Environment
Protecting our neighbors and the environment
Oklahoma Primary Aluminum will be among the world’s cleanest, safest and most advanced aluminum production facilities.
The plant will utilize EGA’s 10th-generation aluminum technology, the result of over three decades of innovation and amongst the most efficient in the world. Compared with legacy technologies, EGA’s advanced system significantly reduces electricity use per ton, improving both performance and sustainability.
Oklahoma Primary Aluminum will reduce the fluoride emissions limit per ton of aluminum produced to beat the limits of many of the top-performing primary aluminum plants worldwide identified by the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) as the benchmark. It will be the lowest fluoride emissions intensity limit ever for a U.S. primary aluminum plant.
To achieve this limit, Oklahoma Primary Aluminum will need to install state-of-the-art technologies and operational safeguards, some unprecedented in the primary aluminum industry in the U.S.
Key safeguards:
Advanced emissions control
Fully enclosed production units, advanced air filtration and covered material handling will capture dust and gases at the source.
Key safeguards:
Continuous monitoring
Air quality monitoring ensures the facility operates well below state and federal safety standards.
Key safeguards:
Rigorous oversight
The project will be subject to strict oversight and permitting by ODEQ and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), including opportunities for public review and input during the permitting process.
World-class environmental performance
Oklahoma Primary Aluminum’s air permit application sets the maximum potline fluoride emissions to 0.64 pounds per ton of aluminum produced. The permitted level is a cap - the maximum allowed emissions averaged over a period to account for variations caused by seasonal climate changes and operations patterns. In day-to-day operations, actual emission levels will be lower.
Fluoride is an essential and costly raw material in aluminum production. That means we have both an environmental responsibility and a strong economic incentive to capture and reuse fluoride, minimizing emissions while maximizing the efficient use of this valuable resource.
Oklahoma Primary Aluminum will be engineered to reuse approximately 99% of potroom fluoride emissions captured.
Additional information about our environmental standards is available in our Answers Center.
See responsible aluminum production in action
Around the world, modern aluminum production facilities operate alongside thriving farms, wildlife habitats and local communities.
Watch videos featuring a farmer, hunter and beekeeper who live, work and enjoy the outdoors near our partner Century Aluminum’s Sebree facility in Kentucky, demonstrating how responsible industry and environmental stewardship can coexist.
Hunting near an aluminum production facility
Farming near an aluminum production facility
Environmental compliance and accountability
Oklahoma Primary Aluminum will operate under one of the nation's most stringent environmental permitting and compliance frameworks, including emissions monitoring.
ODEQ has broad enforcement authority, including the ability to require corrective action, restrict operations or shut down the facility for serious violations. Knowingly failing to report an exceedance is a violation of the law and may result in criminal prosecution of responsible personnel. Any emissions that exceed permitted limits must, by law, be reported to ODEQ.
As an Oklahoma-based company, Oklahoma Primary Aluminum will be regulated by the U.S. EPA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and ODEQ.
The regulatory process
Oklahoma Primary Aluminum is currently working to meet requirements for our construction and operation permit application. To ensure the facility meets all state and federal safety standards, ODEQ is evaluating our technical data through three key assessments:
Federal and State Best Available Control Technology (BACT) Review: verifies the use of top-tier emission control systems.
Air Dispersion Modeling: Advanced computer simulations that use local terrain, weather data and emissions estimates to predict how air moves and ensure surrounding air quality is safe and protective of human health and the environment.
Additional Impacts Analysis: Includes soil and flora studies evaluating species throughout the area, with particular attention to those of recreational and commercial importance. Safety thresholds are based on protecting the most sensitive species and mitigating potential impacts.
Next steps in the ODEQ permitting process
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Technical reviews & modeling:
ODEQ will continue analyzing the application, alongside a technical review focused on BACT and air dispersion modeling of pollutants.
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Draft permit issuance:
If all requirements are met, ODEQ will release a draft air-quality permit.
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Public participation:
The draft permit will open a formal public comment period and include a public meeting for community input.
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Response to comments:
ODEQ will review comments that are filed by the public and provide relevant responses.
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Final permit decision:
Subsequent to ODEQ review of public comments and the entire technical record, a final permit will be issued.
For real-time updates and more details on the process, visit the ODEQ permitting information page.
Federal EPA oversight
Because Oklahoma operates an EPA-delegated state permitting program, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA Region 6, Dallas) plays an active oversight role in the process:
Technical Verification: EPA and ODEQ may discuss ODEQ’s technical findings, air modeling and control technology determinations (BACT) to ensure consistency with Clean Air Act standards.
Federal Review: EPA has a review period (30-45 days) to evaluate draft major-source permits prior to final ODEQ issuance. EPA’s ODEQ Draft Permit review generally coincides with that provided for public review and comment.
Once constructed, Oklahoma Primary Aluminum will operate under a comprehensive, state-issued air quality permit that is subject to federal oversight.
Answers Center:
Have more questions?
Visit the Oklahoma Primary Aluminum Answers Center to learn more about how the facility is designed, how environmental standards are met and to explore additional facts and supporting information.
