Steelmaking and the Environment
The making and processing of steel involves the mining and handling of vast amounts of raw materials primarily coal, iron ore, limestone and steel scrap as well as the use of large amounts of air, water and energy.

High temperature chemical reactions and physical changes occur during smelting, refining and other processing steps which generate solid and gaseous emissions, contaminate process water and produce waste materials.

The challenge faced by today's steel industry is to make and process steel without adversely impacting the environment.

Bethlehem Steel's Commitment
Bethlehem Steel has had a formal environmental protection program in place since 1946. We were among the first companies in the basic industries to recognize the importance of protecting our environment, and our commitment continues today. Bethlehem recognizes that environmental protection is an integral part of doing business.

Our Statement of Policy
Our corporate environmental policy is straightforward: 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.

Making Our Environmental Policy Work
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 products made from steel, and dispose of any remaining wastes in an environmentally responsible manner

• manufacture products that have minimum environmental impacts, that are safe in their intended use, and that can be recycled, reused or disposed of safely

• minimize environmental, health and safety risks to our employees and our plant communities by using safe technologies and operating practices, and by being prepared for emergencies

• reduce our use of ozone-depleting and hazardous chemicals to the maximum extent practicable

• continue to employ qualified personnel to develop, implement and monitor Bethlehem's environmental quality control programs

• evaluate, on a continuing basis, the status of each plant's compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations, and develop plant-specific environmental plans to address actual or potential non-compliance 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 to employees, customers, suppliers, community officials and the public environmental information regarding the company's operations and its environmental control accomplishments

• 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 when data are available to support our positions

• conduct and fund research and development activities which seek to provide pollution-control facilities or techniques suited to steel industry processes, and

• support the research and educational objectives of the steel industry and other organizations concerned with environmental quality improvement.

• Bethlehem Steel has a long history of commitment to the cause of environmental quality. We have demonstrated that we can make steel and, at the same time, protect our valuable air, water and land resources. Although a very high level of environmental protection has already been achieved by Bethlehem, we remain dedicated to continuous improvement in this critical area.