Bethlehem announces reaction to Air Quality Standards Changes
For Immediate Release
Public Relations Division
Public Affairs Department
1170 Eighth Avenue
Bethlehem, PA 18016-7699
(610) 694-3711 - Phone
(610) 694-1509 - Fax
BETHLEHEM, Pa., June 26, 1997 -- In response to media inquiries about Bethlehem Steel's reaction to proposed changes in air quality standards endorsed by the Clinton Administration, the following statement is attributable to Augustine E. Moffitt Jr., vice president of safety, health and environment, Bethlehem Steel:
"Bethlehem Steel is very disappointed and greatly concerned with the decision by the Administration to issue revised air quality standards for particulate matter and ozone.
"There are three compelling reasons to reexamine this decision:
"First, we believe there is inadequate scientific evidence to support the proposal. The Environmental Protection Agency's own Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee concluded there were significant uncertainties and unanswered questions that need to be addressed before new standards are adopted. EPA has announced that it intends to conduct more research and to undertake another scientific review of the data after the promulgating the new rules. However, the time to conduct such research is before the new rules are promulgated to avoid unnecessary capital investment to comply with these standards that may well be based on flawed scientific evidence.
"Second, we also believe the costs of the proposed standards are high and the benefits are undefined. Independent studies have shown that EPA's cost estimates are greatly understated and that the proposed standards may not be attainable at any cost and may cost up to 200,000 lost jobs in the United States. The estimated annual cost to the metals industries (both primary and fabricated) is about $6 billion.
"Third, the current Clean Air Act programs will continue to reduce ozone and particulate matter, and we believe these existing programs must be given a chance to work before new control strategies are implemented.
"Bethlehem Steel has invested more than $600 million in capital expenditures for air quality controls since the enactment of Clean Air Act standards in 1970. We spend more than $60 million annually to operate and maintain that equipment. We will continue to make further investments in environmental control measures to comply with the requirements of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments.
"We urge the Congress and the Administration to reexamine this decision and develop a plan to reduce the significant impact of these rules on the American economy and our international competitiveness."