EPA Withdraws Objections To U.S. Steel's Gary Works NPDES Permit

Oct 15: U.S. EPA Region 5 withdrew its earlier objections to a 2007 version of Indiana's wastewater discharge permit for U.S. Steel's Gary Works [See WIMS 11/24/07]. EPA is withholding final judgment on the new draft permit until Indiana Department of Environmental Management's 45-day comment period, including a November 18 public hearing, is completed and all comments considered. On October 14, IDEM proposed a revised draft permit for the steel mill that addresses objections raised by EPA in October 2007. The new draft permit requires lower discharge levels than currently allowed for a number of pollutants including ammonia, metals, organic compounds and suspended solids. No pollutants can be discharged at a higher rate than the current permit allows.

EPA had formally objected to parts of the proposed 2007 IDEM permit and advised IDEM that those concerns would need to be fully resolved before any permit could be issued. In December 2007, EPA held a public hearing in Northwest Indiana to solicit more public input. Since that time, EPA has worked closely with IDEM to address both EPA's and the public's concerns. EPA has concluded that the revised draft now meets or exceeds all applicable Federal and state requirements. However, the revised draft permit also warrants a thorough public review and comment period.

The Clean Water Act requires facilities that discharge into the "waters of the United States" to obtain a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit which sets limits on pollutants to protect public health and the environment. U.S. Steel Gary Works discharges water used in its operations into both the Grand Calumet River and Lake Michigan. It is the largest fully-integrated steel mill in North America.

Access a release from EPA (click here). Access more information and background from EPA (click here). Access an IDEM fact sheet (click here).

Minnesota Pursues Ballast Water Permit Program

Apr 8: The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has scheduled two informational meetings to gather public input on a working draft of a permit to regulate ballast water discharges from commercial ships into Lake Superior. The meetings will be held at the MPCA St. Paul office board room on April 15 from 2 to 4 PM. The second meeting will be held at the MPCA Duluth office on April 16 from 10 AM to noon. MPCA said it is holding discussions as part of a larger, four-month public-input process resulting in a final ballast water permit that would be available by September 30, 2008.

The permit would require commercial ocean-going and Great Lakes-only vessels to obtain a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System/State Disposal System permit prior to discharging ballast water into State waters. Minnesota and U. S. EPA NPDES/SDS permit rules currently exempt ballast water from permit requirements. The MPCA permit would likely require best management practices and specific performance standards for the discharges. For example, a ballast water performance standard might specify an allowable number of living detectable organisms per cubic meter of water. Currently, Federal law does not regulate ballast water discharges and existing Federal ballast water management requirements and policies have not been effective in preventing biological invasions in the Great Lakes.

Access a release with further details on the meetings (click here). Access the MPCA Vessel Discharge Program website for extensive information and background on the ballast water permit efforts (click here).

EPA Posts Comments & Transcript On U.S. Steel Gary Works

Jan 17: U.S. EPA Region 5 has announced that comments it has received on its objections to a draft wastewater treatment permit for U.S. Steel Gary Works, in addition to a transcript of a December 11 public hearing on the issue [See WIMS 11/24/07], are available on its website. Copies will also be available at EPA's regional office in Chicago and the Gary Public Library, 220 W. 5th Street. EPA said it received more than 300 comments by the close of the comment period December 28, 2007. The Agency is currently evaluating the comments, will prepare responses to them and make sure that the Indiana Department of Environmental Management is informed of any significant issues raised.

Access an EPA announcement (click here). Access the comments and related information on the draft permit (click here). Access extensive information from IDEM on the permit (click here).

Hearing On U.S. Steel NPDES Permit Set For December 11

Nov 9: U.S. EPA Region 5 announced that it will hold a public hearing on December 11 at Indiana University Northwest on the draft wastewater permit for U.S. Steel Corp. Gary Works developed by Indiana Department of Environmental Management [See WIMS 11/2/007]. EPA Regional Administrator Mary Gade will chair the hearing. The purpose of the hearing is to listen to comments about EPA's objections to the draft permit. Comments will also be accepted on aspects of the draft permit not addressed by the objections. Written and oral comments will be accepted following a brief presentation by EPA. Comments may also be submitted in writing between November 9 and December 28, 2007.

The hearing will take place at Indiana University Northwest, Savannah Auditorium, 3400 Broadway Ave., Gary, from 3 to 5 PM, and 6 to 8:30 PM. Advertisements announcing the hearing will be published November. 9 in the Gary Post-Tribune, Northwest Indiana Times, Chicago Sun-Times and St. Joseph, Mich., Herald Palladium newspapers. The permit is for the steel mill to discharge into Lake Michigan, via the Grand Calumet River and Stockton Pond. The facility is the largest fully integrated steel mill in the U.S.

Access a release from EPA with details on submitting comments (click here). Access more information about the hearing, the draft permit and EPA's objections (click here). Access extensive information from IDEM on the permit (click here).