Industrial/Government Cooperation Essential, says Hank Barnette at Energy Showcase
Bethlehem Steel Corporation
For Immediate Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa., May 4, 2000 -- Cooperation between industry and the government will result in stronger partnerships to advance both the public interest and the interests of businesses, the recently retired chairman of Bethlehem Steel Corporation said today.
Curtis "Hank" Barnette, now chairman emeritus of Bethlehem Steel, told the Pittsburgh Area Steel Technology Showcase, "For both business and government to be successful, a dynamic and true partnership must be established." The Showcase is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy.
Mr. Barnette used three areas of importance to Bethlehem as examples of how business and the government "can produce the best results for the public interest, the company and the community."
On international trade, Mr. Barnette reviewed the record-setting levels of foreign steel in the United States in 1998 and 1999 that resulted in the U.S. becoming "the world�s steel dumping ground. There continues to be foreign overcapacity that has to land somewhere ... and it landed in the United States, the world�s most open market.
"Working closely with our government, we have achieved some success in restoring fair trade in steel ... but it is a long, expensive and uncertain process."
The second area of government/industry cooperation of importance to Bethlehem is the environment, to which, Mr. Barnette said, "Bethlehem�s commitment has expanded and deepened over the years." Bethlehem has had a formal environmental control program since 1946 and has continuously improved its results to make 1999 the safest and most environmental compliant year in Bethlehem�s nearly 100-year history.
As part of its environmental stewardship, Bethlehem is working to redevelop areas in Bethlehem, Pa., and Lackawanna, N.Y. "We place a high priority on economic revitalization to return as much surplus property as possible to constructive use. These projects will require strong public-private partnerships at all levels of government to be ultimately successful," Mr. Barnette said.
Concerning the third area of importance - energy - "Bethlehem has had a long history of energy consciousness because of the energy intensive nature of our business and its impact on the bottom line," Mr. Barnette said. "With the active participation and partnership with government, particularly the Department of Energy, we have made great strides in this area."
Mr. Barnette concluded that "good corporate citizenship is also very good business. We will only be successful by further developing and embracing the public-private partnership."