The US Ohio Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has determined March 20, 2008 as the date for the public hearing to be held on the issue of the water permit requested by the subsidiary of the Russian steelmaker Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works (MMK), New Steel International, which is interested in building a steel mill in this US state.
It is also reported that the company has applied for air and wetlands permits. The terms and conditions for the air permit have been established by the Ohio EPA and, if the paperwork can be completed soon, the hearing could serve for both air and water permits.
Following the hearings, the Ohio EPA will decide on whether or not to grant the permits. However, the Ohio EPA has specified that there is no timetable for making this decision.