Northwest Indiana's steel mills have long been a source of toxic pollution. Although the Biden administration has recently proposed regulations, they fall short of delivering a comprehensive solution. In an effort towards sustainability, Cleveland-Cliffs plans to implement more eco-friendly practices.
Kimmie Gordon, the leader of the Gary-based group Brown Faces Green Spaces, criticizes the authority's slow response to the pollution crisis, arguing that it's akin to "putting a Band-Aid on a gunshot wound". The Chicago Tribune reports, as of October 19th, 2023, that President Biden's proposed regulations would only limit a small fraction of the pollutants emitted by the mills according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These mills emit 600 tons of metals and chemicals each year, affecting low-income and predominantly Black neighborhoods with harmful health conditions ranging from brain damage in children to cancer.
In an effort to make drastic improvements, Cleveland-Cliffs is constructing a hydrogen pipeline to make its Indiana Harbor Works Blast Furnace No. 7 in East Chicago more eco-friendly. This project aims to limit the use of coke, a major contributor to carbon emissions, in the steelmaking process. To integrate hydrogen into the decarbonization of steel, Cleveland-Cliffs has already achieved a 32% reduction in emissions since 2017. The Times of Northwest Indiana confirms, the ongoing construction of the pipeline and the company's quest to secure hydrogen supplies.
Given the immensity of the pollution problem in surrounding communities, there remains doubts about the effectiveness of hydrogen in reducing carbon emissions. The mills in Northwest Indiana released over 95% of the 224 tons of unregulated toxic metals and chemicals annually through industry smokestacks. In addition, another 351 tons of harmful metals were detected escaping annually from the steel mills' open doors and vents.
Test results required by the EPA reveal that the steel mills are emitting higher levels of toxic metals than reported in the Toxics Release Inventory. Elizabeth Palacio, a retired steelworker living near the Indiana Harbor mill, claims that lead and other metals found in the soil and dust continue, affecting children's health, furthers the Chicago Tribune.
