by MARK REUTTER
Severstal Sparrows Point says that nearly all of the documents subpoenaed by state environmental officials examining dirty-gas “belches” at the steel mill are protected from public disclosure.
Of nearly 2,700 pages submitted to the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), Severstal asserts that all but 29 pages “contain trade secrets and other confidential commercial information” and thus are not subject to Maryland’s Public Information Act.
Michael F. Strande, assistant attorney general for MDE, said he will conduct a review to determine “whether the asserted privilege by Severstal is appropriate in this case under Maryland case law.” Strande said he hopes to complete his review by the end of the month, which will then be relayed to the office of MDE Secretary Shari Wilson for final determination.
The Brew has requested access to these documents, which the agency subpoenaed last January after this website reported that the steel mill’s 300-foot-high “L” blast furnace was releasing untreated pollutants through its emergency bleeder valves.
According to sources, a large number of furnace “belches” took place after the company shifted to a cheaper type of iron ore, the main ingredient for making molten iron, in order to save costs.
In a letter to MDE, Scott R. Dismukes, Severstal’s chief counsel, asserted that any pollutants that were discharged from the bleeder valves could not be considered “excess emissions” because such emissions are allowed under permits issued by MDE and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The MDE permit allows “intermittent” emissions from the bleeder valves, while the EPA permit forbids the discharge of emissions “which is visible to human observers.”
A September 29 belch, caught on film by WJZ-13’s Sky Eye helicopter crew, shows a heavy cloud of smoke and column of flame rising from the furnace’s bleeder valves.
- Mark Reutter can be reached at reuttermark@yahoo.com
