Media Statement
Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Since the tragic incident on May 7 in Middletown, AK Steel has devoted numerous of its employees and additional outside resources on a 24-hour-a-day basis to assist in the investigation into the source or sources of nitrogen which City officials believe displaced oxygen in the sewer being inspected by City employees.

Nitrogen gas is commonly used in numerous steelmaking and other manufacturing processes, as is the case with AK Steel’s Middletown Works. The nitrogen gas used at the Middletown Works is produced by Air Products’ Middletown plant and is delivered to the Middletown Works via three pipes. These pipes are routed to the Middletown plant both underground and above ground in various places. Air Products owns the pipes which deliver the gas to the AK Steel-owned pipes.

AK Steel engineers and safety professionals, with the assistance of outside gas detection experts, have conducted two leak detection tests each on two of its nitrogen pipes. All four of those tests were conclusive in determining that those pipes were not the source of the nitrogen in the unused City sewer. Because nitrogen is the prevalent component of air (more than 78%), it is not possible to detect it with instantaneous metering devices. Therefore, those tests were conducted by introducing a low, but measureable amount of helium into the lines as a reliable “tracer” gas, and then measuring for helium in the sewer. No helium was detected in the sewer during or following each of the tests.

A third nitrogen line owned by AK Steel was removed from service the afternoon of May 7 at the request of the City. That line was emptied of nitrogen on May 7 and has remained out of service until May 19. As removal of the line from service for 10 days had no effect on oxygen levels in the sewer, AK Steel is confident it was a not a source of nitrogen in the sewer.
AK Steel will continue to monitor the situation and to cooperate with the City, Air Products and others involved in the investigation.

AK Steel and our employees repeat our deepest sympathies for the friends and family of Jabin Lakes, and to the emergency responders who were injured in the attempt to rescue Mr. Lakes during the tragic incident on May 7.

Attribution:
Alan H. McCoy, Vice President, Government & Public Relations
AK Steel Corporation
OFFICE (513) 425-2826
CELL (513) 594-7500
alan.mccoy@aksteel.com