Steel news of the week - Americas
Schnitzer recycles former Hugo New Corp president Schnitzer Steel Industries Inc. has appointed Don Hamaker to the newly created position of Metals Recycling Business president as well as vice president of Schnitzer Steel Industries Inc. Mr. Hamaker, who has 20 years of experience in
scrap management positions and served as former president of Hugo Neu Corp, will have lead responsibilities for all Schnitzer
scrap metal recycling facilities. This includes Schnitzer's existing 11 wholly owned West Coast yards as well as facilities in New England that formerly were part of the Hugo Neu Schnitzer joint venture operations. Mr. Hamaker will also assume leadership of all future metals recycling business segment acquisitions.
Illinois Attorney General takes issue with U.S. Steel Attorney General Lisa Madigan has recently filed suit in Madison County, Illinois claiming the
US Steel Granite City Works plant has violated the Illinois Environmental Protection Act. According to the lawsuit, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency reviewed the facilitys operations in August 2003 and found numerous emissions violations.
US Steel spokesman John Armstrong said that all violations cited in the 2003 report have since been fixed except for a violation regarding leaks in a certain coke oven. Mr. Armstrong said
US Steel will be negotiating with Madigan's office on dealing with the remaining issues.
Port of Tampa gets creative An increase of imported steel and forest products this fiscal year prompted the Tampa Port Authority to approve the
construction of a $5.9 million storage shed. The 96000 shed will give the Port of Tampa extra storage space for shipments of steel, which have increased by fifty percent this year, and forest products, which have tripled. Wade Elliot, the ports marketing director, attributed the increases to Floridas strong
construction sector, which is flourishing due to the influx of new residents. Weve been creative, said Elliot. Until the new shed is constructed, port workers are storing overflow in refrigerated areas and temporary sheds.
Steel workers paid to chisel their bodies Steel processing company Worthington Industries is paying their employees to stay in shape. The company recently made a change in their health care policy: employees must participate in a health program in order to continue receiving free health insurance. Worthington pays insurance premiums in full as long as employees work towards their health goals, whether it be exercising once a week or losing 100 pounds. Other companies are following suit, offering workers financial rewards for exercising, dieting or other healthy behaviors, with the main goal of saving money on employee premiums in the long run.
Steel issues slow library construction The public library in Portsmouth, New Hampshire has a strong foundation, but no frame to support it. The partially-constructed Portsmouth Public Library will not have its steel frame until November, due to high steel prices and scheduling issues with steel subcontractor, Novel Iron Works. Library director Mary Ann List said, It was a matter of when we could get the best bid for the steel and when they were available. The project, originally estimated to cost $7 million in 2002, will now cost $7.9 million, as this was the best price the city could secure after steel prices started soaring. In the meantime, crews will be digging on the site to install utility lines.
Camden port now importing rowdy third graders In Camden, New
Jersey, members of the Camden port community want to allow elementary school children to take field trips of the citys marine terminals so they can witness the busy economic engine in action. Joseph Balzano, executive director of the South
Jersey Port Corp., the organization that owns the two terminals, invited 40 principals and administrators from US Wiggins Elementary School this week to get a behind-the-scenes-tour of the terminals. Principal Juanita Worthy was very excited about the educational possibilities the port has to offer. Im ready to bring my kids back right away, she said. The classroom possibilities are endless. This is the first phase of what we hope to be a partnership between the port and the schools, said Mr. Balzano. We can be a resource for teaching geography, history, culture,
economics, labor. You need to write us into your curriculum and we'll do the rest, he said.