The Allegheny County Health Department held a public hearing Tuesday to gather input on U.S. Steel’s request to install a new hot‑strip mill at its Edgar Thomson Plant in Braddock, Pennsylvania. The proposed facility would be capable of producing up to 3.5 million tons of hot‑rolled steel each year, replacing the older mill at U.S. Steel’s Irvin Plant in West Mifflin.
Community concerns
Several local residents and environmental groups voiced strong opposition. Curtis Da’Von, organizing director for Clean Water Action, told the meeting that “community members pay the price with their health, their well‑being, and unfortunately, their lives.” Da’Von joined a coalition of air‑quality advocates who gathered inside the Carnegie One Braddock Library to protest the project.
The Breathe Project estimates the new mill could raise particulate pollution in Braddock by 43 percent. Residents fear that higher emissions will exacerate long‑standing health problems. “If we’re not really addressing the issues that are caused by the pollution, then we’re really not serving our community,” said North Braddock resident Sarah Murphy, who cited family members who have suffered from cancer.
Other speakers, including Edith Abeyta of North Braddock, called for five specific protections: stronger pollution limits, community air monitoring, verification of pollution offsets, environmental‑justice safeguards, and public accountability.
Official response
County officials and U.S. Steel representatives presented a more optimistic view. West Mifflin Mayor Chris Kelly said the project offers “new life, new investment, and renewed confidence” for the region. Matt Smith of the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance called the mill “a truly transformational reinvestment in southwestern Pennsylvania’s industrial core.”
According to a public‑hearing memo, the Allegheny County Health Department concluded that potential emissions from the proposed equipment “will not significantly impact air quality,” basing its assessment on data supplied by U.S. Steel and the county’s own analysis.
Matthew DeLibero, director of Environmental, Reliability, and Operational Excellence at U.S. Steel, told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 that construction could begin early next year if the permit is approved. “I believe that we can have industry, and then we can still have clean air and clean water,” DeLibero said. “U.S. Steel is a principled company. We adhere to our Steel principles, and that’s safety first and environmental first.”
Next steps
The county will accept written comments through Tuesday, Nov. 17. Residents who wish to submit additional feedback are encouraged to do so via the Allegheny County Health Department’s website or by mailing written statements to the department’s office.
Both sides agree that the outcome of this permit process will shape the future of Braddock’s economy and its air quality. The hearing underscores the ongoing balance between preserving jobs in America’s steel heartland and protecting the health of local families.
Original reporting: WTAE (Hearst) – local — read the source article.
