Special Metals/Huntington Alloys

The U.S. EPA's 2020 AirToxScreen estimated several areas near the facility with potentially increased health risks for cancer and non-cancer effects primarily due to 70 years of continuous exposure to nickel air emissions. The EPA report is based on the assumption that the facility emits nickel subsulfide, which is a known human carcinogen. In response to EPA's report, the WVDEP investigated and subsequently learned that over 90% of the facility's emissions are nickel alloy, which is much less carcinogenic and hazardous to human health than nickel subsulfide.

The WVDEP is coordinating with the facility and looking into placing air monitors around the perimeter of the facility (known as fenceline monitoring) to better gauge the concentration of nickel and further assess the areas.

At the same time, the West Virginia Department of Health's Bureau for Public Health conducted a review of health records for Cabell County and did not find any increase in cases of nickel- related health issues or excess of cancers associated with long-term nickel exposure.

Public Meeting

The WVDEP held a public meeting on Tuesday, July 30, 2024 in Huntington to share this information and answer questions from citizens and the media.

Public Meeting Presentation

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AirToxScreen Overview

AirToxScreen is a U.S. EPA tool designed to identify communities and areas that may require further investigation due to toxic air pollutants. By using modeled data and assumptions, AirToxScreen evaluates potential lifetime cancer risks based on long-term exposure to harmful emissions. Geographic areas are flagged when the lifetime cancer risk reaches 100 (or greater)-in-1 million, which means that for every 1 million people continuously exposed to a certain pollutant, 100 people may develop cancer over a 70-year period. Essentially, this represents a 0.01% increase in the likelihood of developing cancer over the course of a lifetime of exposure.

AirToxScreen 2020 Results for Huntington Alloys

The 2020 AirToxScreen identified seven census blocks near the Huntington Alloys/Special Metals facility in Huntington with a potential elevated lifetime cancer risk:

One census block showed a total potential cancer risk of 200 in 1 million (26 residents).
Six census blocks showed a total potential cancer risk of 100 in 1 million (81 residents).
Additionally, 22 census blocks, covering 374 residents, were identified as having an increased potential for non-cancer health effects such as asthma, decreased lung function, and bronchitis due to prolonged exposure to nickel emissions.

WVDEP's Findings

After engaging with the Huntington Alloys/Special Metals facility and reviewing emission sources, WVDEP’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ) determined that:

Over 90% of the facility’s emissions are nickel alloy, which is biologically inert and 20,000 times less carcinogenic than the nickel compound used for the EPA model (nickel subsulfide).
Less than 10% of the emissions could potentially be different forms of nickel. As a result, all census blocks identified by the EPA fall below their threshold for significant health risks according to DAQ’s analysis.

WVDEP's Actions Include

Contacting the State Department of Health’s Bureau of Public Health to investigate any increased cases of nickel-related health issues in the area.
Working with the Huntington Alloys/Special Metals facility to better assess the types and sources of nickel emissions.

Upcoming Steps Include

Collaborating with Huntington Alloys/Special Metals to verify the types of nickel emissions and exploring the possibility of conducting a fence line air monitoring study.
Working with EPA to ensure they use the correct risk factor for Huntington Alloys in the future.
Creating a mailing list to ensure that the community is notified about new information, updates, and future public meetings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What About Air Quality Inside the HA/SM Facility and its Impact on Workers?

The WVDEP's jurisdiction over air quality starts at the perimeter of a permitted facility. The air inside a facility is regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) .

Do the Nickel Air Emissions from the Facility Pose a Risk to Nearby Schools?

The EPA conducted an air monitoring study in 2009 at Cabell County Career and Technical Center , approximately two miles from the Special Metals/Huntington Allys facility, with Nickel as the key pollutant of interest. Air samples were collected from August to October and analyzed. That analysis found that levels of Nickel in the air at the school were below levels of concern for long-term exposure.

What About Soil or Water Issues Related to the Facility?

The Huntington Alloys/Special Metals facility is currently in the WVDEP's Voluntary Remediation Program (VRP #13061). The Voluntary Remediation Program encourages companies, communities, and other stakeholders to voluntarily remediate sites and return them to productive use.

Investigations at the site from 2012 to 2023 focused on soil and groundwater at 36 Solid Waste Management Units and 4 Areas of Concern identified by the EPA under the RCRA program. These included soil sampling, groundwater and vapor monitoring, and installations of monitoring wells. Key contaminants found include metals like Nickel and Hexavalent Chromium, volatile organic compounds (VOCs, including chlorinated hydrocarbons), and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons - PAHs).

After additional planned investigations, a remedy will be selected and implemented at the site to meet VRP cleanup standards.

Special Metals/Huntington Alloys

AirToxScreen 2020 Report and WVDEP's Findings

Summary