Dofasco tackles pollution clouds with $7m plan

ArcelorMittalDofascois planning to move coffining operations indoors in an effort to cut down on pollution clouds that send smoke and particulate drifting over nearby neighbourhoods.

It's a decision that has Hamilton environmentalists feeling "cautiously optimistic."

Coffining refers to the practice of pouring excess molten iron produced forsteelmakinginto coffin-shaped beds.

The practice came under scrutiny during the Thanksgiving weekend in 2017 whenLyndaLukasikfrom Environment Hamilton took photos of athick, brown cloud of pollution floating over several city neighbourhoods.

The incident was the latest in a series of similar ones that had residents demanding action from the steelmaker.

• Ministry to meet withDofascoover Thanksgiving pollution cloud

Lukasik, who also serves on Dofasco'sCommunity Liaison Committee, was at the steelmakerduring a meetinglast week where the company announced the change.

"It came as a surprise to us," she explained."I keep saying I'm cautiously optimistic about what they're proposing."

Dofascocurrently doesall of its coffining outdoors, where factors such as moisture and the rate of pour could cause emissions, according to theApril 19presentation by TomKuhl, a general manager with the company.

The move will cost the company $7 million and shouldbe completed bymid-summer, according to spokesperson Marie Verdun.

"We will actually be converting a scrap facility to accommodate the coffining," she explained."The scrap process will go outside and the coffining will go inside."

It's definitely a move in the right direction.- LyndaLukasik, Environment Hamilton

Jochen Bezner from Hamilton'sCoalition Against Pollution also attended the meeting and called the announcement "a pleasant surprise."

"I think it's the right move," he added."It's better than a Band-Aid solution."

• Neighbours to push for pollution answers atDofascopublic meeting

Lukasiksaid she's encouraged to see some movement on the issue groups in the city have been pushing for years, but said she's not totally convinced the move will mean zero pollution.

"They're saying there will be no emissions, I'm not convinced of that, but it's definitely a move in the right direction."

Pollution fight continues

Beznerdescribed the company's change to coffining practices as just one step towards rectifying a list of ongoing issues city environmental groups want addressed.

The next stepwill be to take on emissions from Dofasco'stwo coke plants, where the company bakes coal to produce carbon for steelmaking.

Steelmakerinvesting millions in hot mill

Dofascoannounced Wednesday it will also be investing $151 million to modernize its hot mill operation to allow the company to produce higher-value products.

The province is supporting the upgrade with a grant of $22.7 million.

That project is expected to be completed byDecember 2022.