Environment officials are in the final stages of issuing a new permit to U.S. Steel in Gary, Indiana.

The permit limits the amount of polluted water the company can discharge into Lake Michigan.

By all measures, this proposed permit is much more stringent on U.S. Steel than in the past.

The Federal Environmental Protection Agency blocked a proposed 2007 state permit, calling it too weak.

This permit sets stricter limits on the amount of pollutants such as ammonia, benzene and mercury.

At a public hearing last night in Gary, Ann Alexander of the Natural Resources Defense Council of Chicago says the company still needs to reduce the amount of FLUORIDE and nitrate discharges, and do more to protect fish.

ALEXANDER: A lot of good progress has been made on this permit in the last two years, but it’s essential that these outstanding issues also be addressed.

Indiana is expected to issue the permit sometime next year. U.S. Steel will have to make a stronger financial commitment to meet these new measures.

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