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EPA Recognizes 35 New England Facilities at Earth Day Ceremony in Boston

Release Date: 04/22/2003
Contact Information: Peyton Fleming, EPA Press Office, 617-918-1008

BOSTON – In honor of Earth Day, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today recognized the New England members of the National Environmental Performance Track program as part of its 33rd annual Environmental Merit Award ceremony at Boston’s Faneuil Hall.

The 35 New England facilities that are now part of EPA’s National Environmental Performance Track program have voluntarily achieved environmental improvements that go beyond mere compliance. They have publicly committed to improvements and environmental management systems that monitor and strengthen their performance and have agreed to publicly report on their progress.

Specifically, these 35 facilities have committed to a total of 140 environmental improvements over their three years of participation in the program. Among other results, the facilities have reduced solid waste generation by 800,000 pounds, hazardous waste by 960,000 pounds, water use by more than 27 million gallons and energy use by 11.8 million kilowatt hours.

"The Performance Track facilities are leading the way to environmental excellence," said Robert W. Varney, regional administrator for EPA's New England Office. "By partnering with the regulated community, we can achieve environmental progress that goes beyond that which would be achieved through regulation and enforcement alone. We applaud the efforts of these environmental leaders in implementing environmental management systems and committing to continuous improvement. We also challenge other facilities in New England to follow their example."

To qualify for Performance Track, facilities must consistently meet their legal requirements, have implemented environmental management systems to monitor and improve performance, have voluntarily achieved environmental improvements beyond compliance and publicly commit to specific environmental improvements and report on progress. With their membership in Performance Track, members receive a range of incentives such as public recognition and low inspection priority to motivate further improvements. Both privately-owned and public facilities are eligible.

The program, which is implemented on a facility by facility basis, now has more than 300 members, including the following 35 in New England:

In Connecticut:
Clairol, Inc., Stamford, CT; Heating Oil Partners/DDLC Fuels, Danielson, CT; Heating Oil Partners/DDLC Energy, New London, CT; Johnson and Johnson Medical, Southington, CT; The Torrington Company, Watertown, CT; Unilever Home and Personal Care USA, Clinton, CT; United States Postal Service - Hartford Processing and Distribution Center, Hartford, CT; United States Postal Service - Hartford Vehicle Maintenance Facility, Hartford, CT; Valley Oil, Willimantic, CT

In Maine:
Interface Fabrics Group, Guilford Facility, Guilford, ME; International Paper - Androscoggin Mill, Jay, ME; International Paper - Bucksport Mill, Bucksport, ME; United States Postal Service - Portland Processing and Distribution Center, Portland, ME

In Massachusetts:
Precix, Inc., New Bedford, MA; Skanska USA Building Inc., New England Division, Boston, MA; DePuy, A Johnson and Johnson Company, New Bedford and Raynham, MA; Gillette Andover Manufacturing Center, Andover, MA; Ethicon - Mitek East, A Johnson and Johnson Company, Norwood, MA; Oil Express, East Falmouth, MA; PerkinElmer Optoelectronics, Salem, MA; Shipley Company, Marlborough, MA; Snap-On Tools, Natick, MA; Spalding Sports, Chicopee, MA; Teradyne (Building 1), North Reading, MA; Texas Instruments-Sensors & Controls, Attleboro, MA; USGen New England (multiple small hydro facilities in MA); U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, ASCC, MA

In New Hampshire:
BAE Systems - Information and Electronic Systems Integration, Inc., (several locations in NH); Inert Corporation, Newfields, NH; Heidelberg Web Systems, Dover, NH; Henkel Loctite, Seabrook, NH; New Hampshire Ball Bearings, Peterborough, NH; USGen New England (multiple small hydro facilities in NH)

In Rhode Island:
Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Newport, Newport, RI

In Vermont:
IBM Corporation, Essex Junction, VT; USGen New England (multiple small hydro facilities in VT)