Exhibit 4.17

SECOND AMENDMENT

     SECOND AMENDMENT, dated as of October 27, 2000, effective as of September 30, 2000 (this “Second Amendment”), to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of May 22, 1998 (as amended by the First Amendment, dated as of July 21, 1998, and as the same may be further amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among BAYOU STEEL CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the several banks and other financial institutions or entities from time to time parties thereto (the “Lenders”) and THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as administrative agent for the Lenders thereunder (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”).

WITNESSETH:

     WHEREAS, pursuant to the Credit Agreement, the Lenders have agreed to make, and have made, certain Loans to the Borrower; and

     WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the Lenders amend and waive, and the Lenders have agreed to amend and waive, certain of the provisions of the Credit Agreement, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth below;

     NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

     1. Defined Terms. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined are used herein as defined in the Credit Agreement.. Defined Terms. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined are used herein as defined in the Credit Agreement.

     2. Amendment to Section 1.01. The definition of “Net Income” in Subsection 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by adding “(A)” in the first parenthetical between the words “including” and “the” and adding the following text immediately after the number “109”: . Amendment to Section 1.01. The definition of NetIncome in Subsection 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by adding (A) in the first parenthetical between the words including and the and adding the following text immediately after the number 109:

     3. Amendment to Section 7.14. Subsection 7.14 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by deleting such Section in its entirety and substituting in lieu thereof the following new Section 7.14:. Amendment to Section 7.14. Subsection 7.14 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by deleting such Section in its entirety and substituting in lieu thereof the following new Section 7.14:

     SECTION 7.14. Interest Expense Coverage Ratio. In the case of the Borrower and its Recourse Subsidiaries, fail to maintain a ratio of Consolidated EBITDA to Consolidated Fixed Charges (“Interest Expense Coverage Ratio”) (i) if the Aggregate Outstanding Extensions of Credit are equal to or less than $10,000,000, for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on any date set forth below equal to or greater than the Interest Expense Coverage Ratio specified below opposite such date and (ii) on any date when the Aggregate Outstanding Extensions of Credit are greater than $10,000,000, on any date prior to the initial date set forth below and on any date after the final date set forth below an Interest Expense Coverage Ratio for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on such date equal to or greater than the Interest Expense Coverage Ratio specified below opposite the Aggregate Outstanding Extensions of Credit at such date of determination:

     4. Amendment to Schedule 2.01. Schedule 2.01 to the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by deleting such Schedule in its entirety and replacing it with Schedule 2.01 annexed hereto as Annex I. As a result of this Second Amendment, the Total Commitment shall be decreased from $50,000,000 to $40,000,000.. Amendment to Schedule 2.01. Schedule 2.01 to the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by deleting such Schedule in its entirety and replacing it with Schedule 2.01 annexed hereto as Annex I. As a result of this Second Amendment, the Total Commitment shall be decreased from $50,000,000 to $40,000,000.

     5. Conditions Precedent. This Second Amendment shall become effective on the date that each of the conditions precedent set forth below shall have been fulfilled, at which time this Second Amendment shall be deemed effective as of September 30, 2000:. Conditions Precedent. This Second Amendment shall become effective on the date that each of the conditions precedent set forth below shall have been fulfilled, at which time this Second Amendment shall be deemed effective as of September 30, 2000:

     6. Continuing Effect; No Other Amendments. Except as expressly amended or waived hereby, all of the terms and provisions of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents are and shall remain in full force and effect. The amendments and waivers contained herein shall not constitute an amendment or waiver of any other provision of the Credit Agreement or the other Loan Documents or for any purpose except as expressly set forth herein.

     7. Expenses. The Borrower agrees to reimburse the Administrative Agent, for all its reasonable costs and out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the preparation and delivery of this Second Amendment, including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent.

     8. GOVERNING LAW; Counterparts. (a) THIS SECOND AMENDMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

     (b) This Second Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which counterparts, taken together, shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Second Amendment may be delivered by facsimile transmission of the relevant signature pages hereof.

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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Second Amendment to be duly executed and delivered by their respective proper and duly authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

ANNEX I

Schedule 2.01

LENDER COMMITMENTS