The Ontario government has turned down a request from Hamilton residents to investigate ArcelorMittal Dofasco’s emissions.
Jochen Bezner and another resident made the request to the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Parks (MECP) in November.
They argue Canada’s largest steelmaker is “emitting dangerous pollutants” at levels far above the province’s local air-quality regulation and violating sections of the Environmental Protection Act.
In a recent decision, MECP declined the request because it would “duplicate an ongoing investigation.” The ministry said it is already addressing Dofasco’s emission levels by pushing for compliance in the long term and “risk-abatement actions” in the meantime.
MECP is also working on an industry standard for Ontario’s iron and steel sectors, which will lead to emission limits for companies like Dofasco, the decision said. Those efforts, which began several years ago, are ongoing.
Bezner, a longtime citizen member of Dofasco’s community liaison committee, said he was disappointed with MECP’s decision.
Dofasco also has made significant changes to its decarbonization project, which was supposed to be done in 2028. It has not committed to a new timeline.
“It’s time for Dofasco to walk the talk and show that it is truly committed to being a ‘good neighbour’ by living up to its responsibility for continuous improvement of environment and energy impacts and by providing the community with transparency around its decarbonization timeline,” Bezner said in a statement.
Ecojustice, an environmental law charity, filed the investigation request on behalf of Bezner.
In response to MECP’s decision, Ecojustice lawyer Ian Miron said the province is allowing Dofasco to continue burning coal, “one of the world’s dirtiest fossil fuels,” which impacts the region’s air quality.
“We continue to say that the government has a part to play in holding polluters, like ArcelorMittal Dofasco, accountable for reducing dangerous air emissions and moving towards decarbonization,” Miron said.
Dofasco did not respond to CBC’s request for comment.
MECP noted in its decision that it has been working with the steel sector to understand how U.S. tariffs will impact production. The findings will be “reflected” in the proposed industry standard.
MECP’s decision said another reason it’s not investigating is because Dofasco has provided an “abatement plan” to manage hazardous pollutants. The MECP has done regular air inspections from 2023 to 2025 to ensure it’s following that plan.
The inspections have focused on Dofasco’s operations of turning coal into coke, which is the “most significant source of higher risk contaminants,” including carcinogens benzene and benzo(a)pyrene, the decision said.
MECP also said it investigates reports of fallout and black soot in nearby neighbourhoods.
If residents wish to provide input on Dofasco’s emissions, they have the opportunity to do so through Ontario’s environmental registry, Ecojustice said in a news release.
Dofasco has applied to MECP to renew some of its permit conditions for air and noise pollution.
Comments can be made until March 12 through the Environmental Registry of Ontario.
