Steelworkers Challenge Air Pollution Permit at Gerdau Ameristeel
Posted on: Friday, 3 March 2006, 12:00 CST
KNOXVILLE, Tenn., March 3 /PRNewswire/ -- The United Steelworkers (USW) union has filed written comments challenging the renewal of an air pollution permit for the Gerdau Ameristeel plant located near the Lonsdale community and a USW representative is making a statement today explaining the union's position at a public hearing at 10 a.m. in the Knox County Health Department.
Diane Heminway, USW Environmental Projects Coordinator said, "The proposed operating permit does not assure compliance with the Clean Air Act or does not adequately evaluate the public health and permitting implications of the potential increase in emissions of dioxins and other hazardous organic compounds coming from the melt shop.
"The permit lacks adequate monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements, and there's no enforceable compliance schedule," she said. "This is not a simple permit renewal because it is based on a permit that was signed a year ago allowing annual production to increase by 17 percent.
"Most troubling is that the impact on public health was never evaluated. This is particularly disturbing since this is an economically disadvantaged community where 56 percent of households have an income of less than $15,000 a year," Heminway said.
The USW notes its additional concerns in the following areas: - The permit allows 7,360 pounds of lead to be spewed into the air on an annual basis. Lead is particularly harmful to young children and the unborn and can cause brain damage and developmental problems. - Actual emissions are unknown because stack tests were not done until two weeks ago and the results will not be available until after the comment period ends. - Local residents state that their cars and property are "covered with dust." This "dust" may contain "particulate matter" associated with the Gerdau facility and may be harmful to health, especially for young children and the elderly. - No impact analyses was done for the Class I areas within 100 Km of the facility: - Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Joyce Kilmer Slickrock National Wildlife Area - Cohutta Wilderness Area Contact: Diane Heminway 585-703-6375
United Steelworkers
CONTACT: Diane Heminway of United Steelworkers, +1-585-703-6375
Web site: http://www.steelworkers-usw.org/
Source: PRNewswire
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