Alex Mountfield, Sunstone Strategies, 202-599-7509, alex.mountfield@sunstonestrategies.org
PITTSBURGH, PA — Following the official completion of Nippon Steel’s takeover of U.S. Steel, a coalition of local, national and international public interest groups will hold a joint press conference on Tuesday, June 24th at 8:00pm ET to discuss the major health, climate, and economic impacts of Nippon Steel’s planned expansion of coal-based production capacity at six U.S. Steel facilities.
Air pollution from coal-based steel mills and coke plants directly owned by U.S. Steel is responsible for up to an estimated 200 premature deaths, 55,400 cases of asthma symptoms, and almost 12,000 lost days of work and school every year. A recent study found that school absenteeism among students with asthma was 80% higher in the area surrounding U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works facility in southwest Pennsylvania on days with higher air pollution. Nippon Steel has agreed to extend the life of coal-based assets for another 10 years, expected to contribute to $16 to $30 billion in cumulative health costs, primarily from premature mortality, up to an estimated 2,000 premature deaths, over 550,000 cases of asthma symptoms and nearly 120,000 lost school days.
U.S. Steel has paid nearly $64 million in air pollution enforcement actions, fines, and settlements related to the Mon Valley Works's three facilities since January of 2020, more than $900,000 per month on average. The company has been assessed over $7.4 million for these items since January of 2025.
The climate risk from prolonging coal-based production for another 10 years is also alarming. Combined, Nippon Steel’s enlarged operations across the U.S. and Asia could generate more than a hundred million tonnes of climate pollution per year at current production levels, equivalent to running more than 26 typical coal power plants.
WHAT: Virtual press conference providing environmental, public health, economic, and community perspectives on the consequences of the Nippon Steel – U.S. Steel deal.
WHO:
- Matthew Mehalik, Executive Director, Breathe Project (Pittsburgh)
- Dorreen Carey, President, Gary Advocates for Responsible Development (Northwest Indiana)
- Susan Thomas, Director of Policy & Press, Just Transition Northwest Indiana (Northwest Indiana)
- Roger Smith, Asia Lead, SteelWatch
- Qiyam Ansari, Western PA Organizer, Sierra Club
WHEN: Tuesday, June 24th, 7pm CT (Indiana) / 8pm ET (Pennsylvania)
WHERE: Register for the virtual press conference at https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/eHdEAZ2KTdud44OXERamDQ
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.