The Cherokee aluminum permit opens a 15-day public comment period for two new aluminum sweat furnaces at a planned secondary aluminum processing facility.
The Alabama Department of Environmental Management notice identifies the applicant as Atlantic Salvage and Recycling FL, LLC and places the proposed greenfield facility at 9254 Old Lee Highway in Colbert County.
The Cherokee aluminum permit is proposed, not final. ADEM says its review found that the planned equipment and operations should be able to meet state and federal air-pollution-control requirements. The department will make a final determination after considering comments, any hearing record and the applicable air laws and regulations.
What the Cherokee aluminum permit would cover
| Permit fact | Official notice |
|---|---|
| Facility type | New secondary aluminum processing facility |
| Main proposed equipment | Two aluminum sweat furnaces |
| Site type | Greenfield site |
| Address | 9254 Old Lee Highway, Cherokee, Alabama |
| Agency decision stage | Proposed air permit and request for comments |
| Public participation period | Written comments and hearing requests within 15 days after publication |
Sweat furnaces are used to recover aluminum from mixed or coated scrap by heating material so aluminum can be separated. The permit documents, rather than the general term, control which equipment, emissions limits, monitoring and operating conditions would apply at this site.
ADEM links both the proposed permit and its permit analysis from the public notice. Residents reviewing the Cherokee aluminum permit should read those documents before making a claim about expected emissions or control requirements.
How to submit a useful comment
ADEM says comments must be in writing and received at its Montgomery main office no later than 5 p.m. on the last day of the comment period. The notice was published Oct. 31 and describes the window as 15 days following publication.
The agency also says a comment must contain technically substantial information applicable to the proposed application if it is intended to affect the final decision.
A focused comment can:
- Identify the exact permit section, emission point or operating condition at issue.
- Cite a measurement, site condition or regulatory requirement that can be checked.
- Explain how the information relates to the proposed furnaces or facility operations.
- Request a specific clarification, limit, monitoring condition or record for the department to consider.
- Include the commenter’s name and reliable contact information.
General support or opposition can still be part of the record, but ADEM’s stated standard makes technical detail more useful to the permitting decision.
Comments may be directed to the chief of ADEM’s Air Division at 1400 Coliseum Boulevard, Montgomery, Alabama 36110-2400, or the mailing address in the notice. The agency also lists airmail@adem.alabama.gov and 334-271-7861.
A hearing request has an additional requirement
A written request for a public hearing may be filed during the same 15-day period. ADEM says the request must state the nature of the issues proposed for the hearing.
The department will hold a hearing when it determines, based on the requests, that significant public interest exists. Submitting a request does not by itself guarantee that a hearing will be scheduled.
The project file is available for inspection at ADEM’s Montgomery office during normal weekday hours, excluding legal holidays. Electronic records may also be available through the agency’s eFile system.
What happens after the comment period
ADEM will review written comments and any public hearing record before issuing a final determination. The department says it will prepare a response to comments and place that response in the public record.
That sequence provides three separate records to watch: the proposed permit now available, the final permit decision and the response-to-comments document. A construction announcement or site activity should not be treated as proof that the proposed permit has become final.
Colbert County residents can use The Daily Quill’s Community and Public Services desk for other verified participation deadlines. The next material update will be a hearing notice, a revised permit or ADEM’s final decision after the comment window closes.
