Iron and Steel Sector Information
Overview
The Iron and Steel sector processes raw and recycled materials to produce both finished and intermediary steel products. The sector is a foundational industry whose products support many other industries and sectors of the economy.
Steel is produced by either processing iron ore and other raw materials in an "integrated" steel mill or by reprocessing recycled steel in an electric arc furnace (EAF) mill. Both production processes fall under the same industry classification code (NAICS 3311).
Steel product manufacturing facilities (NAICS 3312) receive or purchase steel materials from integrated or EAF mills and further process those materials into finished products, such as rolled steel, tubes, wire, and other products requiring additional processing.
Basic EPA Regulatory Information
EPA and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are the agencies primarily responsible for regulating the iron and steel sector. The following links are intended to help Smart Sectors partners and the public learn more about how EPA works with the iron and steel sector.
- Metal Sectors (NAICS 332) Laws and regulations, compliance and related technical Information
- Basic Oxygen Process Furnace (integrated steel mills) Primary Emission Standards (NSPS)
- Basic Oxygen Process Furnace (integrated steel mills) Facilities Secondary Emissions (NSPS)
- Electric Arc Furnaces (EAFs) and Argon-Oxygen Decarburization Vessels (AOD) Primary Emission Standards (NSPS)
- Integrated iron and steelmaking National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants(NESHAP)
- EAF steelmaking National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP)
- Coke Oven By-Product Recovery Plants National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP)
- Coke Ovens Batteries National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP)
- Coke Ovens Pushing, Quenching and Battery Stacks National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP)
- Steel Pickling National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP)
- EPA information about iron and steel manufacturing effluent guidelines
- EPA’s compliance assistance centers
- EPA's Guidance Portal
EPA Resources
- ENERGY STAR Steel Focus — ENERGY STAR is an EPA voluntary program that helps businesses and consumers save energy and money.
- SmartWay Transport — EPA’s SmartWay Transport program helps companies advance supply chain sustainability by measuring, benchmarking and improving freight transportation efficiency. Any company or organization that ships, manages or hauls freight in its operations can become an EPA SmartWay Partner.
- Smart Sectors snapshot for iron and steel — interactive application that provides a "snapshot" of the industry, showing a range of environmental and economic data from publicly-available sources.
- Smart Sectors renewal of National Vehicle Mercury Switch Recovery Program — a collaborative effort designed to reduce mercury air emissions.
- Sustainable Materials Management Prioritization Tools — Free, life cycle-based tools that offer a starting place to establish priorities for environmental improvement, focus limited financial and human resources where action could offer greater holistic benefit, and consider key industries for collaboration.