Republic Steel Gets Air Permit for Expansion
07/19/2012 - The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency issued on 18 July 2012 a final air permit to Republic Steel for its new EAF, a natural gas-fired boiler, material handling and storage area, and modification of existing roads at the 1807 E. 28th St. steel mill in Lorain, Ohio.
Republic Steel has received a state permit to install its new EAF to make steel at its Lorain mill.
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency issued on 18 July 2012 a final air permit to Republic Steel for its new EAF, a natural gas-fired boiler, material handling and storage area, and modification of existing roads at the 1807 E. 28th St. steel mill in Lorain, Ohio. The new equipment will provide Republic Steel with an alternative means for producing molten steel for casting operations.
The project is expected to create almost 450 jobs in Lorain.
“We’re just pleased that the whole process is moving forward and the Ohio EPA has given us the approval,” Republic Steel spokesman Mark Huemme said. “This is one more piece of the puzzle and we’re going to keep moving forward.”
Republic Steel’s new furnace is expected to increase the company’s liquid steel production by 1.2 million tons annually and will account for Lorain’s first significant growth in steelmaking in the 21st century, according to the company.
The project will add more than $1 billion dollars in annual economic activity to Ohio and retain the existing 489 jobs at the Lorain facility.
Republic Steel is one of the nation’s leading providers of special bar quality, or SBQ, steel. The expansion is designed to meet growing customer demand for the company’s high quality SBQ steel, driven by the automotive, capital equipment and energy markets, according to the company.
Republic Steel has broken ground for the new furnace and the company expects the new facility to produce its first steel in the second quarter of 2013.
The air emissions permit places limits on emissions to ensure compliance with federal clean air standards and protect public health.
Anyone can appeal the permit decision to Ohio’s independent Environmental Review Appeals Commission, said Ohio EPA spokesman Mike Settles. An appeal was uncertain because there were no major objections during the Ohio EPA’s public hearing about the permit in May, Settles said.
The air permit also covers changes to road in the Republic Steel plant because there are limits on the amount of dust that can come from roadways and parking lots within industrial areas, Settles said.
