Bethlehem Steel Corporation
For Immediate Release
BETHLEHEM, Pa., October 12, 1999 -- Bethlehem Steel Corporation's operations and teams that have made significant contributions to a cleaner and safer environment during the past year were honored at an awards ceremony here to emphasize the importance of sound environmental practices to the company.
A total of six teams from throughout the corporation received Bethlehem's coveted Excellence in Environmental Achievement Award, presented by Curtis H. "Hank" Barnette, Bethlehem's chairman and chief executive officer. James M. Seif, Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, was the guest speaker.
"This is the fifth year of our environmental achievement awards program, which highlights Bethlehem's dedication, and the dedication of our employees, to the continuous improvement of the environment in which we all live," Mr. Barnette told the gathering. "Our corporate environmental policy is to comply with all environmental laws and regulations applicable to the conduct of our business."
In his remarks, Secretary Seif commended Bethlehem for "its commitment to the CERES Principles and for being a leader among Pennsylvania companies in the environmental area."
As part of Bethlehem's environmental awards program, cash grants of $2,500 are made on behalf of the winning teams, to non-profit community organizations involved in programs to improve the environment. The grants, which are designated by the winning teams, are funded by the Bethlehem Steel Foundation.
Dr. A. E. "Gus" Moffitt, Bethlehem's senior vice president, administration, with responsibility for oversight of Bethlehem Steel's Corporate Safety, Health and Environmental Department, identified this year's winning teams as:
- The Bethlehem Works Site Assessment and Remediation Team, which is credited with having created a new public/private partnership designed to help foster the brownfields redevelopment of the former Bethlehem, Pa., Plant site into a new multi-use property for the environmentally responsible revitalization of the City's South Side.
- Burns Harbor, Ind., Community Advisory Committee, which initiated a nationally recognized public outreach program that has advanced discussions on important issues regarding Burns Harbor's overall environmental program, including advancement of the designation of the Little Calumet (river) Restoration Area as a wildlife habitat.
- Burns Harbor team which worked in the division's steelmaking department to provide "demonstrable improvements" in roof monitor emissions levels, ensuring that emissions are below regulatory lits.
- Bethlehem Lukens Plate (BLP) Coatesville, Pa., team for eliminating the potential for oil and hazardous substance releases into the environment by achieving a 56-percent reduction in storage capacity for petroleum products and a 25-percent reduction in the number of above-ground storage and containment tanks throughout the plant.
- Pennsylvania Steel Technologies, Inc., Steelton, Pa., maintenance services and utilities systems team for the installation of two emissions reduction systems for the division's steelmaking operation to drastically cut emissions of nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide.
- The Sparrows Point, Md., Division coke oven wastewater bio-oxidation pond conversion team, which redesigned and refurbished the former coke oven wastewater bio-oxidation pond to treat liquid waste streams, resulting in the successful treatment of an average two million gallons per year of wastewater since its commissioning.
"These are outstanding examples," said Mr. Barnette, "of the environmental commitment and innovative thinking on the part of Bethlehem Steel employees that are having an important and measurable improvement on the quality of our environment. Such efforts deserve the recognition and appreciation of us all."
