PITTSBURGH, Nov. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- United States Steel
Corporation (NYSE: X) announced today that it is considering a $1 billion
capital investment program at its Clairton Plant coke making operation near
Pittsburgh that will enhance the company's environmental performance, help
to ensure the long-term viability of its Mon Valley Works operations, and
create more than 600 construction jobs. The program, which would take place
over a period of years, involves the construction of two new
technologically and environmentally advanced coke batteries and a
cogeneration facility, along with environmentally focused rehabilitation of
several existing coke batteries.
The new coke batteries would replace the current capacity of several
older units and incorporate state-of-the-art emissions control technology
that would meet all regulatory requirements of the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency and the Allegheny County Health Department. U. S. Steel
also plans to rehabilitate Clairton's remaining coke batteries. The new
coke making and emissions control technology combined with the
rehabilitation work will result in significant improvements in the Clairton
Plant's overall environmental performance. Coke oven gas from coke battery
operations would be consumed in the proposed cogeneration facility, which
would supply electricity for all three Pittsburgh-area Mon Valley Works
facilities: the Clairton Plant; the Edgar Thomson Plant, a steelmaking
operation in Braddock, Pa.; and the Irvin Plant, a rolling and finishing
facility in West Mifflin, Pa.
U. S. Steel expects to file for environmental permits with the
Allegheny County Health Department in early January 2008. The decision to
proceed with the program will depend upon receipt of the necessary permits,
approval of U. S. Steel's Board of Directors and business conditions.
"U. S. Steel is committed to running our operations in the most
environmentally responsible, energy-efficient and cost-effective manner
possible, and this program will help us continue to do that at our
Pittsburgh- area facilities," said U. S. Steel Chairman and CEO John Surma.
"We look forward to working with Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan
Onorato, the Allegheny County Health Department, the United Steelworkers,
the Building Trades Council and other interested parties to complete this
program, which will ensure that our Mon Valley Works facilities remain
competitive and that manufacturing continues to be a vital part of
Southwestern Pennsylvania's economy."
"The history and success of U. S. Steel and Southwestern Pennsylvania
have always been closely linked," said Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan
Onorato, "and I am thrilled that U. S. Steel is looking at investing $1
billion right here in the Mon Valley. This would represent the largest
investment of its kind in our region since the construction of Pittsburgh
International Airport and would help to ensure the long-term viability of
U. S. Steel's entire Mon Valley Works, which employs more than 3,000 people
and is Allegheny County's largest manufacturer."
The Clairton Plant has an annual coke making capability of
approximately 4.7 million net tons. Coke produced at the facility is used
to fuel the two blast furnaces at the Edgar Thomson Plant as well as others
at the company's North American steelmaking operations. Coke oven gas
produced during coke making at Clairton is recycled and used at both the
Edgar Thomson and Irvin Plants. Other by-products are sold to the chemical
industry for a variety of uses.
This release contains forward-looking statements concerning the
construction of the new facilities. The timing, cost and ultimate
capability of these facilities are subject to, among others, the receipt of
necessary government permits, terms of construction contracts, availability
of necessary technology and materials, general economic conditions and the
financial condition of U. S. Steel. In accordance with "safe harbor"
provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995,
cautionary statements identifying important factors, but not necessarily
all factors, that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those set forth in the forward- looking statements have been included in
the Form 10-K of U. S. Steel for the year ended December 31, 2006, and in
subsequent filings for U. S. Steel.
For more information about U. S. Steel, visit http://www.ussteel.com.
SOURCE United States Steel Corporation
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Related links:
http://www.ussteel.com/
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/929150.html/
CONTACT:
John Armstrong, +1-412-433-6792, or Erin
DiPietro, +1-412-433-6845, both of United States Steel
Corporation
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