EPA Bolsters U.S. Steel Production in Minnesota
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule revising the Obama-era regional haze Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) for the United States Steel Corporation’s (U.S. Steel) Keetac taconite facility in Keewatin, Minnesota. The revision modifies emission limits to feasible levels to ensure the continuation of vital steel production and simultaneously reduce emissions compared to today. The final action showcases that economic prosperity and improved visibility in the country’s national parks are not a binary choice.
American steel production is essential to supporting our economic and national security needs, particularly for applications in the defense industry, homeland security, and critical infrastructure. Minnesota and Michigan account for virtually all domestic taconite production, which is essential for more than 90 percent of the nation’s domestic iron ore supply. The Keetac facility uses locally mined taconite and supports thousands of good-paying direct and indirect jobs in Minnesota, including taconite mining and processing jobs.
“Implementation of the regional haze program should not cripple industry vital to the American economy. The Trump EPA has taken great strides to prove that we don’t have to choose between economic prosperity and environment protection,” said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. “American steel protection is vital to our nation’s national security, future, and job security for thousands of Americans. Today’s action safeguards all those aspects while promoting improved visibility in our national parks.”
In 2013, the Obama EPA promulgated a FIP that set infeasible emission limits for several taconite facilities in Michigan and Minnesota. The Keetac facility was among the many facilities burdened by the Obama-era action. Based on gold standard scientific studies and analyses of emission controls, EPA has determined that new and achievable emission standards can be set for the facility while maintaining regional haze requirements. This FIP revision will result in further NOx reductions compared to current emissions, improving visibility in nearby national parks and wilderness areas.
EPA’s final action will give the facility the needed flexibility to continue to produce steel essential for powering America’s economy and protecting the nation’s national security, while putting the environment at the forefront.
Background
The Clean Air Act (CAA) requires each state to develop a State Implementation Plan (SIP) to meet various air quality requirements, including protection of visibility. Regional haze SIPs must assure reasonable progress toward the national goal of achieving natural visibility conditions in Class I areas. A state must submit applicable SIP revisions to EPA for approval. If a state elects not to make a required SIP submittal, fails to make a required SIP submittal, or if the EPA finds that a state’s required submittal is incomplete or not approvable, the agency must promulgate a FIP.