For Immediate Release

Public Relations Division
Public Affairs Department
1170 Eighth Avenue
Bethlehem, PA 18016-7699
(610) 694-3711 - Phone
(610) 694-1509 - Fax

BURNS HARBOR, Ind., May 19, 1999 – In response to a media inquiry regarding the recent court decision to set aside the EPA’s new air quality standards, a Bethlehem spokesperson said.

"Bethlehem Steel’s Environmental Policy states ‘As a good corporate citizen, we are dedicated to the continuous improvement of the environment in which we all live.’ Consistent with that policy and our endorsement of the CERES principles, a comprehensive environmental code of conduct, Bethlehem Steel’s Burns Harbor Division has taken a number of actions to reduce its emissions of ozone precursors over the past decade. The most recent action is the approximately $0.5 million project to continuously monitor sinter plant emissions of volatile organic compounds—this project gives the plant operations and Indiana’s air control program the information they need to keep emissions below regulatory limits. This system is currently allowing the Division to keep emissions below the regulatory limit, which represents a more than 80% reduction below the 1990 baseline.

"The continuing work by Bethlehem Steel and others has reduced ozone levels in Northwest Indiana to the extent that the only recorded violation of the one hour standard since 1900 occurred at the monitoring station in Michigan City (technically an attainment area). Bethlehem Steel will continue to participate in voluntary activities such as the Partners for Clean Air Program established by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) and will continue to work with IDEM and the Northwest Indiana Regional Planning Commission’s Environmental Policy Committee to develop additional measures to improve air quality in Northwest Indiana."