Reducing Emissions While Increasing Production

Notice re: Coke Oven Flare

Due to necessary maintenance scheduled for the period of December 11^th through December 14^th, 2009, members of the public are advised the regular coke oven flare will be more pronounced than normal.  In keeping with normal operating practice, the gas will be processed through our by-products plant before it is flared.  The only change will be in the volume and duration of the flare. There will be no environmental impact as a result of this procedure.  

Invitation to Community Open House November 23, 2009

At Essar Steel Algoma, we take our environmental responsibilities very seriously.  We will continue to conduct our business and operations in compliance with all applicable environmental legislation, advancing a positive approach to environmental stewardship.  

Open House Information

Date:               Monday, November 23, 2009

Time:               4:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Location:         Great Northern Resort & Conference Centre

           229 Great Northern Road, Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Update re: No. 7 Blast Furnace

Essar Steel Algoma Inc. has initiated the start up process for No. 7 blast furnace. Minor noise and particulate emissions may result as part of the standard start up procedure.

Essar Steel Algoma Starts Up Permanent Baghouse on No. 7 Blast Furnace

The permanent baghouse on No. 7 blast furnace was successfully put into service on Tuesday, February 10^th and is operating very well.  Final tuning and balancing of the control systems in now underway.  The permanent baghouse replaces three temporary units servicing No. 7 blast furnace.  With a footprint equivalent to half of an NHL rink, the baghouse boasts a filtering capacity of 940,000 cubic feet per minute and a 99.9% efficiency rate.  Powered by two energy-efficient 3500 horsepower fan motors with variable frequency drives, the baghouse consumes considerably less energy than those with conventional fixed speed drives.  This technology is state-of-the-art and has been designed with excess capacity, ensuring that when production levels improve, air quality will be protected, both within the operation and beyond the steelworks. 

Community Liaison Committee - Call for Public Representation

Essar Steel Algoma has established a Community Liaison Committee as a forum for communicating relevant environmental information to the public.  Terms of reference detailing the committee's membership and mandate are available for viewing.  Click here

Public representation on this committee is essential to its success.  To this end, we are seeking to fill two seats which are reserved for members of the public.  Interested persons are invited to submit their name and the reasons why they wish to participate to the attention of Mr. Jerry Suurna via e-mail or mail, post-marked on or before January 31, 2009.

Essar Steel Algoma Inc.
Attn: Jerry Suurna
Safety, Environment & Emergency Services
105 West St.
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, P6A 7B4

E-mail: jerry.suurna@essar.com

Community Liaison Committee is Established

Essar Steel Algoma has established a community liaison committee to facilitate communication as necessary between the community and the company with respect to the environment.   Initial committee members have met to establish membership guidelines and the committee's terms of reference, which were unanimously accepted. Additional committee members will be selected by the initial members to include:

• One member of the Corporation of the City of Sault Ste. Marie
• Two members representing the Company's Management
• One member representing the Company's Labour Union, Local 2251
• Two members of the public representing area residents and/or academia
• One member representing the Ministry of Environment (non - voting)
• One member representing Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan (Chippewa Health Dept.)
• One member representing the First Nations
• One member from Algoma Public Health
  

A call for interest will be issued publicly in the coming weeks.  Watch here for further updates.

Status Update Re: No. 7 Blast Furnace Permanent Baghouse

Due to the late delivery of several key components, construction on the permanent baghouse for No. 7 Blast Furnace is delayed.  Commissioning of the baghouse, originally planned for December 31, 2008 will occur four to six weeks beyond the original target date.  The three portable baghouses currently in use on the blast furnace will remain in operation as an interim measure.

Algoma Steel Community Update On Environmental Control Measures - June 18, 2008

Algoma Steel Inc. announced today that they have successfully installed a second portable baghouse on No. 7 Blast Furnace. The baghouse was commissioned on the stub stack on Friday, June 13 and is operating well. 

Additional interim control measures for No. 7 include a third portable baghouse, which is scheduled for installation by Friday, June 27. Meanwhile, construction on the permanent baghouse for No. 7 Blast Furnace is underway, and on track for commissioning in December 2008, two years ahead of schedule.

A host of additional particulate emission control measures are currently underway. In an effort to reduce dust from the coal piles, Algoma has begun the application of surfactants on the coal piles and dust suppressants on the surrounding roadways. These efforts, combined with extensive berm construction and tree planting initiatives along the riverfront will serve to reduce coal pile fugitive dust emissions by nearly 50 per cent. 

In parallel, the road dust reduction program has been ramped up, with the roadway sweeping and flushing schedule extended to seven days a week. As an additional dust reduction measure, preparations are in motion for the paving of a number of onsite roadways, shoulders and parking areas. 

Armando Plastino, Chief Operating Officer, commented on the ongoing environmental control  measures at Algoma Steel: "We continue to make great strides in reducing air emissions as we  increase production here at Algoma. We are very encouraged by our progress and the milestones we continue to achieve," he said.

"The use of portable baghouse technology on No. 7 Blast Furnace has proven successful and we look forward to providing future updates on the commissioning of the third and fourth baghouses," added Plastino. 

In addition to Algoma's ongoing commitment to reducing emissions while increasing production, Algoma has commenced an aesthetic revival of the Company's grounds. As part of an overall greening initiative, landscaping and tree planting are in progress.

Open House

Algoma Steel is committed to ensuring that the start-up of a second blast furnace (No.6) does not lead to an increase in particulate air emissions from the company's operations - in fact there will be a net reduction once all interim and permanent control measures are in place.

On May 27th and 28th, 2008 Algoma Steel hosted Community Open Houses to share information and answer questions about the planned expansion and emission control initiatives.  Algoma Steel's Environmental Health & Safety personnel were on hand to provide detailed information about:

• The recent and successful installation of a portable baghouse on No. 7 Blast Furnace
• Current, ongoing and planned air emissions control measures
• Pending applications to the Ministry of the Environment
• Baghouse technologies (portable and permanent) and emission control measures for current and future operations

Algoma Steel has submitted applications to the provincial Ministry of the Environment for the start up of No. Blast Furnace (including the interim use of a portable baghouse) and for the installation of a permanent baghouse on said furnace.  By investing nearly $70 million in emission controls, Algoma Steel is ensuring the collective impact of all planned mitigating measures will result in a significant reduction in particulate emissions.  See the attached graph for more details:  Reducing Emissions While Increasing Production

In the event you were unable to attend one of the Open House events we invite you to click on the links below to view the Open House exhibits.

Current Air Emission Controls
Application #1
Application #2
Baghouse Technology
Environmental Investments
Particulate Emission Reduction Strategy

Watch this page for regular updates on our efforts to reduce emissions. 

At Algoma we take our environmental responsibilities very seriously.  We will continue to conduct our business and operations in compliance with all applicable environmental legislation through pollution prevention practices.