Graham Jaehnig/Daily Mining Gazette Keweenaw County Commissioner Del Rajala provided an update to commissioners Wednesday on Neuvokas Corp., stating the company is in compliance with state Air quality Division regulations.

KEWEENAW COUNTY – Neuvokas Corporation is in compliance with Michigan Environmental, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) regulations, according to Michael Conklin, district supervisor of EGLE Air Quality Division’s Marquette office. Neuvokas manufactures composite rebar in Ahmeek and was founded in 2013 with the goal of

creating a manufacturing process that would allow composite rebar to reach price parity with steel rebar used in construction. Conklin said no violations have been found since the last update provided to Keweenaw County in Dec. 2024.

“From speaking with community members, we have heard the situation has been improving but we also recognize community members are still detecting odors in the area,” Conklin said in a June 13 email to Keweenaw County Commissioner Del Rajala.

Rajala said he reached out to EGLE for the update because the County has not received one since December. “We haven’t heard anything from them – and we started this ,” Rajala said. “I just wanted to get an update on what’s going, on to be fair, so if you’re asked what’s going on, you’ve got an update, and if you have a complaint, they’re still willing to hear it.”

According to the email, Neuvokas has been subject to nine Air quality Division evaluations since January 9, 2025, with the most recent being conducted on May 27.

A May 20, 2025 odor mitigation plan update submitted by Neuvokas, states odors come from multiple sources within the Neuvokas facility as discussed with EGLE since 2020 and there have been many projects over the last three years to mitigate these odors.

Conklin’s email states these projects have included increases stack heights; installation of internal dust collection systems for rebar cutting; installation of carbon filtration sysems in the pump shack where resin is unloaded; updated standard operating procedures for resin unloading, product storage and wast handling; conducted additional analyses on the ventilation system, from Jan. to March, to determine the utilization life of the carbon filters fro proper changeout frequencies and to verify carbon face velocities are within acceptable ranges.

“It is important to note the mere presence of an odor does not necessarily a violation of Rule 901,” Conklin stated in the email. “The odor must meet the criteria the AQD uses to evaluate compliance with Rule 901. We will continue to respond to complaints, conduct inspections, and evaluate the company’s compliance with the Consent Order and all applicable air regulations.”

Keweenaw County Zoning Administrator Susan Hocking said she has received complaints on the issue. “I’ve directed the people who are calling and complaining to fill out the form that you just approved, so that I can talk to EGLE about it and say that the complaints have not stopped.”

The May 20 Neuvokas mitigation plan update states: “This odor mitigation plan is designed to reduce odors from the Neuvokas facility. Even reducing the odors by 98% there could still be complaints against Neuvokas. Neuvokas is committed to continuing to reduce this facilities emission footprint and will continue to research and implement systems and operating procedures to further reduce emissions.”