Dofasco seeking an extension to 5-year plan for emission upgrades

ArcelorMittal Dofascoheld an open house Tuesday to explain its $135-million plans to curb toxic emissions at its north Hamilton plant. But local environmentalists say the upgrades are taking too long.

The steelmaker is askingthe Ontario Ministry of Environment for a five year extension to the special standardsthat allow it to operate without meeting stricterprovincial emission targets while itmakes the millions worth of upgrades. Holding a public meeting to outline the plans is part of the process of getting that permission. Provincial rules allow for the exemptions, which setsite-specific standards for the company to meet.

Its plans include closing one of its three coke ovens next spring and using coke transported from Pennsylvania a move it says will drastically cut emissions.

But Lynda Lukasik, executive director of Environment Hamilton, arguesthe plan isnt enough. The standards were supposed to be in place by2010.

Now, Dofasco isasking for five more years of permission to not meet them, Lukasik said, and its all taking too long. The company is also seeking an alternate plan for benzene and benzo(a)pyrene because it has only has two more years to curb those emissions and cant meet that target either.

Theres going to be a significant reduction.- Jim Stirling, ArcelorMittal Dofasco

I worry people are going to walk away tonight and think, Oh great, theyve made all this progress and everythings fine, she said. But its a very different story, and lets be honest about that.

The province enacted new emissions standards known as Ontario Regulation 419 in 2005. ArcelorMittal Dofasco knew ahead of time it couldnt meet them, said Jim Stirling, general manager environment.

Instead, the company worked with the province on an alternative plan known as site-specific standards when it comes to total reduced sulfur and total suspended particulates. The company has met those targets.

Stirling said Dofasco is not unique in seeking site specific standards and that all integrated steelmakers in the province have done so.

The site-specific standards expire in February 2015. Now the steel giant will apply in October to renew them. It also needs site-specific standards for benzene and benzo(a)pyrene because it cant meet the provinces 2016 emissions targets for those chemicals.

The largest part of the plan, Stirling said, is closing the aging #1 coke oven, due on March 31, and trucking coke a key ingredient in making steel from a coke-producing site in Pennsylvania.

Coke oven work will make a difference, Dofasco says

The remaining ovens #2 and #3 are being upgraded at a cost of $87 million. That should reduce benzene and benzo(a)pyrene emissions by 40 per cent, Stirling said.

The community here is rooted in the steel industry and theyre proud of it. But they should demand more from this company because they make millions.- Kat Bezner

Coke making is probably our most impactful process, he said.

The company is making $700 million in facility upgrades from 2011 to 2016. Its committed to continuous improvement in every aspect of its operations, it said in an email Tuesday.

Once the coke oven work is done, Stirling said, Hamiltonians will see a marked difference in the level of emissions.

Theres going to be a significant reduction."

Kat Bezner is still worried. She lives in Delta Westand says she has days when she cant go outside because of poor odoursand air quality.

'They should demand more,' resident says

She attended Tuesdays meeting at the Royal Hamilton Yacht Club because she wants to see emissions cut immediately. She also thinks its taking too long.

I just wanted to know why they were applying for an excuse, she said. I hope they dont get this extension.

The community here is rooted in the steel industry and theyre proud of it. But they should demand more from this company because they make millions.

In May, ArcelorMittal Dofasco pleaded guilty to a series of environmental charges for air quality violations. It fined the company $390,000 plus victim fine surcharges of $97,500.

The company employs 5,400 people locally. Thirty-five people attended Tuesday's meeting.