ISO 14001
On April 15, 2008, the ArcelorMittal USA Environmental Policy was officially signed by Michael G. Rippey, president and CEO, ArcelorMittal USA and Jos Jacque, CEO Long North America. The previous Mittal Steel USA ISO 14001 Policy was modified to incorporate the relevant elements of the ArcelorMittal Global policy issued in June 2007.
Representatives of each facility will formally adopt and communicate the policy at the local levels.
The new Environmental Policy includes a commitment to “minimizing our environmental impact, including our CO2 footprint where technologically and economically feasible”. To this end, a comprehensive inventory will be developed for each facility and list of potential reduction projects will be completed by September. Projects listed will include short, medium and long-term strategies. The plans will address process improvements that reduce direct emissions, improvements in energy efficiency including indirect emissions, and process modifications.
For ArcelorMittal USA, an interdisciplinary team has been formed to address CO2 emissions and includes representatives from operations, engineering, research, energy, purchasing, government relations, communications and environmental.
Additionally, the company committed to ensuring that all ArcelorMittal USA facilities would receive ISO 14001 certification by the end of 2008.
The following facilities have been certified or recommended for ISO 14001 certification: Burns Harbor, Coatesville, Columbus, Cleveland, Conshohocken, Indiana Harbor, I/N Tek and I/N Kote, Lackawanna, Marion, Riverdale, Steelton, Weirton and Warren. The remaining facilities - Vinton, Georgetown, Hennepin, Minorca and Shelby - will complete ISO 14001 certification requirements in 2008.
ISO 14001 requires the plant to implement a series of practices and procedures that make up an environmental management system (EMgtS). Major requirements include:
- A policy statement that includes a commitment to prevent pollution, continual improvement of the EMgtS and, as a result, improvements in overall environmental performance
- Identification of activities, products and services that could have a significant impact on the environment, including those that are not regulated
- Setting of performance objectives linked to prevention, continual improvement and compliance
- Implementing the environmental management plan through training, establishing work instructions and establishing the metrics by which the objectives and targets will be met
- Establishing a periodic audit program
- Checking and taking preventive and corrective action if a deviation from the plan should occur. This includes evaluating the organization's compliance with regulatory requirements
- Top management review of the environmental management system to ensure that it continues to perform and that adjustments are made as necessary.
Implementation of an Environmental Management System indicates the facility’s commitment to good environmental practices, including conservation of input materials and energy, attainment of appropriate permits and authorizations, and maintaining good community relations.
Quality System Registrar is an internationally accredited registrar for quality management systems standards, such as ISO 9001, AS9100,ISO/TS16949 and environmental management systems standards such as ISO 14001. SRI also provides public training for auditing, implementing and maintaining these standards.