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O’Connell was one of three Nucor representatives who updated Rotary members on the mill’s progress and what they can expect to see in the near future.

Nucor is building a $3.1 billion sheet steel mill along W.Va. 2 at the community of Apple Grove about 28 miles north of downtown Huntington. Construction began last year. The mill will convert scrap steel into new steel. Nucor says it is the largest steel manufacturer in North America and the largest recycler of any material in the Western Hemisphere.

Nucor has about 230 employees on site. It plans to have about 800 employees when the mill is operational. About 900 contractors are on site currently, O’Connell said.

According to a slide in the Nucor spokesmen’s presentation, so far, 843,000 tons of rock have been moved at Apple Grove. About 785 million cubic yards of dirt, the equivalent of 3.5 million wheelbarrows, have been moved.

Jacob Grant, melt shop supervisor, said the mill will have 50 acres under roof when it is complete. It will be Nucor’s largest steel mill, he said. Nucor now has 29 mills.

Max Rebottaro, environmental supervisor, said the Mason County mill will be the “most capable steel mill in the Midwest.�

“Nucor’s in the business of making money, and steel is an avenue to doing that,� he said.

When asked if Nucor had any thoughts on improvements to W.Va. 2, O’Connell noted that most of Nucor’s shipments will be made by river or rail.

“We’re not going to be as dependent on trucking as other mill sites,� he said.

When asked about the progress of the river dock, Rebottaro said Nucor is still relocating threatened and endangered mussel species at the site.