Burns Harbor
Burns Harbor is the only steelmaking facility in the United States bounded on two sides by a national park, and the complex resembles a park far more than a steel mill. It's not unusual to see deer crossing the tree-lined avenues that connect the mills and offices. Wildflowers and wildlife coexist comfortably with the blast furnaces and basic oxygen furnace. And nearby sand dunes draw boaters and swimmers to recreational opportunities on Lake Michigan. Ever since the facility was built in 1964, it has benefited from exceptional environmental stewardship.
One reason is an environmental management system (EMS) that has transcended changes in management and ownership. Yet another is substantial investment in pollution control equipment including the recent addition of state-of-the-art emission control technology for the blast furnaces, BOF shop and coke plant completed in May 2007. Perhaps most important is a hard-earned reputation for transparency built over more than 40 years.
Examples of Environmental Excellence
Citizens Advisory Committee
Open and honest communication between the company and the community has been key in implementing significant environmental improvements. In 1996, a Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) was formed to "advise" the Burns Harbor facility on how to achieve improved environmental performance. The CAC is comprised of representatives from USEPA, Indiana Department of Environmental Management, U.S Parks Service, Department of Natural Resources, local townships, industrial associations, environmental NGO's, conservation groups, ArcelorMittal management and the local union. The group meets every several weeks. Meeting discussions are recorded and minutes are provided to participants ArcelorMittal by the next meeting.
Deerfield Storage Facility
The company is working closely with the CAC to explore different options to for handling sludge on Burns Harbor property. There has been a significant investigation performed on property within the plant – including drilling of wells, analyzing soils and waters, performing engineering assumptions and conceptual design, etc - to support obtaining a permit from the state of Indiana to install the DSF. A parallel effort continues with ArcelorMittal Research & Development, charged with finding a technology-based, economically feasible solution to sludge generation.
Mercury Management Strategy
ArcelorMittal USA has established a comprehensive mercury management strategy to voluntarily reduce its mercury “footprint” throughout its manufacturing operations. Already, ArcelorMittal USA has made substantial progress in reducing its mercury footprint. ArcelorMittal took inventory of all mercury-containing devices at its Burns Harbor, Indiana Harbor East and Indiana Harbor West facilities and established a plan to completely phase out such devices. Today, these three locations are more than 80 percent mercury free, serving as models for the remaining 15 ArcelorMittal USA facilities.