ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY HEADLINESEnvironment and Sustainability
AISI Thanks EPA, Congress for Regulations Compromise
Nov. 3, 2009 The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) in a statement thanked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Congress for working with the Lake Carriers Association and its member companies on compromise regulations for large vessels sailing on the Great Lakes.
“AISI would like to thank the U.S. EPA and Congressmen Obey (D-WI) and Oberstar (D-MN) for their leadership in reaching this important compromise,” said Thomas J. Gibson, President and CEO of AISI. “The decision to allow for the continued sale of residual fuel for consumption in existing maritime boilers helps sustain the maritime economy on the Great Lakes, which includes the shipping of raw materials for steelmaking.”
The three-part compromise states that:
1) the Great Lakes steamships will be exempted from the new EPA regulations, as steamships cannot burn low-sulfur fuel without risking a catastrophic engine explosion
2) the final rule issue by EPA will include a waiver provision to address either the inadequate supply of low-sulfur fuel or serious economic hardship caused by the increased cost of such fuel (the Category 3 diesel ships on the Great Lakes would be able to apply)
3) EPA will evaluate the economic impact of the final rule on Great Lakes carriers, and issue a report within six months.
AISI notes that tens of thousands of employees in mining, transportation, processing, and other supply chain aspects upstream and downstream of the steel mills on the Great Lakes have a significant stake in these decisions.
AISI serves as the voice of the North American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace as the preferred material of choice. AISI also plays a lead role in the development and application of new steels and steelmaking technology. The Institute comprises 24 member companies, including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, and 138 associate and affiliate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry.