Environmental Engineering Work: Cleveland Cliffs

What it is: My current co-op in Environmental Affairs at Cleveland-Cliffs' Rockport Works facility, focused on resource tracking, process documentation, and sludge management research.

What it covered:

• Creating a lifecycle water process flow diagram mapping water use across the entire Rockport Works facility

• Developing a Tank Knowledge Documentation system as a living reference, covering each tank's design and physical data, purpose and function, process chemistry, operating characteristics, sludge impact, and visual references

• Researching the composition of landfill-bound sludge to identify potential beneficial reuse opportunities, including possible resale to other customers

My role: I independently built both the process flow diagram and the tank documentation system, and I'm leading the early-stage research into sludge composition and reuse potential.

Outcome: The tank documentation now serves as a standing reference for the Environmental Affairs team, and the sludge reuse research is laying the groundwork for reducing landfill volume through potential beneficial reuse.