-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 KzSyvcX1T9xTqcsIJUzFEXid1owm/JbkGpYxdavr3trc55VUO/DmH+7osCdZx3Ah
 in2xc+qSNIQ1eo4ME+NNEQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001292814-06-002199.txt : 20060818
<SEC-HEADER>0001292814-06-002199.hdr.sgml : 20060818
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060817202433
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001292814-06-002199
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	6-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060930
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060818
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060817

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NATIONAL STEEL CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001049659
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STEEL WORKS, BLAST FURNACES & ROLLING & FINISHING MILLS [3310]
		IRS NUMBER:				000000000
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		6-K
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14732
		FILM NUMBER:		061042076

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		RUA LAURO MULLER
		STREET 2:		116 36 ANDAR
		CITY:			RIO DE JANEIRO RJ BR
		STATE:			D5
		ZIP:			00000
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>6-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>sid20060817_6k1.htm
<DESCRIPTION>INVESTMENT GRADE IN FOREIGN CURRENCY
<TEXT>
<HTML>
<HEAD>
   <TITLE>Provided By MZ Data Products</TITLE>
</HEAD>

<BODY style="font-family: 'Times New Roman, Times, Serif'; font-size:11px" bgcolor="#ffffff">

<HR SIZE="4" NOSHADE COLOR="#000000" ALIGN="left">
<DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
<DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION </B></FONT></DIV>
<DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549 </B></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
<HR align=center NOSHADE WIDTH="21%" COLOR="#000000">
<DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
<DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000"><B>FORM 6-K </B></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT
SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
<DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="3"
COLOR="#000000">Report of Foreign Private Issuer<BR>
  Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of the</FONT></DIV>
<DIV
ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000">Securities Exchange Act of 1934</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
<DIV ALIGN="center">
  <div><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000"><B> For the month of August, 2006</B></FONT></DIV>
  <p></p>
  <FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000"><B> Commission File Number 1-14732 </B></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
<HR align=center NOSHADE WIDTH="21%" COLOR="#000000">
<DIV><FONT
SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
<DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000"><B> COMPANHIA SIDER&#218;RGICA NACIONAL </B></FONT></DIV>
<DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
<DIV ALIGN="center"> </DIV>
<P></P>
<DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000"><B> National Steel Company </B></FONT></DIV>
<DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">(Translation of Registrant's name into English)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
<P></P>
<DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000"><B> Av. Brigadeiro Faria Lima 3400, 20&#186; andar<BR>
  S&#227;o Paulo, SP, Brazil<BR>
  04538-132 </B></FONT></DIV>
<DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">(Address of principal executive office)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
<P>
<DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000"> Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports<BR>
  under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.&nbsp;</FONT>
    <P></P>
    Form 20-F ___X___ Form 40-F _______
    <P>&nbsp;<FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=3>Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. </FONT>&nbsp;</P>
    Yes _______ No ___X____
    <p></p>
</DIV>
<HR SIZE="2" NOSHADE COLOR="#000000" ALIGN="left">

<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"></H5>
<A name="page_1"></A>

<P align="center">
<B>NOTICE TO THE MARKET<br>
</B>
COMPANHIA SIDER&Uacute;RGICA NACIONAL<br>
Rua S&atilde;o Jos&eacute; 20, Grupo 1602, parte<br>
Rio de Janeiro/RJ <br>
Corporate Taxpayers&#146; ID (CNPJ) 33.042.730/0001 -04 </P>
<P align="center">
&#149;  <B>Investment Grade in Foreign Currency<br>
</B>
&#149;  <B>Environmental License of the Cement Project </B></P>
<P>
1) CSN announces that as FITCH ratings reviewed the &#147;teto pa&iacute;s&#148; rating methodology, the Company was rated <B>Investment Grade in Foreign Currency</B>. This achievement, concerning the IDR (Issuer Default Rating), increased from
<B><U>Non Investment Grade (BB+) to Investment Grade (BBB)</U></B>. </P>
<P>
2) CSN announces that the State Environmental Control Commission (CECA) and the State Environmental Engineering Foundation (FEEMA) of the State of Rio de Janeiro, granted <B>CSN Cimentos S.A.</B>, the <B>Installation Permit, </B>to develop a cement
manufacturing unit, which will produce 3 million tons per year, based on iron and steel aggregate for blast furnace, in the district of Volta Redonda, in the State of Rio de Janeiro. </P>
<P>
Concerning this important license, <B>Marcos Paim</B>, CSN&#146;s Officer, in charge of the project execution said: "The Cement Project is stick to its schedule, with the approval of the 3Mtpy and the beginning of the construction works in Volta
Redonda, as of August 07, 2006. We stick to our goal in order to start operating in the last quarter of 2007&#148;. </P>
<P align="center">
<B>Rio de Janeiro, August 17, 2006 </B></P>
<P align="center">
Companhia Sider&uacute;rgica Nacional<br>
Benjamin Steinbruch <br>
CEO and Investor Relations Executive Officer </P>
<HR SIZE="2" NOSHADE COLOR="#000000" ALIGN="left">

<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"></H5>

<DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000"><B>SIGNATURE </B></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
<DIV STYLE="text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="3"COLOR="#000000">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. </FONT></DIV>
<p></p>
<DIV STYLE="text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000"> Date: August 17, 2006</FONT></DIV>
<p></p>
<DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
<DIV ALIGN="center">
  <TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="50%" BORDER="0">
    <TR>
      <TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3" WIDTH="50%"><DIV align=left><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000"> COMPANHIA SIDER&#218;RGICA NACIONAL </FONT></DIV></TD>
    </TR>
    <TR>
      <TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
    </TR>
    <TR>
      <TD VALIGN="top" WIDTH="5%"><DIV align=left><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">By:</FONT></DIV></TD>
      <TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="43%"><DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT
FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">/<SMALL>S</SMALL>/&nbsp;Benjamin Steinbruch </FONT></DIV>
          <HR NOSHADE SIZE=1 COLOR="#000000" ALIGN="left"></TD>
    </TR>
    <TR>
      <TD><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
      <TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="43%"><DIV ALIGN=left><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B> Benjamin Steinbruch </B></FONT></DIV>
          <DIV ALIGN=left><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B> Chief Executive Officer and <br>
          Acting Chief Financial Officer <br>
        </B></FONT></DIV></TD>
    </TR>
  </TABLE>
</DIV>
<DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P></P>
<DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
<DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="3"
COLOR="#000000"><B>FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS </B></FONT></DIV>
<P align=justify><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2> This press release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements are statements that are not historical facts, and are based on management's current view and estimates of future economic circumstances, industry conditions, company performance and financial results. The words "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "expects", "plans" and similar expressions, as they relate to the company, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Statements regarding the declaration or payment of dividends, the implementation of principal operating and financing strategies and capital expenditure plans, the direction of future operations and the factors or trends affecting financial condition, liquidity or results of operations are examples of forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current views of management and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. There is no guarantee that the expected events, trends or

 results will actually occur. The statements are based on many assumptions and factors, including general economic and market conditions, industry conditions, and operating factors. Any changes in such assumptions or factors could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations. </FONT></P>
<HR SIZE="2" NOSHADE COLOR="#000000" ALIGN="left">

</BODY>

</HTML>

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
