Senators from Ohio and West Virginia have signed on to a letter to the administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency warning its proposed rules could hinder domestic ferroalloys production.

 

The National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Ferroalloys Production was released by the agency in November and impacts the only two ferroalloy plants remaining in the nation, Eramet Marietta and Felman Productions of Letart, W.Va. According to Joy Frank-Collins, a spokesman for Eramet and Felman, the new standards could result in the closure of the two plants that employ more than 450 people, 200 at Eramet.

 

"We you know, manganese ferroalloys are a critical ingredient in steelmaking and domestic production has long been critical to our national defense industrial base," said the letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson by Sens. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio; Rob Portman, R-Ohio; Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.; and Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va. "As such we urge the EPA to work with all stakeholders to ensure that the final promulgated rule improves public health, protects the continued operation of domestic ferroalloy manganese smelters and protects worker safety."

 

Air quality has improved with investments in control technology and development of more efficient processes, the letter said.

 

"However, it is our understanding that the proposed (standard) for ferroalloys production would likely require facilities to invest in total enclosure and ventilation to meet emissions limits," the letter said. "Yet, as has been noted by others, this could increase employee contact to toxic substances at affected facilities. We urge EPA to make sure the final rule does not unintentionally harm workers if there are other equally effective control options to reduce ferroalloy emissions."

 

The rule takes effect in June and is similar to the agency's Maximum Achievable Control Technology rule on toxic emissions affecting coal-fired power plants. Power companies, citing the rule, have closed three old plants in West Virginia including a facility at Willow Island.

 

In other news about the EPA, Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., issued a statement about the EPA deciding to appeal a decision by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia's that overruled the agency's retroactive veto of the Spruce Mine's Clean Water Act permit. The mine, located in West Virginia, was granted the permit more than 10 years ago.

 

"Clearly the EPA and the Administration will stop at nothing in their pursuit to advance a radical anti-coal agenda," Capito said. "The courts have been very clear in their decision to overrule the EPA's veto of the Spruce Mine Permit-federal agencies cannot regulate where they can't legislate. But the EPA won't take no for an answer, and now the agency is spending more time and money to shut down mining jobs in Appalachia."

 

Capito is a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee which has jurisdiction over the Clean Water Act. Capito is co-founder of the Congressional Coal Caucus.