A cutback in coke production at the Shenango Inc. coke works on Neville Island, which was to go into effect this week to reduce emissions, has been pushed back until at least Monday following an appeal by the company.

		About today's hearing People wishing to testify at the hearing must register by 4 p.m. today by calling 412-578-8115; written comments also can be submitted via e-mail to aqpermits@achd.net. The proposed permit is available on the department's Web site at www.achd.net/airqual.

The Allegheny County Health Department, citing gross violations of pollution standards, on July 21 ordered Shenango to lengthen its normal 18-hour coking times to 24 hours by Aug. 1, a move that would reduce the plant's emissions.

But the Health Department subsequently granted a week's extension after Shenango appealed the order to county health Director Dr. Bruce Dixon. In the meantime, department and company officials are discussing alternatives to the original compliance order.

Guillermo Cole, department spokesman, said Dixon will make a decision on the company's appeal no later than Monday. But, with negotiations under way, "we're hoping we can have a settlement by then."

The department also has fined Shenango $252,000 for exceeding county and federal emissions standards. The company has appealed that July 14 fine; that appeal is pending and is separate from the appeal of the compliance order, Cole noted.

Lengthening the coking times at the Shenango plant would reduce the number of times that cooked, hot coke is removed from the ovens -- the point in the coking cycle when the potential for emissions is greatest. But it also reduces the plant's output at a time when the demand for coke by steelmakers is great.

The discussions over Shenango's emissions and possible changes in its operations come as the county is considering a so-called Title V operating permit for Shenango. This new type of operating permit is mandated by the federal Clean Air Act for all major sources of air pollutants.

This is the first round of Title V permits that the county has issued and Shenango's permit has been under development for seven or eight months. A 30-day public comment period on Shenango's proposed permit ends tomorrow, culminating in a 6 p.m. public hearing tomorrow at the department's air quality offices in Lawrenceville.

"We would incorporate in that Title V permit any requirements that come out of the current case" now under appeal, Cole said. A final decision on Shenango's operating permit is not expected until early fall, however.