2010 Progress Report - International Joint Commission

Following guidelines approved by the Air Quality
Committee in 1998 for a consultation request by a
Party on transboundary pollution concerns, Canada
and the United States report ongoing progress on
joint discussions concerning Essar Steel Algoma, Inc.
(ESAI) in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
Essar Steel Algoma, Inc.
The ESAI is an integrated primary steel producer
located on the St. Mary’s River in Sault Ste. Marie,
Ontario, approximately one mile from the Canada–
U.S. border.
The Canada–U.S. Algoma informal consultation group
was formed in 1998 to address concerns regarding
local cross-border pollution. Representatives from the
United States and Canada hold regular discussions
to coordinate monitoring programs in the Sault
Ste. Marie area and to address progress in abating
potential transboundary air pollution from the ESAI
facility in Ontario. Air quality monitoring on the
Canadian side has been ongoing since the 1960s, and
the monitoring on the U.S. side was initiated by the
Intertribal Council of Michigan in 2001. Sampling of
fi ne PM and toxic air contaminants continues on both
sides of the border.
Canadian and U.S. representatives have continued to
meet to discuss progress toward reducing emissions
from ESAI and to share results of air monitoring
studies. To date, the air measurements recorded at
the Michigan sites do not violate U.S. ambient air
quality standards, nor do they exceed air toxics levels
of concern for long-term exposure. However, several
pollutants, including total suspended particulates and
coarse particulate matter (i.e. particulate matter less
than or equal to 10 microns, or PM 10
), exceed Ontario
air quality criteria in the west end of Sault Ste. Marie,
Ontario. The U.S. 24-hour NAAQS standard for PM 2.5
was signifi cantly reduced in 2006, thus it is possible
that Michigan sites could potentially be in exceedance
of the new standard.
In 2007, the Inter-tribal Council of Michigan installed
a camera, facing toward Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario,
as part of the Midwest Hazecam Network (see
www.mwhazecam.net). The Inter-tribal Council
provided the Ontario Ministry of the Environment
(MOE) with photographs documenting red and black
particle plumes emanating from ESAI on multiple
dates from 2007 to 2009. Ontario MOE staff have
documented these emissions events in their reporting
system and contacted ESAI regarding previously
unreported incidents.
In November 2009, the MOE confi rmed that ESAI
completed installation of a permanent baghouse for
the #7 blast furnace in February 2009. Due to the
economic downturn, plans to restart the #6 blast
furnace and install permanent controls have been
delayed. The furnace is presently idle and ESAI does
not have any plans to start the #6 blast furnace in the
near future. When it does restart the #6 blast furnace
ESAI will have 10 months to have the permanent
baghouse operating. During the permanent bag house
installation a portable baghouse will be operating.
ESAI is currently acquiring all of the mechanical
components of the baghouse to ensure it can meet
the agreed upon timeline. ESAI initiated the operation
of its cogeneration facility earlier this year. The
cogeneration facility is fully operational.
Also, ESAI has been ordered to conduct a modelling
and monitoring study of the coke ovens, which
will result in a determination of the best available
technology to reduce fugitive emissions. ESAI has
chosen to install individual oven pressure controls
on the #9 battery. This retrofi t is to be installed and
operational by October 31, 2011. The #7 battery will
be retrofi tted with a mechanized door and jam cleaner,
which is to be operational by October 31, 2011, as well.
The ESAI bilateral consultation group will continue to
monitor and report on this facility.
Commitments
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