AP reported that a federal judge has ruled that Pueblo's steel mill can temporarily boost production by buying emissions credits to make up for the increased pollution. Under the order, Rocky Mountain Steel Mills will be able to increase production by about 6 percent and avoid a short term closure and layoffs.

The order is a change to a 2003 settlement reached between the mill and the Environmental Protection Agency over pollution levels at the plant.

According to the court documents, the mill would have had to close before December 31st 2008ch and lay off workers unless the limit was raised.

Under the 2003 settlement, the mill agreed to spend $25 million to modernize its operations and cut pollution by about half.
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