Bethlehem Steel Corporation
For Immediate Release

BETHLEHEM, Pa., January 18, 2001 - In response to media inquiries concerning new waste water discharge standards affecting Bethlehem Steel Corporation's Sparrows Point Division at its location in Maryland, the following information was provided:

Bethlehem Steel Corporation received this morning proposed new standards affecting waste water effluent at its Sparrows Point, Md., Division and has accepted the new standards as proposed by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE).

In early January, Bethlehem met with the Region 3 of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, MDE and several environmental organizations, including the Clean Up Coalition and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the critical issues important to all parties in the development of a new permit and related standards for waste water created at Sparrows Point.

"The meeting was part of a constructive, ongoing dialogue that, we believe, helped create new standards based on sound scientific data that does not compromise the environmental integrity of our operations and our commitment to the community," said David E. Tomlinson, general manager, safety, health and environment, Bethlehem Steel Corporation, who represented the corporation at the meeting. "We believe the ideas exchanged at that meeting were instrumental in the formation of the limits to which Bethlehem has agreed."

In accordance with the agreement, Bethlehem will commence construction and engineering of a new waste water treatment facility to replace the existing Humphrey's Creek facility by the agreed-upon start-up date of July 2004. The corporation is currently reviewing proposals from suppliers of such equipment and will determine the appropriate equipment, suppliers and cost before July 1, 2001. When fully operational, the new facility will enable Bethlehem at Sparrows Point to reduce its effluents by three-fold from the rates being generated today.

Return to News Releases