[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 11 (Tuesday, February 3, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E90-E91]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE NUCOR 
                             STEEL BAR MILL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JEB HENSARLING

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 3, 2004

  Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Speaker, as a former businessman, I can attest 
that one of the most important issues facing business today is how to 
remain profitable, productive, and efficient--while at the same time 
protecting the environment.
  Many people would have us believe this is an ``either-or'' 
proposition. But I disagree. I believe strongly that many companies, 
large and small, are committed to preserving our natural resources. And 
recently, I had the opportunity to visit one, and see first-hand how it 
is successfully pursuing a strategy of operational and environmental 
excellence.
  The Nucor Steel Bar Mill plant, located within my District in Jewett, 
Texas, is undertaking a modernization program that, when completed next 
year, will make it perhaps the most sophisticated facility in the 
industry. This three-phase, $250 million initiative began in 1999, and 
includes new equipment, new technologies, and a new melt shop. It will 
improve the facility's operations at every level, and solidify Nucor's 
status as a world-class company. In the end, it will have a total 
annual economic impact on Texas of more than $460 million.
  But what is especially interesting about this modernization is that 
it will enable the plant to produce more steel and be more profitable, 
yet still provide even greater environmental protection. Specifically, 
Nucor-Jewett will increase its capacity from the current 750,000 tons 
of recycled steel per year to 1 million, and it will achieve that 
growth through the installation of pollution control equipment that 
actually supports rather than hinders the mill's prosperity.

[[Page E91]]

  This new equipment is more than simply state-of-the-art. It is state-
of-the-future. The new melt shop will be tightly closed, and enable the 
plant to capture 100 percent of all air emissions. Advanced 
technologies will minimize the release of carbon monoxide and eliminate 
dust. All water-cooled furnace parts will have temperature sensors and 
flow meters to detect leaks.
  In other words, Mr. Speaker, this is not an expansion for its own 
sake. It is an expansion for the sake of safety, the environment and 
the team of dedicated employees who work at Nucor-Jewett. I also want 
to point out that a centerpiece of this modernization is a new 90-ton 
electric are furnace, or EAF. This too, stands as testimony of Nucor's 
commitment to performing in the most responsible possible manner.
  The EAF process is one of the most efficient, effective technologies 
in manufacturing today. It is less expensive and capital intensive than 
traditional steel making, which has helped Nucor become one of the 
lowest-cost producers in the world. But just as important, it requires 
fewer raw materials and less energy.
  The facts are staggering. For every ton of steel produced, the EAF 
process saves 2,500 pounds of iron ore, 1,400 pounds of coal, and 120 
pounds of limestone. Annually, it saves enough energy to electrically 
power the city of Los Angeles for eight years. On top of that, it also 
reduces air and water emissions, and greenhouse gases that are 
associated with conventional steelmaking.
  This kind of environmental responsibility is nothing new to Nucor. 
The company, which operates 30 facilities in 14 states--including four 
in Texas--is the largest producer of recycled steel in the world. It 
takes scrap metal that would otherwise be clogging landfills or tossed 
in fields or along roadsides and turns it into something of value that 
can be used in automobiles, farm machinery, metal buildings, furniture 
and recreational equipment.
  But this modernization takes that commitment to a whole new level. As 
I said at the outset of my remarks, it demonstrates that economic 
growth and environmental protection are not mutually exclusive. On the 
contrary, profit and prosperity can and should co-exist with efforts to 
preserve our natural resources.
  In Texas, we have the good sense to understand this. Nucor's ability 
to undertake such a significant modernization program was in part due 
to voter approval of a constitutional amendment in 1993 that provides 
tax exemptions on property used for pollution control. The amendment 
enabled companies to invest in environmental technologies without fear 
of seeing their property taxes increase. So we were able to protect the 
environment, strengthen our business climate and hold the line on 
taxes.
  The success of Nucor-Jewett shows quite clearly that the wisdom 
Texans exhibited in 1993 continues to pay off today. I would like to 
take this opportunity to commend the Nucor Steel Bar Mill Group, its 
employees and management for helping to make Texas a land of greater 
environmental and economic opportunity.

                          ____________________