U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 will accept public comments until April 7 on ArcelorMittal’s requests to continue injecting hazardous waste deep underground at its Burns Harbor facility, 250 W. U.S. Highway 12.

ArcelorMittal has three existing underground injection wells and plans to construct a fourth. The company has an exemption from the federal ban on disposal of hazardous waste underground known as a “land ban exemption,” and three injection well permits from EPA. It has requested renewal of the land ban exemption and three existing permits as well as a fourth permit for a new well.

After reviewing the requests EPA found the company has shown that injected waste will not threaten underground sources of drinking water. Therefore, EPA plans to grant the request.

An open house will be held from 3:30 to 6 p.m., Wednesday, March 24, at the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission, 6100 Southport Road in Portage, with a public hearing to follow from 7 o 8:30 p.m.

EPA originally granted the land ban exemption and three existing permits in 1990. The permits would be valid for 10 years and the exemption until Dec. 31, 2027.

For questions and additional information contact: William Bates (land ban exemption), 312-886-6110, bates.william@epa.gov

 or Stephen Roy (permits), 313-886-6556, roy.stephen@epa.gov

Or call EPA Region 5 toll-free at 800-621-8431, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays.

Draft documents are also available at the Valparaiso Public Library, 103 Jefferson, Valparaiso; the Thomas Library, 200 W. Indiana Ave., Chesterton; and on EPA’s Web site at www.epa.gov/region5/water/uic/uicpub.htm

Posted 2/26/2010