Pennsylvania Lt. Governor Cawley Says Marcellus Shale Creating Jobs in Steel Industry

WEST MIFFLIN, Pa., March 19, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Marcellus Shale natural gas is helping to revive Pennsylvania's steel industry and create good-paying jobs, Lt. Governor Jim Cawley said today while touring the U.S. Steel Irvin Plant in West Mifflin, Allegheny County. 

"Governor Corbett and I are focused on putting Pennsylvanians back to work and the responsible development of natural gas is playing a key role.  The need for high-quality steel in the drilling rigs, the platforms and the pipelines is creating jobs right here at U.S. Steel," said Cawley.

U.S. Steel has several works in the Mon Valley, including the Irvin Plant, which manufactures the steel pipe used in drilling and transporting natural gas. The Mon Valley Works employ more than 3,000 people and have an annual raw steel production capability of 2.9 million net tons.

"Pennsylvania makes some of the best steel in the world and Governor Corbett and I want to promote its use in the Marcellus Shale play," Cawley said. "If you are going to drill for gas here, then we want to encourage you to use steel made here."

Cawley pointed to Act 127 of 2011, which requires companies registered with the Public Utility Commission to explore, drill or transmit natural gas to report the country of origin and manufacture of any steel products they use. 

Cawley also met with representatives of Dura-Bond Pipe, which coats the steel pipe made at the Mon Valley Works. He also met with officials from PGT Trucking, which transports the coated pipe to the natural gas companies.

"We are miles from the nearest drill site and yet Marcellus Shale is creating good-paying jobs here – in the mills, in the support companies and soon, thousands of jobs in a proposed petrochemical plant in Beaver County," said Cawley.

For more information, visit www.pa.gov.

Media contact: Chad Saylor, 717-787-3300

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Lieutenant Governor

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