Steel Mills

Big River Steel Wins Air Permit Suit
Written by Sandy Williams
March 23, 2014
Big River Steel is cleared to begin construction. Mississippi County Judge Charles Moulton ruled in favor of the John Correnti led Big River Steel in an air quality permit lawsuit filed by rival steel-maker Nucor Corp.
An air permit was provisionally granted on Sept 18, 2013 but subsequently challenged by Nucor on the basis that the application process was flawed and the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (AEDQ) did not have adequate time to properly review air quality concerns. In January 2014, a construction stay was lifted by the ADEQ.
The Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission will review Moulton’s ruling at a meeting on March 28. Pending approval by the commission, the ruling this week clears the way for Big River Steel CEO John Correnti to move forward with building of the $1.1 steel mill in Osceola, Ark.
“If the commission rules (in support of Moulton’s decision), we feel we’re on solid ground,” Correnti said in quote in The Republic. “Not only would I feel we’re on solid ground, but also our lenders and all our equity partners would. Nucor can do what Nucor wants to do. They can keep up this legal gymnastics, if you will, until the cows come home.”
Construction won’t start until at least June, said Correnti, and will take approximately 22 months to complete.
The Big River Steel mini-mill will have an electric arc furnace and capable of producing 1.7 million tons of steel per year. The specialty steels produced will be targeted for users in the automotive, oil and gas fracturing, and electrical industries. The plant is expected to employ 525 workers at an average salary of $75,000 per year.

Sandy Williams
Read more from Sandy WilliamsLatest in Steel Mills

U.S. Steel sues Algoma over iron pellet shipments
U.S. Steel is suing Algoma over the Canadian flat-rolled producer's rejection of iron pellet shipments, arguing it has breached its contract.

August US mill shipments slip but still higher than last year
The American Iron and Steel Institute reported a decline in the monthly shipments of US mills from July to August.

TransPod, Algoma, Supreme Steel linkup anchors Canadian steel in high-speed transit build
The three Canadian companies have announced a strategic partnership to support the development of an ultra-high-speed transit line from Edmonton to Calgary.

Metallus, USW agree to tentative four-year labor deal
Metallus and the United Steelworkers (USW) have agreed to a tentative four-year labor contract.

ArcelorMittal Dofasco resumes cokemaking after emergency maintenance
The Canadian steelmaker reported on Sept. 30 that “urgent maintenance” was needed in its coke plant off-gas systems. The work required coke oven gas from the No. 2 coke plant to be flared for most of that week.