Video provided in partnership with The Times, JEDtv and WJOB. Sponsored by Strack & Van Til and the South Shore Line.
A delay and potential future elimination of steel mill regulations meant to limit hazardous air pollution puts public health at risk, environmentalists say.
A new report by the Environmental Integrity Project found an air monitor at U.S. Steel's Gary Works mill registered a chromium level at the fenceline of 0.155 micrograms per cubic meter over a six-month period in 2022 that was more than double the threshold for contributing to chronic health problems. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency took seven enforcement actions against the steel mill along Gary's lakefront for violating the Clean Air Act over the last five years.
The Environmental Integrity Project said relaxing the regulations would potentially expose the public to dangerous levels of toxic pollutants, including benzene and chromium, outside steel mills in Northwest Indiana, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan.
People are also reading...
"It's clear the steel industry needs common-sense rules to protect the health and safety of workers and the people who live downwind from plants, because of the dangerous chemicals they handle and release," said Jen Duggan, executive director of the Environmental Integrity Project.
The Trump administration has been rolling back environmental regulations, announcing in March it would lessen regulations on oil, gas, power plants, the auto sector and other industries. Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Lee Zeldin said such rules were a hidden tax on citizens and removing them would lower the cost of living and create jobs.
The Environmental Integrity Project said new regulations the Biden administration adopted this year would help limit public exposure to the hazardous toxins of benzene and chromium. A heavy metal, chromium can cause breathing problems, ulcers and damage to the male reproductive system. It includes hexavalent chromium, a known carcinogen that the Midwest Plant accidentally discharged into Lake Michigan and that has been linked to lung cancer. Benzene is a carcinogen that's been linked to blood disorders and immune system damage.
Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts
The environmental group filed a lawsuit earlier this month to try to ensure the regulations, which include fenceline monitoring and air pollution controls, will still go into effect this year as they were scheduled to.
"We've got to demand a future with clean, sustainable steel that keeps our jobs and communities safe here in Northwest Indiana," retired steelworker and union activist Terry Steagall said. "EPA's decision to delay critical rules designed to protect us from toxic emissions perpetuates the unfortunate trend of treating the region as a toxic sacrifice zone for industry to poison the land, air, water and people."
The Environmental Integrity Project Report found that 17 of 20 major integrated steel mills and coke batteries were out of compliance with the Clean Air Act for at least one quarter over the past three years. Ten of them were out of compliance for the entire time over the last three years, according to EPA data.
In 2023, the steel mills and coke batteries emitted 2.4 million tons of airborne toxins, including soot, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, and 43.3 million tons of greenhouse gases scientists say cause climate change, or about the same as 10.1 million gas-powered cars, according to the Environmental Integrity Project's study. Integrated steel facilities released 8.3 billion tons of chromium compounds and 6.7 billion tons of benzene in 2023.
"I have testified at numerous EPA and IDEM public meetings and hearings to lower legal limits on air and water discharge pollution -- that seems to go on deaf ears at EPA and IDEM. If we care about future generations, we must set a goal of zero pollution," Steagall said. "The steel industry has to 'do better to be better,' if we are going to have a sustainable steel industry into the future."
Self-reported emissions fail to capture the full extent of the pollution the way fenceline monitoring would, according to the Environmental Integrity Project.
"The steel industry has been polluting Northwest Indiana for over 100 years, and Mother Earth is telling us she has had enough with the impact of climate change happening right in front of us," Steagall said. "Even with the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act, EPA has given the steel industry legal limits to pollute the air, land and water with severe negative impact on the environment and the health of the people living in the steel communities."
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Prime IV Hydration & Wellness, Refuge Coffee, Planet Fitness and Nutrition Lounge open; Irish pubs close Open Open Open Open Open Open Open Closed Closed Local News Alert Top Story NWI Business Ins and Outs: Chipotle, Jet's Pizza, Maurice's Signature CheeseCakes, HolmesBoy Hotdogs, Nana's Subs & Salads and Professionally Polished open Joseph S. Pete Updated Oct 14, 2024 0
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Chipotle, Jet's Pizza, Maurice's Signature CheeseCakes, HolmesBoy Hotdogs, Nana's Subs & Salads and Professiona...
Local News Alert Top Story NWI Business Ins and Outs: Aquarium, Public Bar & Rec, Cheese Almighty, Schillings and Dunkin' opening Joseph S. Pete Updated Dec 23, 2024 0
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Aquarium, Public Bar & Rec, Cheese Almighty, Schillings and Dunkin' opening
Local News Alert Top Story NWI Business Ins and Outs: Region's first esports center, Tony's Tacos, Las Jacarandas Mexican Grill, Crazy Hot Deals and St. Patrick's Day pop-up restaurant opening Joseph S. Pete Updated Oct 14, 2024 0
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Region's first esports center, Tony's Tacos, Las Jacarandas Mexican Grill, Crazy Hot Deals and St. Patrick's Day po...
Target development gets approval in Portage
A new retail development that includes a Target department store gained a key approval in Portage this week when the city's Plan Commission voted to recommend a new retail development at the southeast corner of Airport Road and U.S. 6.
Scottsdale, Arizona-based Simon CRE, which has done developments all over the country, is looking to build a Target as an anchor store there and surround it with other retail, restaurants and multifamily housing.
The developer is asking Portage to rezone 84.29 acres of land, which lies along the largely commercial strip of U.S. 6, from residential, to medium- and large-scale commercial and multi-family housing.
Conceptual plans show at least seven retail stores in a strip mall adjoining the Target, including another big-box store at the other end with smaller stores in between. As many as seven or eight more restaurants or smaller stores could be developed in outlots in the parking lot.
"Basically, we'll be having our stores at the bottom of the site," Simon CRE Development Associate Muhammad Ishaq said. "We'll have some of the quick-service restaurants on the top corner. We're in the process of getting some of those tenants now. We are still in the preliminary stage of our project. It should be more of quick-service restaurant, retail shops and major anchors like clothing retail stores."
The developer is looking to zone about 40 acres for commercial use and the other 40 acres for high-density residential. Simon CRE does not have specific plans for residential development at this point but wants to keep its options open for future development, Ishaq said.
Portage Director of Planning and Community Development Tom Cherry said the new retail development is planned by where Providence Homes is developing a new neighborhood of single-family homes. It's expecting another developer would come in to build high-density homes like townhomes between the single-family homes and the commercial development along the highway.
"The plan is to phase residential, similar to what's behind Menards," Cherry said. "We're looking to phase it, just like the comprehensive plan said."
Minneapolis-based Target is known for selling chic clothes, as well as electronics, books, groceries, greeting cards, toys and many other products at discount prices, including at a dollar section near the entrance. One of the largest retailers in the country, it has locations around Northwest Indiana, including Munster, Highland, St. John, Hobart and Valparaiso.
Portage rejected earlier plans to develop just residential development at the site, holding out for a larger commercial development akin to what's along U.S. 6. City officials have touted the project as another major retail option that will let residents do more shopping in town, instead of having to travel to Hobart or Valparaiso.
"This is something we're very proud of as a city," Mayor Austin Bonta said. "Some time ago, there was a proposal to go all residential here. There was some good pushback from the city because we believed there was commercial potential for this property. I think what we have here is a great commercial vision for this property. I think it's very prudent because there's a large single-family district to the south to have some buffer between the large commercial district and the large single-family district to the south."
The Portage City Council still must approve the project.
"I'll be encouraging the City Council to see the benefits of a big commercial district on the north end, a transitional buffer and the single-family they rezoned last year," Bonta said.
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Prime IV Hydration & Wellness, Refuge Coffee, Planet Fitness and Nutrition Lounge open; Irish pubs close Open Open Open Open Open Open Open Closed Closed Local News Alert Top Story NWI Business Ins and Outs: Chipotle, Jet's Pizza, Maurice's Signature CheeseCakes, HolmesBoy Hotdogs, Nana's Subs & Salads and Professionally Polished open Joseph S. Pete Updated Oct 14, 2024 0
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Chipotle, Jet's Pizza, Maurice's Signature CheeseCakes, HolmesBoy Hotdogs, Nana's Subs & Salads and Professiona...
Local News Alert Top Story NWI Business Ins and Outs: Aquarium, Public Bar & Rec, Cheese Almighty, Schillings and Dunkin' opening Joseph S. Pete Updated Dec 23, 2024 0
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Aquarium, Public Bar & Rec, Cheese Almighty, Schillings and Dunkin' opening
Local News Alert Top Story NWI Business Ins and Outs: Region's first esports center, Tony's Tacos, Las Jacarandas Mexican Grill, Crazy Hot Deals and St. Patrick's Day pop-up restaurant opening Joseph S. Pete Updated Oct 14, 2024 0
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Region's first esports center, Tony's Tacos, Las Jacarandas Mexican Grill, Crazy Hot Deals and St. Patrick's Day po...
Target development gets approval in Portage
A new retail development that includes a Target department store gained a key approval in Portage this week when the city's Plan Commission voted to recommend a new retail development at the southeast corner of Airport Road and U.S. 6.
Scottsdale, Arizona-based Simon CRE, which has done developments all over the country, is looking to build a Target as an anchor store there and surround it with other retail, restaurants and multifamily housing.
The developer is asking Portage to rezone 84.29 acres of land, which lies along the largely commercial strip of U.S. 6, from residential, to medium- and large-scale commercial and multi-family housing.
Conceptual plans show at least seven retail stores in a strip mall adjoining the Target, including another big-box store at the other end with smaller stores in between. As many as seven or eight more restaurants or smaller stores could be developed in outlots in the parking lot.
"Basically, we'll be having our stores at the bottom of the site," Simon CRE Development Associate Muhammad Ishaq said. "We'll have some of the quick-service restaurants on the top corner. We're in the process of getting some of those tenants now. We are still in the preliminary stage of our project. It should be more of quick-service restaurant, retail shops and major anchors like clothing retail stores."
The developer is looking to zone about 40 acres for commercial use and the other 40 acres for high-density residential. Simon CRE does not have specific plans for residential development at this point but wants to keep its options open for future development, Ishaq said.
Portage Director of Planning and Community Development Tom Cherry said the new retail development is planned by where Providence Homes is developing a new neighborhood of single-family homes. It's expecting another developer would come in to build high-density homes like townhomes between the single-family homes and the commercial development along the highway.
"The plan is to phase residential, similar to what's behind Menards," Cherry said. "We're looking to phase it, just like the comprehensive plan said."
Minneapolis-based Target is known for selling chic clothes, as well as electronics, books, groceries, greeting cards, toys and many other products at discount prices, including at a dollar section near the entrance. One of the largest retailers in the country, it has locations around Northwest Indiana, including Munster, Highland, St. John, Hobart and Valparaiso.
Portage rejected earlier plans to develop just residential development at the site, holding out for a larger commercial development akin to what's along U.S. 6. City officials have touted the project as another major retail option that will let residents do more shopping in town, instead of having to travel to Hobart or Valparaiso.
"This is something we're very proud of as a city," Mayor Austin Bonta said. "Some time ago, there was a proposal to go all residential here. There was some good pushback from the city because we believed there was commercial potential for this property. I think what we have here is a great commercial vision for this property. I think it's very prudent because there's a large single-family district to the south to have some buffer between the large commercial district and the large single-family district to the south."
The Portage City Council still must approve the project.
"I'll be encouraging the City Council to see the benefits of a big commercial district on the north end, a transitional buffer and the single-family they rezoned last year," Bonta said.
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Prime IV Hydration & Wellness, Refuge Coffee, Planet Fitness and Nutrition Lounge open; Irish pubs close Open Open Open Open Open Open Open Closed Closed Local News Alert Top Story NWI Business Ins and Outs: Chipotle, Jet's Pizza, Maurice's Signature CheeseCakes, HolmesBoy Hotdogs, Nana's Subs & Salads and Professionally Polished open Joseph S. Pete Updated Oct 14, 2024 0
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Chipotle, Jet's Pizza, Maurice's Signature CheeseCakes, HolmesBoy Hotdogs, Nana's Subs & Salads and Professiona...
Local News Alert Top Story NWI Business Ins and Outs: Aquarium, Public Bar & Rec, Cheese Almighty, Schillings and Dunkin' opening Joseph S. Pete Updated Dec 23, 2024 0
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Aquarium, Public Bar & Rec, Cheese Almighty, Schillings and Dunkin' opening
Local News Alert Top Story NWI Business Ins and Outs: Region's first esports center, Tony's Tacos, Las Jacarandas Mexican Grill, Crazy Hot Deals and St. Patrick's Day pop-up restaurant opening Joseph S. Pete Updated Oct 14, 2024 0
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Region's first esports center, Tony's Tacos, Las Jacarandas Mexican Grill, Crazy Hot Deals and St. Patrick's Day po...
Target development gets approval in Portage
A new retail development that includes a Target department store gained a key approval in Portage this week when the city's Plan Commission voted to recommend a new retail development at the southeast corner of Airport Road and U.S. 6.
Scottsdale, Arizona-based Simon CRE, which has done developments all over the country, is looking to build a Target as an anchor store there and surround it with other retail, restaurants and multifamily housing.
The developer is asking Portage to rezone 84.29 acres of land, which lies along the largely commercial strip of U.S. 6, from residential, to medium- and large-scale commercial and multi-family housing.
Conceptual plans show at least seven retail stores in a strip mall adjoining the Target, including another big-box store at the other end with smaller stores in between. As many as seven or eight more restaurants or smaller stores could be developed in outlots in the parking lot.
"Basically, we'll be having our stores at the bottom of the site," Simon CRE Development Associate Muhammad Ishaq said. "We'll have some of the quick-service restaurants on the top corner. We're in the process of getting some of those tenants now. We are still in the preliminary stage of our project. It should be more of quick-service restaurant, retail shops and major anchors like clothing retail stores."
The developer is looking to zone about 40 acres for commercial use and the other 40 acres for high-density residential. Simon CRE does not have specific plans for residential development at this point but wants to keep its options open for future development, Ishaq said.
Portage Director of Planning and Community Development Tom Cherry said the new retail development is planned by where Providence Homes is developing a new neighborhood of single-family homes. It's expecting another developer would come in to build high-density homes like townhomes between the single-family homes and the commercial development along the highway.
"The plan is to phase residential, similar to what's behind Menards," Cherry said. "We're looking to phase it, just like the comprehensive plan said."
Minneapolis-based Target is known for selling chic clothes, as well as electronics, books, groceries, greeting cards, toys and many other products at discount prices, including at a dollar section near the entrance. One of the largest retailers in the country, it has locations around Northwest Indiana, including Munster, Highland, St. John, Hobart and Valparaiso.
Portage rejected earlier plans to develop just residential development at the site, holding out for a larger commercial development akin to what's along U.S. 6. City officials have touted the project as another major retail option that will let residents do more shopping in town, instead of having to travel to Hobart or Valparaiso.
"This is something we're very proud of as a city," Mayor Austin Bonta said. "Some time ago, there was a proposal to go all residential here. There was some good pushback from the city because we believed there was commercial potential for this property. I think what we have here is a great commercial vision for this property. I think it's very prudent because there's a large single-family district to the south to have some buffer between the large commercial district and the large single-family district to the south."
The Portage City Council still must approve the project.
"I'll be encouraging the City Council to see the benefits of a big commercial district on the north end, a transitional buffer and the single-family they rezoned last year," Bonta said.
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Prime IV Hydration & Wellness, Refuge Coffee, Planet Fitness and Nutrition Lounge open; Irish pubs close Open Open Open Open Open Open Open Closed Closed Local News Alert Top Story NWI Business Ins and Outs: Chipotle, Jet's Pizza, Maurice's Signature CheeseCakes, HolmesBoy Hotdogs, Nana's Subs & Salads and Professionally Polished open Joseph S. Pete Updated Oct 14, 2024 0
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Chipotle, Jet's Pizza, Maurice's Signature CheeseCakes, HolmesBoy Hotdogs, Nana's Subs & Salads and Professiona...
Local News Alert Top Story NWI Business Ins and Outs: Aquarium, Public Bar & Rec, Cheese Almighty, Schillings and Dunkin' opening Joseph S. Pete Updated Dec 23, 2024 0
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Aquarium, Public Bar & Rec, Cheese Almighty, Schillings and Dunkin' opening
Local News Alert Top Story NWI Business Ins and Outs: Region's first esports center, Tony's Tacos, Las Jacarandas Mexican Grill, Crazy Hot Deals and St. Patrick's Day pop-up restaurant opening Joseph S. Pete Updated Oct 14, 2024 0
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Region's first esports center, Tony's Tacos, Las Jacarandas Mexican Grill, Crazy Hot Deals and St. Patrick's Day po...
Target development gets approval in Portage
A new retail development that includes a Target department store gained a key approval in Portage this week when the city's Plan Commission voted to recommend a new retail development at the southeast corner of Airport Road and U.S. 6.
Scottsdale, Arizona-based Simon CRE, which has done developments all over the country, is looking to build a Target as an anchor store there and surround it with other retail, restaurants and multifamily housing.
The developer is asking Portage to rezone 84.29 acres of land, which lies along the largely commercial strip of U.S. 6, from residential, to medium- and large-scale commercial and multi-family housing.
Conceptual plans show at least seven retail stores in a strip mall adjoining the Target, including another big-box store at the other end with smaller stores in between. As many as seven or eight more restaurants or smaller stores could be developed in outlots in the parking lot.
"Basically, we'll be having our stores at the bottom of the site," Simon CRE Development Associate Muhammad Ishaq said. "We'll have some of the quick-service restaurants on the top corner. We're in the process of getting some of those tenants now. We are still in the preliminary stage of our project. It should be more of quick-service restaurant, retail shops and major anchors like clothing retail stores."
The developer is looking to zone about 40 acres for commercial use and the other 40 acres for high-density residential. Simon CRE does not have specific plans for residential development at this point but wants to keep its options open for future development, Ishaq said.
Portage Director of Planning and Community Development Tom Cherry said the new retail development is planned by where Providence Homes is developing a new neighborhood of single-family homes. It's expecting another developer would come in to build high-density homes like townhomes between the single-family homes and the commercial development along the highway.
"The plan is to phase residential, similar to what's behind Menards," Cherry said. "We're looking to phase it, just like the comprehensive plan said."
Minneapolis-based Target is known for selling chic clothes, as well as electronics, books, groceries, greeting cards, toys and many other products at discount prices, including at a dollar section near the entrance. One of the largest retailers in the country, it has locations around Northwest Indiana, including Munster, Highland, St. John, Hobart and Valparaiso.
Portage rejected earlier plans to develop just residential development at the site, holding out for a larger commercial development akin to what's along U.S. 6. City officials have touted the project as another major retail option that will let residents do more shopping in town, instead of having to travel to Hobart or Valparaiso.
"This is something we're very proud of as a city," Mayor Austin Bonta said. "Some time ago, there was a proposal to go all residential here. There was some good pushback from the city because we believed there was commercial potential for this property. I think what we have here is a great commercial vision for this property. I think it's very prudent because there's a large single-family district to the south to have some buffer between the large commercial district and the large single-family district to the south."
The Portage City Council still must approve the project.
"I'll be encouraging the City Council to see the benefits of a big commercial district on the north end, a transitional buffer and the single-family they rezoned last year," Bonta said.
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Prime IV Hydration & Wellness, Refuge Coffee, Planet Fitness and Nutrition Lounge open; Irish pubs close Open Open Open Open Open Open Open Closed Closed Local News Alert Top Story NWI Business Ins and Outs: Chipotle, Jet's Pizza, Maurice's Signature CheeseCakes, HolmesBoy Hotdogs, Nana's Subs & Salads and Professionally Polished open Joseph S. Pete Updated Oct 14, 2024 0
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Chipotle, Jet's Pizza, Maurice's Signature CheeseCakes, HolmesBoy Hotdogs, Nana's Subs & Salads and Professiona...
Local News Alert Top Story NWI Business Ins and Outs: Aquarium, Public Bar & Rec, Cheese Almighty, Schillings and Dunkin' opening Joseph S. Pete Updated Dec 23, 2024 0
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Aquarium, Public Bar & Rec, Cheese Almighty, Schillings and Dunkin' opening
Local News Alert Top Story NWI Business Ins and Outs: Region's first esports center, Tony's Tacos, Las Jacarandas Mexican Grill, Crazy Hot Deals and St. Patrick's Day pop-up restaurant opening Joseph S. Pete Updated Oct 14, 2024 0
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Region's first esports center, Tony's Tacos, Las Jacarandas Mexican Grill, Crazy Hot Deals and St. Patrick's Day po...
Target development gets approval in Portage
A new retail development that includes a Target department store gained a key approval in Portage this week when the city's Plan Commission voted to recommend a new retail development at the southeast corner of Airport Road and U.S. 6.
Scottsdale, Arizona-based Simon CRE, which has done developments all over the country, is looking to build a Target as an anchor store there and surround it with other retail, restaurants and multifamily housing.
The developer is asking Portage to rezone 84.29 acres of land, which lies along the largely commercial strip of U.S. 6, from residential, to medium- and large-scale commercial and multi-family housing.
Conceptual plans show at least seven retail stores in a strip mall adjoining the Target, including another big-box store at the other end with smaller stores in between. As many as seven or eight more restaurants or smaller stores could be developed in outlots in the parking lot.
"Basically, we'll be having our stores at the bottom of the site," Simon CRE Development Associate Muhammad Ishaq said. "We'll have some of the quick-service restaurants on the top corner. We're in the process of getting some of those tenants now. We are still in the preliminary stage of our project. It should be more of quick-service restaurant, retail shops and major anchors like clothing retail stores."
The developer is looking to zone about 40 acres for commercial use and the other 40 acres for high-density residential. Simon CRE does not have specific plans for residential development at this point but wants to keep its options open for future development, Ishaq said.
Portage Director of Planning and Community Development Tom Cherry said the new retail development is planned by where Providence Homes is developing a new neighborhood of single-family homes. It's expecting another developer would come in to build high-density homes like townhomes between the single-family homes and the commercial development along the highway.
"The plan is to phase residential, similar to what's behind Menards," Cherry said. "We're looking to phase it, just like the comprehensive plan said."
Minneapolis-based Target is known for selling chic clothes, as well as electronics, books, groceries, greeting cards, toys and many other products at discount prices, including at a dollar section near the entrance. One of the largest retailers in the country, it has locations around Northwest Indiana, including Munster, Highland, St. John, Hobart and Valparaiso.
Portage rejected earlier plans to develop just residential development at the site, holding out for a larger commercial development akin to what's along U.S. 6. City officials have touted the project as another major retail option that will let residents do more shopping in town, instead of having to travel to Hobart or Valparaiso.
"This is something we're very proud of as a city," Mayor Austin Bonta said. "Some time ago, there was a proposal to go all residential here. There was some good pushback from the city because we believed there was commercial potential for this property. I think what we have here is a great commercial vision for this property. I think it's very prudent because there's a large single-family district to the south to have some buffer between the large commercial district and the large single-family district to the south."
The Portage City Council still must approve the project.
"I'll be encouraging the City Council to see the benefits of a big commercial district on the north end, a transitional buffer and the single-family they rezoned last year," Bonta said.
Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Joseph S. Pete
Business Reporter
Author facebook Author twitter Author email Follow Joseph S. Pete Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification.
{{description}}
Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Don't have an account? Sign Up Today