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EPA Seeks Comments on AK Steel Disposal Well

06/25/2008 - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 is seeking feedback from the public that could affect its decision to approve a request for an exemption from AK Steel.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has asked the public to provide information that could affect its decision to approve a request for an exemption from AK Steel Corp.
 
The exemption would allow AK Steel to continue to dispose of hazardous waste from its steelmaking operations into two existing underground injection wells on its property in Middletown, Ohio. The original exemption from federal restrictions on land disposal of hazardous waste was approved in 1990.

EPA has reviewed information provided by the company that shows the waste will not move out of the underground layers of rock where it will be confined when it is disposed in the deep wells. Pending public comment, EPA is tentatively planning to re-issue the exemption.

EPA has posted fact sheet and the proposed decision to approve the exemption on its website. EPA also will hold an information meeting and public hearing on this issue for July 21 in Middletown, Ohio.

Written comments should be mailed, postmarked by Aug. 5, 2008, to Rebecca Harvey, UIC Branch Chief, EPA Region 5, Underground Injection Control Branch, (WU-16J), 77 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60604-3590.