Bethlehem's Environmental Policy Objectives
In maintaining and improving our environmental policies, we will:
- develop and implement effective air and water pollution control plans and programs.
- minimize the generation of wastes, recycle in-plant wastes and dispose of any remaining
wastes in an environmentally responsible manner.
- manufacture products that have minimal impact on the environment that are safe in their
intended use and that can be recycled, reused or disposed of safely.
- minimize safety, health and environmental risks to our employees and plant communities
by using safe technologies and operating practices, and by being prepared for emergencies.
- minimize our use of ozone-depleting and hazardous chemicals.
- continue to employ qualified personnel to develop, implement and monitor our
environmental quality control programs.
- evaluate, on a continuing basis, the status of each business unit's compliance with
applicable environmental laws and regulations, and maintain business unit-specific
environmental plans to address potential noncompliance situations.
- evaluate properties being considered for divestiture or acquisition in terms of existing
environmental conditions, potential risks and liabilities, and possible impacts on other
environmental obligations.
- communicate company environmental information to employees, customers, suppliers,
community representatives and the public.
- continue to work with all levels of government to develop and implement comprehensive
environmental quality control programs, including fair, consistent, and scientifically
sound laws, rules and regulations, and, as appropriate, challenge unscientific laws,
standards and regulations.
- conduct and fund research and development activities that seek to provide
pollution-prevention and waste minimization facilities or techniques suited to steel
industry processes.
- support the research and educational objectives of the steel industry and other
organizations concerned with improving environmental quality.
Environmental Compliance Policy and Procedures
We will comply with all environmental laws and regulations applicable to the conduct of
our business. As a good corporate citizen, we are dedicated to the continuous improvement
of the environment in which we all live.
To promote uniform understanding and consistent implementation of our policy by the
business units and corporate departments, we have developed various internal guidance
documents. This guidance defines "compliance" as ensuring that:
- All environmental measures are within applicable limits.
- All required permits have been obtained.
- All permit conditions and government orders are complied with.
- All reports to government agencies are accurate and timely.
- No continuing condition of noncompliance is acceptable.
- Satisfactory corrective action has been taken expeditiously with an expected result of
continuous compliance.
Satisfactory corrective measures must result in continuous compliance. If significant
harm to human health or the environment may occur, it may be necessary to curtail
operations if corrective measures are inadequate. We do not intend to wait for an
enforcement agency to act to compel implementation of corrective measures. Business units
submit monthly compliance reports to their corporate executive.
Safety, Health and Environment Plan
Although Bethlehem Steel's environmental program is almost fifty years old, we
reaffirmed our commitment to safety and health performance and to environmental compliance
by issuing a comprehensive Safety, Health and Environment Plan in March 1994. The plan
outlined a series of internal and external actions, which are summarized below:
- Formation of an executive-level Council on Safety, Health and Environment, chaired by
Jack Jordan, senior vice president and chief administrative officer. The council is
composed of eight other corporate officers, including the presidents of Bethlehem Steel's
steel business divisions.
- Creation of a new Safety, Health and Environment Department under the direction of a new
corporate officer who is also a member of the Corporate Management Committee and secretary
of the council.
- A commitment to Total Quality Environmental Management Systems at all business
divisions.
- Expansion of our corporate environmental auditing program.
- Commitment to provide adequate personnel and resources to address existing and emerging
needs.
- Initiation of a comprehensive Environmental Awareness Training program to educate and
involve all employees in continuously improving our environmental performance.
- Establishment of clearly defined accountabilities and responsibility for safety and
health performance and environmental compliance.
- A commitment to frequent, open and positive discussions with key external stakeholders:
the government, public, customers, suppliers, stockholders and the financial community.
Awards and Recognition
- 1995 Environmental Champion Award, presented by the Environmental Protection Agency and Chemical
Engineering and Environmental Engineering World magazines, to recognize
Bethlehem Steel as one of 20 U.S. companies that had an outstanding performance in
reducing toxic emissions through the EPA's 33/50 program.
- Pennsylvania Governor's Waste Minimization Award, presented by the Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Protection to Bethlehem Structural Products Corporation for
accomplishments in preventing or reducing the generation and release of waste in 1994.
- "Environmental Partnership Award," presented by Betz Laboratories to the Burns
Harbor Division in recognition of its continuing environmental achievements and successful
waste minimization efforts.
- Reclamation Award, presented by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection
and West Virginia Mine Reclamation Association to Bethlehem Steel's High Power Mountain
coal mining facility for reclamation of a long, steep narrow ridge through special
plantings to control drainage while benefiting wildlife.
- Harriman Award, presented by the E.H. Harriman Memorial Awards Institute, Washington,
D.C., to the Philadelphia, Bethlehem and New England Railroad, one of Bethlehem Steel's
subsidiary railroads, for safety performance.
Safety, Health and Environment Department
1170 Eighth Avenue, Martin Tower; 12th Floor, Bethlehem, PA 18016-7699
For further information about this report, send mail to [email protected]
Environmental Report Table of Contents
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�1999, Bethlehem Steel Corporation |
