Mittal Steel: What's the problem?

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The steel mill in the Flats section of Cleveland has had eight different owners over the past 90 years. The International Steel Group (ISG) was a new company formed to purchase the mill from the bankrupt LTV Steel Company in 2002. The Greater Cleveland community rallied behind ISG's efforts and provided them with the resources to help reopen the Cleveland Works, preserving 1200 jobs at the sprawling 1200-acre complex. ISG became a successful and profitable company and was purchased by Mittal Steel for $4.5 billion dollars in April 2005.

Mittal Steel was formed through the merger of two companies; LNM Holdings and Ispat International, both owned by London-based billionaire Lakshmi Mittal, who is now the third richest man in the world. Mittal Steel is the largest steelmaker in the world. Laskshmi Mittal owns 88% of the company.

The Cleveland Works is the single largest polluter of the air and water in Cuyahoga County, according to reports submitted to the Ohio EPA. It released 76 million pounds of air pollution in 2003 (Source: ISG 2003 Title V fee emissions report).The plant sits on the Cuyahoga River, and discharges 100,000 pounds of pollution into the river (Source: Ohio EPA Toxics Release Inventory, 2001). New data submitted to the Ohio EPA show that the asthma and cancer-causing pollution has risen over 30% from 2003 to 2004. Because the plant is so close to Lake Erie, both its air and water pollution can endanger the lake. Since the steel mill reopened, pollution problems in nearby neighborhoods have included metal flakes and soot covering people's cars and homes, nauseating odors including strong sulfur smells, loud noises, and visible orange and yellow clouds coming from the stacks.

Many of the chemicals and soot coming from the plant can cause long term health problems, including asthma, lung cancer, and developmental damage.

2005 Mittal Steel Cleveland Works Pollution
Type of pollution

pounds emitted
health hazards
Sulfur dioxide
1,439,540
constricts airways, inhibits breathing, triggers asthma
Fine particles
(invisible particles, under 2.5 microns)
806,680
Causes damage to lungs, triggers asthma, enter bloodstream and can cause heart disease
Coarse particles
243,800
Cause lung damage, larger particles cause property damage
Organic chemicals
181,420
Causes damage to liver, kidneys, central nervous system; cancer
Volatile organic compounds
181,420
Causes damage to liver, kidneys, central nervous system; cancer
Source: 2005 Title V emissions fee report to Ohio EPA.


How can Mittal Steel become a good neighbor?

 Mittal Steel can reduce the dangerous emissions coming from its stacks and pipes by investing in modern pollution prevention technology. Mittal could follow the lead of another Ohio steelmaker - AK Steel in Middletown - which has committed to put new pollution controls on its steel mills and is working towards a 99% reduction in their air emissions, going above federal standards.

ISG was the recipient of tremendous goodwill and subsidies from Northeast Ohio taxpayers and Mittal inherited those benefits. It can respond to the community's need by becoming a good neighbor and making the decision to modernize its operations and protect public health.

Resources
 For more information or to get involved, contact Liz Ilg, Cleveland area Program Director, Ohio Citizen Action, (216) 861-5200.