The ferroalloys industry owes Ohio Congressman Bill Johnson and West Virginia
Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito its sincerest thanks.

In late November 2011, the USEPA announced a proposed air quality standards rule –
the National Emissions Standards Hazardous Air Pollutants: Ferroalloys
Production (ferroalloys NESHAP) – that in its original form has the potential
to make it impossible for the United States’ only two manganese smelters to
continue to operate. Yes, there are only two, Eramet Marietta and Felman
Production, which is located in Letart, WV, about 80 miles from our plant.

Knowing the gravity of the situation, and understanding that since the rule was set to
be finalized by June 30, 2012, our company needed to move swiftly to raise
attention about the issue and petition the USEPA to reconsider many components
of the proposed rule.

It took only a visit to Congressman Bill Johnson’s office to get the momentum
started. Congressman Johnson is a strong supporter of industry throughout his
district in Ohio and across our country. He, like us, understands the need for
regulation, but he also understands the fine line that must be navigated between
regulation for the good of the whole and regulation for regulation’s sake.

Congressman Johnson, with the assistance of his talented Legislative Director Patrick Orth,
began circulating a letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to his colleagues
in the House. The letter (read it here) encourages Administrator Jackson
to take multiple steps before the rule would become final, steps which include
using the best, most recent available scientific and technical information and
working with both Felman and Eramet Marietta to identify feasible technologies
to achieve the EPA’s goals while also allowing our facilities to continue to
operate. In total, Johnson, along with WV Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito
(who has worked tirelessly to support Felman Production throughout her tenure),
acquired over 50 signatures, from both sides of the aisle, on this letter,
which went to EPA late last week.

It is important to understand that Eramet Marietta and Felman Production are NOT
against regulation. We understand the importance of and support rules and
regulation on industry. We recognize there are ways to do what we do better and
we constantly strive to improve our environmental and operational performance.
In the last four years, Eramet Marietta has invested over $40 million in
projects aimed at doing just that – and we have plans for more investments in
the future. Those plans could be stalled permanently, however, if the
restrictions imposed through this proposed ferroalloys rule remain as written.
We need to find an acceptable solution that enables the EPA to do its job of
protecting citizens and the environment while continuing to allow industry to
safely manufacture the products that keep America strong.

And we are working on that right now. In addition to the legislative action, we’re
following a parallel path with EPA, one that has our technical representatives
meeting with EPA scientists to discuss, research and review alternative
technologies that may accomplish both our goals and the EPA’s

But today we have hope. We are grateful to those individuals we elected to
represent us in the United States Congress who signed this letter and we
appreciate the support for us, Felman Production and the domestic ferroalloys
industry and demonstration of understanding the impact the proposed rule would
have on us and our main customer, the domestic steel industry.

Press Release from Congressman Bill Johnson