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October 18, 2007

Local man blows the whistle on pipe used in border fence

By Herald Business Editor Michael Roknick and The Associated Press

Members of Congress’ steel caucus said they were alarmed to learn that pipes made in China have been used in the construction of the U.S.-Mexico border fence.

U.S. Rep. Phil English, Erie, R-3rd District, said Thursday at a Capitol Hill news conference that he found out about it when he was given a photo apparently taken in San Luis, Ariz., that shows black piping used as a fence post with “China” written on it in white letters.

It turns out local steelworker, Mickey Bolt of Transfer, came up with the photo.

Declining to say how he came to possess the photo, Bolt said he couldn’t understand how Chinese pipe could be used in a U.S. fence. A 31-year veteran of Wheatland Tube Co. being squeezed by a flood of Chinese pipe imports, Bolt said this purchase hurts the most.

“The contractor submitted the price based on using foreign material and was just hoping that the government wouldn’t check closely,’’ he said. “If government inspectors couldn’t see this, then they must need a seeing-eye dog.’’

Bill Kerins, vice president of Wheatland Tube, said he saw the photo and couldn’t tell if Wheatland Tube made the size of pipe required for the fence.

“But if we didn’t make it, our sister company Atlas Tube could make it,’’ Kerins said. “Between us and Atlas we certainly could have supplied the product and there are other domestic producers who could as well. It (the contract) certainly should go to some domestic producer.’’

When English saw the photo last month he confirmed through sources at the Department of Homeland Security that Chinese pipe was being used on the project. Homeland Security is the agency responsible for overseeing construction of the border fence.

“At a time when pipe and tube plants in my district are being shuttered, it is outrageous that the tax dollars of those people are going to put Chinese pipe into an American fence that I think a big part of the public supports,” English said. “It will take more than a coat of white wash to clear away this outrageous mistake.’’

Fencing in the photo was located in western San Luis, where about 60 of more than 700 posts were marked as being made in China, English said. At a news conference in Washington, a bipartisan group of House lawmakers representing the Steel Caucus said they invited Michael Chertoff, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, to testify on the use of Chinese pipe during a related hearing about Chinese pipe products scheduled for Oct. 31. It wasn’t known if he would testify.

“By not purchasing American-made products, the federal government sends the wrong message to American businesses and workers,’’ said U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire, McCandless, D-4th District. “Instead, our federal government should put American companies and their workers first.’’ His district covers the Pittsburgh suburbs and runs north to Farrell.

Congress has authorized $1.2 billion to put up 700 miles of fencing along the border.

On temporary loan from his job at Wheatland Tube, Bolt is working for ReUNION, an organization composed of steel producers and the United Steelworkers promoting American-made steel products. He wonders if anyone in the federal government will listen to their voices.

Bolt was on hand when Wheatland Tube had to close its Sharon pipe plant a year ago. The company cited an avalanche of dumped Chinese pipe imports as the main culprit.

“It’s a shame you don’t have the government looking out for American industry and the American worker,’’ he said.

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