Environment and Energy
EPA Proposes New Standards for EAF and AOD Steelmaking
Written by Laura Miller
May 16, 2022
The US Environmental Protection Agency has proposed new and revised standards of performance for electric arc furnace (EAF) and argon-oxygen decarburization (AOD) vessels used in the steel industry.
The proposed standards would apply to all new EAF facilities constructed after May 16, 2022. The standards suggest limiting total particulate matter (PM) emissions from all pollution control devises installed on EAF and AOD vessels to 79 milligrams PM per kilogram steel (or 0.16lbs PM per ton of steel produced). Visible emissions from EAF and AOD that exit the melt shops would be limited to an opacity of 0% during all phases of operations.
The EPA has also proposed that all emission limits apply at all times, that mandatory compliance testing occurs at least once every five years, and that reporting electronically.
Amendments for certain provisions in the standards have been proposed for EAFs constructed between Oct. 21, 1974, and Aug. 17, 1983, and for EAF and AOD vessels constructed between Aug. 17, 1983, and May 16, 2022.
The EPA is seeking comments on the proposed standards, with a deadline of July 15. A virtual public hearing will also be held if one is requested before May 23.
By Laura Miller, Laura@SteelMarketUpdate.com
Laura Miller
Read more from Laura MillerLatest in Environment and Energy
AISI announces publication of environmental rules for N. American steel construction products
The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) has announced the publication of the third version of the Product Category Rules (PCR) for North American Steel Construction Products.
Reports: Federal funding for Cliffs’ project could be slashed
Elon Musk's DOGE is determining which Department of Energy grants to advance and which ones to terminate, according to several media outlets
Flack’s Fabral launches solar division
The metal roofing manufacturer is launching Fabral Solar to integrate solar technology within commercial, residential, and agricultural structures.
Trump intends to declare ‘national energy emergency,’ focus on fossil fuels
The incoming administration said it also wants to streamline permitting and roll back regulations.
Nucor carbon targets certified by GSCC
Nucor’s “ambitious” carbon targets by the end of the decade and beyond have been certified by the Global Steel Climate Council (GSCC). The Charlotte, N.C.-based steelmaker used a base year of 2023 for its science-based emissions targets (SBET). It set an SBET of 0.975 metric tons (mt) of CO2 emissions per mt of hot-rolled steel […]