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FOLLANSBEE - The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection is accepting comment concerning a requested air quality permit for a proposed pig iron mill to be built in Follansbee.
According to legal advertisements and documentation available on its website, the DEP received an application from Ironton Enterprises LLC to construct a 250,000 tons per year merchant pig iron facility in Follansbee.
"Ironton is proposing an integrated ironmaking operation consisting of a Mini-Sinter Plant (MSP), a Mini-Blast Furnace (MBF), a cogeneration (co-gen) power plant and all associated material handling equipment," according to an engineering evaluation and fact sheet from the DEP’s Division of Air Quality.
The facility is set to be located on property once home to Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel and now part of the Port of West Virginia, west of state Route 2 and Veterans Drive, and west of the railroad tracks, according to DEP documents.
"The site itself is mostly an old sinter and sinter feed pile left over from prior industry in the area," note the documents. "Parts of the old sinter feed pile will be excavated as part of the site preparation and construction of the facility and then used in the production of new sinter in the Mini Sinter Plant."
Potential emissions under the air quality permit include: 0.29 tons per year of particulate matter less than 2.5 microns, 6.31 tons per year particulate matter less than 10 microns, 19.26 tons per year particulate matter, 50.82 tons per year carbon monoxide, 93.28 tons per year oxides of nitrogen, 29.64 tons per year sulfur dioxide, 0.58 tons per year volatile organic compounds, 7.43 tons per year of ammonia, and 0.20 tons per year total hazardous air pollutants.
According to a legal advertisement, published July 28, the public may submit comments or requests for a public meeting on the project, with all such comments or requests received by the DEP before 5 p.m., Aug. 27.
"A public meeting may be held if the Director of the (Division of Air Quality) determines that significant public interest has been expressed, in writing, or when the Director deems it appropriate," the advertisement notes.
Comments are to be sent to: Robert Mullins, WV Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Air Quality, 601 57th Street, SE, Charleston, WV 25304.
Mullins also may be contacted by telephone at (304) 926-0499, extension 41283 or by email at Robert.A.Mullins@wv.gov
According to a legal advertisement published by Ironton Enterprises on May 8, "startup of operation will be approximately (two) years from permit approval, currently anticipated to occur during Q3 2028."
(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com)