United States Steel Corporation says it had a net loss of $249 million, or $1.74 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2011. That is worse than the third quarter 2010 net loss of $51 million but better than the fourth quarter of 2009 when the Pittsburgh based company reported a net loss of $267 million, or $1.86 per diluted share.
For full-year 2010, U. S. Steel reported a net loss of $482 million, or $3.36 per diluted share, compared with a full-year 2009 net loss of $1,401 million, or $10.42 per diluted share. The loss comes as sales rose 28 percent over last year’s fourth quarter to $4.3 billion while shipments rose 18 percent to 5.5 million tons. The company says market conditions were "soft" during most of the quarter, and the price it received for its steel products dropped from the third quarter. The results missed Wall Street expectations of a loss of $1.11 per share on revenue of $4.2 billion.
U. S. Steel Chairman and CEO John P. Surma says he is looking forward to a better 2011 first quarter, “Order rates for most customer groups and publicly reported spot market prices began to increase later in the fourth quarter and we remain cautiously optimistic that global economic conditions will continue to improve in the first quarter."
Showing posts with label U.S. Steel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label U.S. Steel. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Friday, January 14, 2011
OSHA Fines U.S. Steel for Explosion
Last July’s explosion at the Clairton Coke Works that injured 20 workers has resulted in fines from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, to U.S. Steel and a contractor, Power Piping Co. of Etna.
U.S. Steel fines total $143,500; Power Piping’s, $31,500. OSHA Area Director Robert Szymanski says it's extremely important to control hazardous energy so it's not released suddenly, as happened at Clairton, so the companies should have shut down and purged the coke oven gas lines before allowing employees to perform maintenance work.
John Gismondi, a lawyer representing some of the workers who suffered serious burns, says OSHA’s report confirms U.S. Steel planned the job and directed how the work should be done. He says the agency's findings of "willful violations" is "pretty rare".
The companies can contest the citations.
U.S. Steel fines total $143,500; Power Piping’s, $31,500. OSHA Area Director Robert Szymanski says it's extremely important to control hazardous energy so it's not released suddenly, as happened at Clairton, so the companies should have shut down and purged the coke oven gas lines before allowing employees to perform maintenance work.
John Gismondi, a lawyer representing some of the workers who suffered serious burns, says OSHA’s report confirms U.S. Steel planned the job and directed how the work should be done. He says the agency's findings of "willful violations" is "pretty rare".
The companies can contest the citations.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Clairton Coke Works to Reduce Pollution
Residents of Liberty and Clairton can expect cleaner air in the years to come, thanks to emissions reductions slated for the Clairton Coke Works.
Owner U.S. Steel and the Allegheny County Health Department signed a Memorandum of Understanding to reduce the plant’s fine particulate pollution by 320 tons each year.
ACHD spokesman Guillermo Cole says the air quality improvements will come from the replacement of two quench towers that cool the coke, and from bringing three coke oven batteries into emissions compliance.
Cole says this agreement comes in addition to a 2008 document already requiring the plant to reduce particulate pollution.
“We’ve already seen the permanent shutdown of three older coke oven batteries. That has reduced particulate emissions already by 383 tons. The rebuild of Battery B has also dramatically reduced emissions, so these further improvements come on top of some major emission reductions that have already been achieved.”
Cole says the new emissions reductions are not tied to an explosion at the plant’s B Battery earlier this summer.
The Liberty/Clairton area is now expected to attain the national air quality standard by December of 2013, the same time this project is slated to be completed.
Owner U.S. Steel and the Allegheny County Health Department signed a Memorandum of Understanding to reduce the plant’s fine particulate pollution by 320 tons each year.
ACHD spokesman Guillermo Cole says the air quality improvements will come from the replacement of two quench towers that cool the coke, and from bringing three coke oven batteries into emissions compliance.
Cole says this agreement comes in addition to a 2008 document already requiring the plant to reduce particulate pollution.
“We’ve already seen the permanent shutdown of three older coke oven batteries. That has reduced particulate emissions already by 383 tons. The rebuild of Battery B has also dramatically reduced emissions, so these further improvements come on top of some major emission reductions that have already been achieved.”
Cole says the new emissions reductions are not tied to an explosion at the plant’s B Battery earlier this summer.
The Liberty/Clairton area is now expected to attain the national air quality standard by December of 2013, the same time this project is slated to be completed.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Federal Agencies Investigate Clairton Blast
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration are the lead investigators of the explosion at U.S. Steel's Clairton Works. The explosion at the coke making operations injured 20 people Wednesday morning. Three of the 12 workers who remain hospitalized are in critical condition. A U.S. Steel spokeswoman issued a statement saying the accident occurred while maintenance work was being performed in the basement of the "B" Battery. That portion of the plant is closed, but the rest of the plant is operating normally today.
Allegheny County Emergency Services Chief Robert Full says "it's a miracle nobody was killed." Full says the blast was so powerful that it blew out concrete block walls and bent steel beams. Full says he expects the focus of the investigation to be on coke-oven gas. The investigation by OSHA and ATF is expected to take several weeks.
Mike Wright, Director of Health Safety and Environment for the United Steelworkers union spectulates coke-oven gas was involved. He says that's what tends to be present on a coke battery and if it is released and finds a source of ignition it can cause this type of explosion. Last September one man was killed and another person injured in an explosion at the U.S. Steel Clairton plant. Wright says it was caused by coke-oven gas, but the explosion was in a different area of the plant. He says they don't know yet if there are underlying causes similar to Wednesday morning's accident.
UPMC Mercy is one of the hospitals caring for injured workers. They received 6 victims yesterday. One man was released, 5 others are hospitalized with burns. Dr. Alain Corcos says one of the men is in critical condition because of heat injury and swelling of his airways. He says the man's lungs are okay. The other three workers at Mercy are in serious condition. All the men have 2nd and 3rd degree burns.
The names of the victims have not been released.
Allegheny County Emergency Services Chief Robert Full says "it's a miracle nobody was killed." Full says the blast was so powerful that it blew out concrete block walls and bent steel beams. Full says he expects the focus of the investigation to be on coke-oven gas. The investigation by OSHA and ATF is expected to take several weeks.
Mike Wright, Director of Health Safety and Environment for the United Steelworkers union spectulates coke-oven gas was involved. He says that's what tends to be present on a coke battery and if it is released and finds a source of ignition it can cause this type of explosion. Last September one man was killed and another person injured in an explosion at the U.S. Steel Clairton plant. Wright says it was caused by coke-oven gas, but the explosion was in a different area of the plant. He says they don't know yet if there are underlying causes similar to Wednesday morning's accident.
UPMC Mercy is one of the hospitals caring for injured workers. They received 6 victims yesterday. One man was released, 5 others are hospitalized with burns. Dr. Alain Corcos says one of the men is in critical condition because of heat injury and swelling of his airways. He says the man's lungs are okay. The other three workers at Mercy are in serious condition. All the men have 2nd and 3rd degree burns.
The names of the victims have not been released.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Health Dept Monitors Air Quality From Coke Oven Blast
The Allegheny County Health Department says it's investigating the effects of today’s explosion at the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works.
Director Dr. Bruce Dixon says because of the department's routine oversight of operations at the facility, a health inspector was at the plant at the time of the explosion.“
“While the incident produced a black cloud, these emissions resulted in no long-lasting effects to the environment or to the health of residents in the Liberty-Clairton area.”
None of the Health Department’s three monitors nearby in Liberty, Lincoln or Glassport showed any unusually high readings associated with the explosion."
Dixon says Health Department staff will continue to stay on-site as long as necessary to ensure the public’s health and safety as well as the area’s environmental integrity.
The incident occurred in the Battery B of the plant which is its largest section and is composed of 75 coke ovens.
U.S. Steel Clairton is the largest coke manufacturing facility in the United States producing 4.7 million tons of coke each year to be used in the steelmaking process.
Director Dr. Bruce Dixon says because of the department's routine oversight of operations at the facility, a health inspector was at the plant at the time of the explosion.“
“While the incident produced a black cloud, these emissions resulted in no long-lasting effects to the environment or to the health of residents in the Liberty-Clairton area.”
None of the Health Department’s three monitors nearby in Liberty, Lincoln or Glassport showed any unusually high readings associated with the explosion."
Dixon says Health Department staff will continue to stay on-site as long as necessary to ensure the public’s health and safety as well as the area’s environmental integrity.
The incident occurred in the Battery B of the plant which is its largest section and is composed of 75 coke ovens.
U.S. Steel Clairton is the largest coke manufacturing facility in the United States producing 4.7 million tons of coke each year to be used in the steelmaking process.
Investigation Into Coke Works Blast Underway
Emergency officials say the situation at the Clairton Coke Works has stabilized following an explosion and fire at the facility. The blast occurred at 9:37 this morning at the U.S. Steel coke plant. 15 workers were injured with varying degrees of burns. Dan Laurent, a spokesman for the West Penn Health Allegheny Health System, says three of the injured are in the West Penn Hospital Burn Unit, 2 of them in critical condition.
Gloria Kreps of UPMC says 6 workers are being treated at Mercy Hospital, 3 at UPMC Presbyterian and 1 at McKeesport Hospital. Doctor Alain Corcos, a burn specialist at Mercy, says one patient was treated and released but 4 are in serious condition and one man is in critical condition from burns to his face and airway system.
Two workers were taken to Jefferson Regional Hospital, one with minor burns and the other was suffering from chest pains.
U.S. Steel spokeswoman Erin DiPietro issued a statement confirming the explosion and fire at the "B" Battery of the coke works..."I do not have any information about the possible cause of the incident, but an investigation will be conducted. We will assess the extent of repairs and impact on operations at a later time."
Initial reports indicate that flammable gas in one of the coke ovens ignited. OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, has begun an investigation. OSHA Pittsburgh Director Robert Szymanski says they have a team of investigators on site "trying to determine what happened, why it happened and how it can be prevented from happening again, and in the process of these events were there any violations of our standards."
Last September a worker was killed in an explosion at the Clairton Coke Works.
Gloria Kreps of UPMC says 6 workers are being treated at Mercy Hospital, 3 at UPMC Presbyterian and 1 at McKeesport Hospital. Doctor Alain Corcos, a burn specialist at Mercy, says one patient was treated and released but 4 are in serious condition and one man is in critical condition from burns to his face and airway system.
Two workers were taken to Jefferson Regional Hospital, one with minor burns and the other was suffering from chest pains.
U.S. Steel spokeswoman Erin DiPietro issued a statement confirming the explosion and fire at the "B" Battery of the coke works..."I do not have any information about the possible cause of the incident, but an investigation will be conducted. We will assess the extent of repairs and impact on operations at a later time."
Initial reports indicate that flammable gas in one of the coke ovens ignited. OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, has begun an investigation. OSHA Pittsburgh Director Robert Szymanski says they have a team of investigators on site "trying to determine what happened, why it happened and how it can be prevented from happening again, and in the process of these events were there any violations of our standards."
Last September a worker was killed in an explosion at the Clairton Coke Works.
14 Workers Injured in Blast at Clairton Coke Works
Emergency crews are on the scene at U.S. Steel's Clairton Coke Works, the site of an explosion this morning. Initial reports have 14 workers injured.
Gloria Kreps, a spokeswoman for UPMC says 6 of the injured are at Mercy Hospital, 3 at UPMC Presbyterian and 1 in McKeesport Hospital.
According to Dan Laurent, a spokesman for the West Penn Allegheny Health system, 3 of the injured are in the West Penn Burn Unit with one in serious condition. One of the injured workers was taken to Jefferson Regional Hospital. Spokeswoman Candy Williams says that person was treated for minor facial burns.
Following that, Williams says an emergency response worker was brought to Jefferson Regional with chest pains. Also, 2 people in a nearby office are being treated for dust inhalation.
U.S. Steel spokeswoman Erin DiPietro issued a statement confirming the explosion and fire at the "B" Battery of the coke works..." U. S. Steel’s Security & Fire Protection Services personnel are working with local emergency responders. I do not have any information about the possible cause of the incident, but an investigation will be conducted. We will assess the extent of repairs and impact on operations at a later time."
A worker was killed in an explosion at the Clairton Coke Works last September.
Gloria Kreps, a spokeswoman for UPMC says 6 of the injured are at Mercy Hospital, 3 at UPMC Presbyterian and 1 in McKeesport Hospital.
According to Dan Laurent, a spokesman for the West Penn Allegheny Health system, 3 of the injured are in the West Penn Burn Unit with one in serious condition. One of the injured workers was taken to Jefferson Regional Hospital. Spokeswoman Candy Williams says that person was treated for minor facial burns.
Following that, Williams says an emergency response worker was brought to Jefferson Regional with chest pains. Also, 2 people in a nearby office are being treated for dust inhalation.
U.S. Steel spokeswoman Erin DiPietro issued a statement confirming the explosion and fire at the "B" Battery of the coke works..." U. S. Steel’s Security & Fire Protection Services personnel are working with local emergency responders. I do not have any information about the possible cause of the incident, but an investigation will be conducted. We will assess the extent of repairs and impact on operations at a later time."
A worker was killed in an explosion at the Clairton Coke Works last September.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Steel Industry Asks For Help
Officials from American steelmaking firms and from the United Steelworkers of America urged the Congressional Steel Caucus to help them more fairly compete with steel coming from China, India and Brazil.
U.S. Representative Tim Murphy, of suburban Pittsburgh, is the co-chair of the caucus and he said the industry representatives told the group that after a big decline the last few years, business is coming back up but they feel the success is tentative.
Murphy says they asked the caucus not to do "cap and trade" the way it came out of the house. According to Murphy, the chairmen of U.S. Steel, AK Steel and Nucor Corporation told them that the mandates to cut emissions in the House version of "cap and trade" will make American steel so expensive that it will favor steel from Brazil, China and India. Murphy said that American steel production generates one quarter of the pollution that steel from India and China does "and if we end up taxing our companies so much that it becomes cheaper to purchase steel from countries that have more pollution, then we'll be adding to the pollution around the world."
Murphy says the steelmakers are asking for tax credits to help reduce the emissions without pricing American steel out of the market.
Industry representatives also asked lawmakers to crack down on countries breaking trade laws and dumping product in the U.S. with false ISO certification.
Daniel DiMicco, Chairman of Nucor Corporation, said that the federal stimulus package has helped some because of requirements that bridge and road projects use American made steel but that the infrastructure is aging so much, that a great deal more is still needed.
U.S. Representative Tim Murphy, of suburban Pittsburgh, is the co-chair of the caucus and he said the industry representatives told the group that after a big decline the last few years, business is coming back up but they feel the success is tentative.
Murphy says they asked the caucus not to do "cap and trade" the way it came out of the house. According to Murphy, the chairmen of U.S. Steel, AK Steel and Nucor Corporation told them that the mandates to cut emissions in the House version of "cap and trade" will make American steel so expensive that it will favor steel from Brazil, China and India. Murphy said that American steel production generates one quarter of the pollution that steel from India and China does "and if we end up taxing our companies so much that it becomes cheaper to purchase steel from countries that have more pollution, then we'll be adding to the pollution around the world."
Murphy says the steelmakers are asking for tax credits to help reduce the emissions without pricing American steel out of the market.
Industry representatives also asked lawmakers to crack down on countries breaking trade laws and dumping product in the U.S. with false ISO certification.
Daniel DiMicco, Chairman of Nucor Corporation, said that the federal stimulus package has helped some because of requirements that bridge and road projects use American made steel but that the infrastructure is aging so much, that a great deal more is still needed.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Investigation into Train Crash
The Federal Railway Administration and Allegheny County homicide detectives are investigating this morning's fatal train crash in North Versailles. The county Medical Examiner's Office identified the victim as 54 year old Andrew Monheim of Plum Borough. He was the engineer of one of the trains that collided at a point where 2 rail lines converge not far from the U.S. Steel Edgar Thomson Works. One train had empty cars and the other had cars with iron pellets headed for the steel plant. There were no other injuries.
U.S. Steel spokeswoman Erin DiPietro says the trains are owned by Union Railroad, which is part of Transtar, a U.S. Steel subsidiary whose trains serve the steelmaker's plants.
An environmental contractor was brought in to clean up diesel fuel that spilled from one of the engines.
U.S. Steel spokeswoman Erin DiPietro says the trains are owned by Union Railroad, which is part of Transtar, a U.S. Steel subsidiary whose trains serve the steelmaker's plants.
An environmental contractor was brought in to clean up diesel fuel that spilled from one of the engines.
1 Dead From Train Crash
One person was killed after two trains crashed causing one to partially derail in North Versailles this morning. The accident occurred near the U.S. Steel Edgar Thomson Works. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner's office confirms the fatality but did not provide any other details.
U.S. Steel spokeswoman Erin DiPietro says the trains are owned by Union Railroad, which is part of Transtar, a U.S. Steel subsidiary whose trains serve the steelmaker's plants.
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection spokeswoman Helen Humphreys says it was previously reported that 12,000 gallons of diesel fuel spilled as a result of the derailment. However, Humphreys says the diesel fuel came from one of the engines and it has a 1,200 gallon capacity. Humphreys says it also appears that the fuel did not contaminate Turtle Creek but they are still awaiting confirmation from DEP employees on the scene. Humphreys says the cleanup is to begin shortly.
U.S. Steel spokeswoman Erin DiPietro says the trains are owned by Union Railroad, which is part of Transtar, a U.S. Steel subsidiary whose trains serve the steelmaker's plants.
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection spokeswoman Helen Humphreys says it was previously reported that 12,000 gallons of diesel fuel spilled as a result of the derailment. However, Humphreys says the diesel fuel came from one of the engines and it has a 1,200 gallon capacity. Humphreys says it also appears that the fuel did not contaminate Turtle Creek but they are still awaiting confirmation from DEP employees on the scene. Humphreys says the cleanup is to begin shortly.
Train Reported Off Tracks in Braddock
Allegheny County 911 dispatchers say a train has derailed near the U.S Steel Edgar Thompson works and it appears that fuel is leaking into Turtle Creek. Hazmat crews have been sent to the scene in or near Braddock along with Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection personnel. A cadaver-sniffing dog has also been called to the accident and is on standby. Preliminary reports say two cars may have collided and the engineer of at least one of them cannot be found. It is unclear how long the train or trains may have been. It is also not clear what they were carrying. However, there are reports of coal being spilled on the ground along with diesel fuel.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
US Steel Loses $300 million
Pittsburgh based United States Steel Corporation posted another down quarter but its chief executive says things are starting to look better. The company posted a net loss of $303 million in the third quarter of 2009. That equates to a $2.11 per share dip into the red. The numbers come as shipments were up by 41% and sales were up 32% from the previous quarter. U. S. Steel Chairman and CEO John P. Surma says, "… we brought several idled facilities online to satisfy increased customer order rates. Our European and Tubular segments had improved financial performance and our Flat-rolled segment's results were in line with the prior quarter despite the effects of continued low operating rates and facility restart costs." The company’s European segment recorded a small profit in the third quarter. Surma says the gains came with the help of lower raw material and energy costs and improved operating efficiencies.
While US Steel does not expect to finish the 4th quarter in the black, Surma says the trend is up, “We expect improvement in our overall fourth quarter results mainly as a result of increased demand for Flat-rolled products in North America, driven primarily by automotive markets and continued strength in tin mill markets. We remain cautious in our outlook for end user demand as customer order rates… and we will continue to adjust production to meet our customers' demand.” Surma opined that the world economy is on the mend and praised global stimulus policies. He says the company’s 4th quarter will be helped by, “continued improvement in credit markets and inventory restocking."
Analysts expected a loss of $2.87 per share on revenue of $2.72 billion.
While US Steel does not expect to finish the 4th quarter in the black, Surma says the trend is up, “We expect improvement in our overall fourth quarter results mainly as a result of increased demand for Flat-rolled products in North America, driven primarily by automotive markets and continued strength in tin mill markets. We remain cautious in our outlook for end user demand as customer order rates… and we will continue to adjust production to meet our customers' demand.” Surma opined that the world economy is on the mend and praised global stimulus policies. He says the company’s 4th quarter will be helped by, “continued improvement in credit markets and inventory restocking."
Analysts expected a loss of $2.87 per share on revenue of $2.72 billion.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Public Hearing For U.S. Steel Coke Batteries Scheduled
The Allegheny County Health Department will hold a public hearing on July 29th at 6:30 p.m. at the Clairton Municipal Building regarding the proposed installation of a new coke oven battery for the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works. U.S. Steel has postponed the actual installation of the batteries for now because of economic concerns but plans on finishing the project once the economy rebounds. U.S. Steel must shut down six of their older batteries as mandated under a consent order and agreement. Anyone wanting to testify at the hearing must register by 4 p.m. on Tuesday the 28th.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Ron Kirk Speaks at Braddock Steel Mill
A United States trade representative made his way to speak to Pittsburgh steelworkers at the Mon Valley Works Steel Plant about implementing new trade enforcement measures that are going to maintain jobs as well as create new jobs in the country.
These measures include addressing trade barriers affecting this county’s agricultural producers and manufactures, increasing coordination with the Department of State, Labor, Commerce, Agriculture and other federal agencies to locate and respond to trade barriers, and committing more observation of foreign labor practices, particularly substandard practices that tilt the playing field away from American workers in violation of labor obligations in trade agreements.
These measures include addressing trade barriers affecting this county’s agricultural producers and manufactures, increasing coordination with the Department of State, Labor, Commerce, Agriculture and other federal agencies to locate and respond to trade barriers, and committing more observation of foreign labor practices, particularly substandard practices that tilt the playing field away from American workers in violation of labor obligations in trade agreements.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
US Steel Idles Plants
Due to a shrinking economy and slow demand Pittsburgh based US Steel says it will idle two steel making plants in Illinois and Michigan and an iron ore mining and pelletizing facility in Minnesota. Approximately 35-hundred workers will be affected. The facilities will be idled not Shutdown meaning a skeleton crew will keep the furnaces and other equipment hot so they can be put back into service at short notice. The company says those facilities will be brought back on line if demand increases. Until then, any additional work will be sent to the Mon Valley Works in Braddock, and facilities in Alabama and Ontario. At this time there are no plans to recall any workers that had been previously laid off at the three remaining plants. US Steel CEO John Surma says “We believe that our difficult decision to temporarily consolidate our production is a necessary response to current market conditions.”
Friday, October 10, 2008
Mayor Ravenstahl Meets With President Of The Slovak Republic
Mayor Luke Ravenstahl met today with Ivan Gasparovic, President of the Slovak Republic. The President was hosted by U.S. Steel, which does business in Slovakia. They met to discuss the Visa waiver program that would enable trade between Slovakia and the U.S. to move faster. U.S. Steel officials cited an instance where it took 3 months before they could ship their products back to the U.S.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)