For Immediate Release
August 11, 2006
AISI AND EPA JOIN TOGETHER FOR MERCURY SWITCH
RECOVERY PROGRAM
CHICAGO, IL – Today the American Iron and
Steel Institute (AISI) participated in a signing ceremony and
demonstration regarding a new national mercury reduction agreement.
Representing AISI were David Sutherland, president and CEO of IPSCO,
Inc. and a member of AISI’s Board of Directors, and Andrew G.
Sharkey, III, president and CEO of AISI. They joined EPA Administrator
Stephen L. Johnson, along with leaders from other industry and
environmental organizations, in the signing of the agreement. The
agreement, known as the National Vehicle Mercury Switch Recovery
Program, will benefit the environment in regards to mercury
reduction.
This agreement will help in the removal of mercury switches that can
be found in older modeled automobiles. Mercury is a highly toxic element
to the environment, which can be detrimental to the auto-scrap recycling
infrastructure if not removed.
“This process will significantly reduce mercury in steel scrap,
which is a feedstock for steelmaking.
At the same time, it will render significant benefits
to the environment,” said Sutherland. “We are committed to
working with our partners and with EPA to reach the mercury reduction
goals that are laid out in this agreement.”
The steel industry believes that the best way to solve this
problem is to remove the mercury containing components before the
scrapped automobile reaches the scrap stream. With this agreement in
place, a considerable step towards mercury removal can be achieved.
“The automobile is America’s most recycled consumer good
containing America’s most recycled material—steel,”
said Sharkey. “It is imperative that we protect the scrap
infrastructure from contaminants.”
The National Vehicle Mercury Switch Recovery Program
is the result of a two-year collaborative effort involving EPA, the
Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, the American Iron and Steel
Institute, the Steel Manufacturers Association, the Institute of Scrap
Recycling Industries, the Automotive Recyclers Association,
Environmental Defense, the Ecology Center (Ann Arbor), and
representatives of the Environmental Council of the
States.
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. AISI is comprised of 33 member companies,
including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, and 118 associate
and affiliate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel
industry. AISI's member companies represent approximately 75
percent of both U.S. and North American steel capacity. For more
news about steel and its applications, view AISI’s Web site
at www.steel.org.
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For More Information:
CONTACT:
Nancy
Gravatt
Vice President, Communications
American Iron and Steel Institute
tel: 202.452.7115
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