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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000950123-09-073694.txt : 20100218
<SEC-HEADER>0000950123-09-073694.hdr.sgml : 20100218
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20091229060050
<PRIVATE-TO-PUBLIC>
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000950123-09-073694
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	CORRESP
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		20091229

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			OLYMPIC STEEL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000917470
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-METALS SERVICE CENTERS & OFFICES [5051]
		IRS NUMBER:				341245650
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		CORRESP

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5080 RICHMOND RD
		CITY:			BEDFORD HEIGHTS
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44146
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2162923800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5096 RICHMOND RD
		CITY:			BEDFORD HEIGHTS
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44146
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>CORRESP
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>filename1.htm
<TEXT>
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>corresp</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
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<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>Olympic Steel, Inc.<BR>
5096 Richmond Road<BR>
Bedford Heights, Ohio 44146</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="Center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">December&nbsp;29, 2009
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">Securities and Exchange Commission<br>
100 F Street, NE<br>
Washington, DC 20549
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">Attention:&nbsp;Tarik Gause

</DIV>

<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="2%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left"><B>Re:</B></TD>
    <TD width="1%"><B>&nbsp;</B></TD>
    <TD><B>Olympic Steel, Inc.<br>
<u>Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration
No.&nbsp;333-162723)</u></B></TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">Ladies and Gentlemen:
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;On behalf of Olympic Steel, Inc. (the &#147;<B><I>Company</I></B>&#148;), the undersigned hereby requests, pursuant to
Rule 461(a) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, that the Registration Statement on Form
S-3 (File No.&nbsp;333-162723) (the &#147;<B><I>Registration Statement</I></B>&#148;) of the Company be declared effective at
10:00&nbsp;a.m. on Monday, January&nbsp;4, 2010, or as soon thereafter as practicable. The Company
respectfully requests that you notify Michael J. Solecki of such effectiveness by a telephone call
to (216)&nbsp;586-7103.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In connection with such request, the undersigned, on behalf of the Company, hereby
acknowledges the following:
</DIV>

<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="2%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left"><B>&#149;</B></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>should the Commission or the staff, acting pursuant to delegated authority, declare
the Registration Statement effective, it does not foreclose the Commission from taking
any action with respect to the Registration Statement;</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="2%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left"><B>&#149;</B></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>the action of the Commission or the staff, acting pursuant to delegated authority,
in declaring the Registration Statement effective, does not relieve the Company from
its full responsibility for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in the
Registration Statement; and</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="2%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left"><B>&#149;</B></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>the Company may not assert staff comments and the declaration of effectiveness as a
defense in any proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person under the federal
securities laws of the United States.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>
<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">


<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt"><TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">



</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">December&nbsp;29, 2009<BR>
Page 2
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Please contact Michael J. Solecki at Jones Day at (216)&nbsp;586-7103 if you have any questions
concerning this matter. Thank you for your continued attention to this matter.
</DIV>

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="15%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD valign="top" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" align="left">Very truly yours,<BR>
<BR>
OLYMPIC STEEL, INC.<BR>
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">By:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>

<TD colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000" align="left">/s/
Richard T. Marabito&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">Name:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left">Richard T. Marabito&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">Title:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left">Chief Financial Officer&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>

<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">


<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="left">cc:</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Michael J. Solecki, Esq.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

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