inspection violations since 2015.
Gary Works in 2018The facility was fined $23,800 for allowing hazardous waste to be mixed with stormwater at the facility. This resulted in the waste moving to a graveled area near the facility. The facility also received a $9,000 penaltyAllowing hydrochloric acids from pickling tanks to leak into a floor trench.
U.S. Steel has recently entered into an agreement. AgreementIDEM will settle claims that the company violated its permits. This included exceeding the effluent limits of mercury, oil, and grease, failing to collect cyanide samples over a three-month period, and discharging mercury into the Grand Calumet River at separate events. The company will be subject to a $189,000.00 civil penalty and additional regulatory measures.
According to IDEM, permit modifications may be required for changes to a facility’s operation, such as increasing capacity or operating units, or changing the type or quantity of pollutants emitted or released.
The agency stated that it has enough staff to implement federal and state regulations and that it plans to continue monitoring facilities in northwest Indiana as well as other parts of Indiana.
The agency stated that facilities must comply with emission limits set forth in their permits regardless of whether they operate at 100% capacity or 50%.
Recently, the agency appointed Cathy Csatari, a senior environment manager in the Hazardous Waste Section as the new director at the IDEM Northwest Regional Office. Csatari is familiar with inspecting steel plants, refineries, permitted treatment, storage, disposal, and other facilities.
A new IDEM was also introduced. New websiteto increase transparency and assist Hoosiers in tracking sites of interest throughout northwest Indiana, including U.S. Steel and Cleveland–Cliffs facilities.
Hoosiers have the ability to view facility permits, inspection reports, incidents, court-ordered actions, and any incident reports with a single click.
You will find direct links to the documents that have been submitted by facilities to IDEM through the agencies on the facility sites. Virtual File Cabinet.
Hoosiers can sign up for email updates about the facilities.