BUSINESS/ORGANIZATIONAL BRIEFS

WCI Steel invests to reduce emissions

WCI Steel, Inc. will spend $29.3 million to install a new baghouse system at its Basic Oxygen Furnace to reduce environmental emissions and meet new federal air quality standards.

Major on-site construction will begin in August. The new baghouse system is set to be operational in April of 2007.

The construction is not expected to affect production. Once in operation, the BOF complex will have two separate baghouses. The new baghouse, which will have the capability to handle 800,000 cubic feet of air per minute, will be the more powerful of the two.

The installation will allow WCI to meet the Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) standard for the iron and steel industry pursuant to the 1990 Clean Air Act amendments.

B & B Metals cited

Chicago, IL— U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 5 has reached an agreement with B & B Metals Processing Co. Inc. on alleged clean-air violations at the company’s aluminum recovery plant, 14520 Pioneer Road, Newton, Wisconsin.

The agreement, which includes a $30,000 penalty and an $80,563 environmental project, resolves an EPA complaint alleging B & B failed to comply with federal testing, notification, monitoring, reporting and recordkeeping requirements for its furnace. EPA said the company did not test the furnace in a timely manner for dioxin and furan emissions.

Timken expands round bar capabilities

Canton, OH— The Timken Company has expanded its rolled carbon and alloy steel round bar capabilities to a maximum diameter of 13 inches, an increase of one inch. The rolled bar, developed for specific applications, features a consistent diameter along the full length of the bar, which will significantly improve the cutting of tight mult weights relative to using tapered cast ingots. Timken’s 13-inch round bar has more hot work than cast ingots and will allow for a more aggressive upset.

Timken is the only domestic U.S. manufacturer to roll 13-inch round bar and can produce it in lengths up to 26 feet. The longer bar lengths will help reduce material handling by the customer and minimize testing costs.

WCJ ordered to comply

Chicago, IL— U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 5 has issued an administrative order to WCJ Inc., also known as E & J Metal Co. that provides that the company not operate a sweat furnace at its secondary aluminum production operation at 200 24th Ave., Rock Island, Illinois, unless it complies with EPA regulations.

If WCJ sells the furnace, it must notify EPA before the sale is closed.

The order resolves EPA allegations that WCJ failed to comply with federal notification, planning and recordkeeping requirements for the sweat furnace.

The alleged violations were discovered during an EPA inspection in June 2005.

Keep Texas Beautiful elects board president

The board of directors for Keep Texas Beautiful (KTB), a statewide grassroots environmental and community improvement organization based in Austin, Texas, elected Debbie Johnston, public affairs director for Abitibi-Consolidated, as president of the board at its recent annual meeting.

Johnston has served on the KTB board since 1996. Most recently, she chaired its Leadership Committee and served on the Executive Committee. During the past decade, she has held positions on numerous other committees, including Communications and Fund Development. Johnston is a member of the Texas Forest Industries Council and serves on the board of the Texas Association of Business.

Beaudet named Quality Systems vice president

Daniel Beaudet has been named vice president, Quality Systems for ABB Automation Products, Low Voltage Drives, according to Rick Hepperla, senior vice president and general manager of ABB Low Voltage Drives.

Beaudet will be responsible for providing overall leadership to the continued development of quality systems for the drives operation, which manufactures and ships drives to customers throughout North America. He will work closely with the ABB’s business unit, both global and local engineering, operations & commercial functions, to integrate quality into all aspects of the business. ABB Low Voltage Drives is headquartered in New Berlin, Wisconsin.

Beaudet most recently was the director of manufacturing & continuous improvement at Waukesha Engine Dresser in Waukesha, Wisconsin.

Linpac to sell United States paper-making arm

Linpac Group, based in the United Kingdom, has put its United States business, Linpac, Inc. on the block amid speculation that its private equity owners are considering a sale of the UK group.

It is understood that Linpac has hired investment bank UBS to advise on the sale.

Linpac, Inc., located in Georgia, specializes in making corrugated paper. The firm could sell for $100 million.

The move to sell the Georgia business comes as banking sources said Montagu Private Equity, which owns Linpac, may be looking to streamline the group before selling its UK operations.

Nucor to construct special bar quality mill

Nucor Corporation announced that it plans to construct a “special bar quality products” steel mill in the Southern United States with an estimated capacity of 850,000 tons. This facility will produce carbon and alloy rounds and round cornered squares from 3” to 9” for the automotive, heavy equipment and service center markets. Nucor is currently considering several locations. Construction is expected to begin after resolution of site location, regulatory approvals, tax matters and various contracts.

PC Scale chief operating officer retires

John Wondowski, chief operating officer of PC Scale, Inc. announced he will retire after more than twenty years with the company.

Wondowski, one of the founders of PC Scale, helped create their first DOS-based waste and recycling industry software in 1986. From 1986 through 1997 Wondowski installed over 300 scale house software systems for PC Scale. He later became president of the company and then their chief operating officer.

Euro Tech Holdings reports year-end results

Euro Tech Holdings Company Limited reported financial results for the 12-month period ended December 31, 2005.

The Company’s revenues for fiscal year 2005 were approximately $31,250,000 compared to approximately $32,282,000 in the Company’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2004. Despite a small decrease of 3% of revenues, the net income for fiscal year 2005 was approximately $733,000, an approximate 23% increase from fiscal year 2004 net income of approximately $594,000.

MWH opens office in Toronto, Canada

MWH, a provider of environmental, engineering and construction services, has opened an office in Toronto.

Operating under the name MWH Canada, Inc., the office will initially focus on Ontario’s hydroelectric generation development opportunities. An open-ended time and materials contract has been signed with Ontario Power Generation (OPG) for owner’s representative services on current construction works for hydroelectric site rehabilitation. MWH Canada is also pursuing contracts on large-scale hydroelectric redevelopment projects for OPG in northern Ontario.

ARCA wins San Diego Gas & Electric contract

Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. (ARCA) announced that San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E) has awarded ARCA a contract to continue to provide appliance recycling services for the utility’s energy efficiency program, which has been extended through 2008.

Under terms of the 2006-2008 contract, ARCA expects to recycle approximately 17,000 old, inefficient but working refrigerators, freezers and room air conditioners during each year of this three-year contract for SDG&E’s residential and small commercial customers in southern California.

Ballow and Floyd join labor practice law firm

Brent Ballow and Mark Floyd have brought their more than 40 years of combined experience to the law firm of Miller and Martin. Based out of the firm’s Nashville office, Ballow and Floyd join the largest employment and labor law practice group in the state.

Both Ballow and Floyd have an extensive track record in representing waste service employers including Allied Waste, BFI, Stericycle Medical Waste, Waste Connections, and Waste Management. From 1996 through 2000, Floyd served as BFI’s assistant general counsel for Labor and Employee Relations.

American Salvage Pool adds Tiedemann to board

Bill Tiedemann, vice president and general manager for Total Resource Auctions, a Manheim company, has been named to the board of directors for the American Salvage Pool Association (ASPA). As a director on the board, he will contribute to the Association’s mission of promoting an honest and ethical competitive bidding process for total-loss salvaged vehicles, while adhering to all federal, state and local laws, including applicable environmental laws.

JW Aluminum plans to expand in Charleston area

JW Aluminum announced plans to invest $5 million to expand its Mt. Holly operations and will create 18 new jobs in the process.

The company will construct a new aluminum melting facility adjacent to the Berkeley County landfill. This location should enable JW Aluminum to use methane gas generated by the landfill as a green power source.

Ashland completes purchase of Eurocal SAS

Ashland Inc. announced the completion of the purchase of Eurocal SAS water treatment business, operating from Replonge near Lyon in the south of France. The price of the transaction was not disclosed.

The Eurocal business will be integrated into Ashland Water Technologies, a business of Ashland Specialty Chemical, a division of Ashland Inc.

This acquisition follows the company’s recently completed purchase of the Degussa water treatment business, through which it expanded its presence in strong existing markets like Europe and the United States as well as the growth markets of China, Russia and Brazil.

Rock-Tenn Fort Worth facility purchased

Mid America Recycling Company (MAR) purchased Rock-Tenn Converting Company’s paper recovery facility located in Fort Worth, Texas. The Fort Worth facility will operate under the name Vista Fibers.

This is the second Rock-Tenn facility acquired by MAR this year. MAR purchased the Rock-Tenn Dallas facility in January 2006. MAR first expanded its market share in Texas and Louisiana by acquiring Vista Fibers in April 2005.

United Recyclers Group names Michelle Alexander executive director

The Board of Managers of United Recyclers Group (URG) has appointed Michelle Alexander to the position of URG executive director. In this role she will report to the seven members of the Board of Managers who oversee URG.

Alexander started at URG as sales manager, then was promoted to operations manager, a position she held for a number of years.

Alexander was involved in the development of new accreditation standards issued by URG for the automotive recycling industry, the open forum on the URG website, and a successful 2006 URG Training Conference.

Universal Stainless raises tool steel base price

Bridgeville, PA— Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc. announced a 4% base price increase on all tool steel plate products. This price increase will be effective on shipments scheduled on or after July 24, 2006.

Celunol Corp names Carlos Riva CEO

Celunol Corp. has appointed Carlos A. Riva as chief executive officer. Riva will lead Celunol as it commercializes a technology that converts cellulose from widely available biomass sources into ethanol.

A long-time veteran of the international power and energy industries, Riva previously served as executive director of AmecPLC, a construction and engineering company based in the UK, where he was responsible for the company’s operations in the United States and Britain. He also had responsibility for Amec’s oil and gas business strategy.

From 1995 to 2003, Riva served as chief executive officer of InterGen, a Boston-based joint venture between Shell and Bechtel that developed more than 18,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, along with gas storage and pipelines, on six continents.

Commercial Metals acquires Cherokee Supply

Commercial Metals Company (CMD) acquired substantially all of the operating assets of Cherokee Supply. Established in 1998 with facilities in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Little Rock, Arkansas, Cherokee Supply specializes in highway and commercial construction-related products.

The two Cherokee locations will become part of CMC Construction Services and will operate under the name of CMC Cherokee.

Brothers Tom and Charlie Brown, along with their sister Kasey, were the previous owners of Cherokee Supply. Tom and Charlie will continue to manage the businesses in Tulsa and Little Rock, respectively, while Kevin Ruesch will assume area management responsibilities for both locations.

Ashland names leader for newly acquired Degussa

Siegfried Menk has been named vice president, Ashland Specialty Chemical, and general manager, Environmental and Process Solutions (E&PS), the new business name for the former water treatment business of Degussa AG. E&PS is a new business group of Ashland Water Technologies, a business of Ashland Specialty Chemical, a division of Ashland Inc.

Ashland recently announced that it completed its purchase of the water treatment business of Degussa AG. The entire transaction is valued at approximately 122 million.

AF&PA selects Duggan as president and CEO

Juanita D. Duggan has been selected to be AF&PA’s new president and CEO according to Michael E. Case, president and CEO of Gulf States Paper Corporation and the chairman of the Board for the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA). Duggan will assume her duties on October 25, 2006, replacing W. Henson Moore, who announced his intention to retire in 2006.

Duggan is currently the president and CEO of the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America, and has served in that capacity since 1998.

Autocar initiates short-term refuse truck rental

Autocar, LLC outlined a new short-term truck rental program, called Autocar Express Rental. Part of the Autocar Solutions service and support initiative, the rental program will help Autocar’s refuse industry customers.

According to Tom Vatter, Autocar vice president of sales and marketing, “There are many times when refuse haulers need a short-term rental solution to help manage temporary increases in business or to manage situations such as new contracts, purchase delays, or natural disasters.”

The rental program will also support Autocar’s sales and service programs by offering customers a truck to try out prior to purchase and by providing rental trucks to fill in for vehicles being serviced.

Autocar will operate Autocar Express Rental in conjunction with Tampa-based Truck Rental Group.

ADESA, Inc. appoints interim CFO

ADESA, Inc. announced the appointment of Timothy C. Clayton as interim chief financial officer.

Cam Hitchcock, ADESA’s executive vice president and chief financial officer, was appointed president of ADESA Dealer Services Group.

Clayton is the founding principal of Emerging Capital, a specialized management consulting firm providing advisory services in the areas of strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, capital formation, corporate governance and CFO-related activities. He has served as a chief financial officer or as a key advisor to a number of public and private companies, including ADESA.

NRG Energy to acquire Padoma Wind Power

NRG Energy, Inc. has reached a definitive agreement to acquire Padoma Wind Power, LLC, a privately held wind energy development and co-development company for an undisclosed sum. NRG’s acquisition of Padoma is part of “ecoNRG,” the Company’s environmental business effort, targeted at reducing NRG’s environmental footprint.

Padoma currently has three projects under development independently, in addition to over a dozen wind projects which it is developing in conjunction with third parties.

The projects are in nine states and are expected to bring another 1,000 MW of new wind-based generation to market by 2015.

The transaction will be funded with cash on hand and is subject to customary closing conditions. Upon closing, Padoma will maintain its headquarters in La Jolla, California and will operate as a subsidiary of NRG.

Adirondack Plastics & Recycling awarded

Adirondack Plastics & Recycling, Inc. (Adirondack) was recognized by the United States Small Business Administration and Glens Falls National Bank & Trust Company. Adirondack was one of 34 area small businesses acknowledged for their contribution to the local community.

Adirondack is a reprocesser of post-industrial plastic and paper scrap. They also operate three plastic shredding and grinding systems with an hourly capacity of 7,500 pound.

Adirondack is also the recipient of the Adirondack Chamber of Commerce’s 2005 Washington County Small Business Award.

Metech acquires Thailand recycling facility

Metech International announced the acquisition of a recycling facility near Bangkok, Thailand. Located in the Bang Pa-In Hi-Tech Industrial Park in the Ayutthaya Province Export Processing Zone (EPZ) 2, this 30,000 square foot, high-security facility is specifically designed for de-manufacturing and certified destruction of materials and systems from the electronics industry.

The facility is fully permitted by Ministry of Industry of the Kingdom of Thailand, and is currently preparing for ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 14001:2004 Certification.

Casella Waste announces fourth quarter results

Casella Waste Systems, Inc. reported financial results for the fourth quarter and its 2006 fiscal year.

For the quarter ended April 30, 2006, the company reported revenues of $126.5 million, up $10.7 million or 9.2 percent over the same quarter last year. The company’s earnings per common share were $0.07, versus a net loss per share of $0.05 in the same quarter last year.

Operating income for the quarter was $9.6 million, versus $8.5 million in the fourth quarter last year, an increase of 12.9 percent. Cash provided by operating activities in the quarter was $12.6 million. The company’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) were $24.6 million, a seven percent increase over the same quarter last year.

Bennett Environmental acquires Trans-Cycle

Bennett Environmental Inc. announced that a wholly owned subsidiary has finalized the purchase of substantially all of the assets of Trans-Cycle Industries Inc. (TCI), Kirkland Lake, Ontario. The purchase price is $2.150 million, plus or minus working capital to be determined.

The acquisition is expected to contribute $5 - $6 million in annual revenues and 15% - 20% to EBITDA.

This acquisition should assist Bennett Environmental in becoming a leader in Canada in the remediation and recycling of PCB contaminated electrical equipment.

Synagro Technologies adds new board members

Synagro Technologies, Inc. announced that Nolan Lehmann and Roger J. Klatt have been elected to the Company’s Board of Directors and that David Donnini and Vincent J. Hemmer, long time directors of the Company, have resigned from the Company’s Board. Donnini and Hemmer’s departure is part of a planned transition.

Klatt served as executive vice president and chief financial officer of Gundle/SLT Environmental, Inc. (GSE) for eleven years.

Lehmann was president of Equus Capital Management Corporation, a registered investment advisor, and from 1991 to 2005 he was president and a director of Equus II Incorporated, a registered business development company traded on the NYSE. He currently serves as a director for Allied Waste Industries, Inc.