The nationwide spike in natural gas prices we're seeing at the end of February apparently is hitting close to home for Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel. In an effort to manage those skyrocketing prices, Wheeling-Pitt will idle some specific operations at four of its local plants. For example, the 80" line at the Steubenville plant will be idled for the next three days, but not the Steubenville plant as a whole. The other operations affected are some lines at the Mingo Junction plant, the galvanizing ovens at the Martins Ferry plant and the steel softening operations at the Yorkville plant. Workers affected by these idlings have the choice of taking a few voluntary days off or coming in to work, but for a reduced wage. The natural gas prices are supposed to stabilize at the end of February, so company spokesperson James Kosowski says things will likely get back to normal on Saturday, March 1st. In the meantime, the bankrupt steelmaker is waiting to hear on whether it will secure the final piece of its $250 million bailout package, a loan approved by the Emergency Steel Loan Guarantee Board in Washington. A decision on Wheeling-Pitt's "Byrd Bill" loan is expected by week's end.