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U.S. EPA, DEQ ANNOUNCE PARTICIPANTS IN LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

Release Date: 4/17/1995
Contact Information: Lois A. Grunwald, U.S. EPA, (415) 744-1588

  (San Francisco)-- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(U.S. EPA) and the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
(ADEQ) today announced that two Arizona utilities have been
selected to undertake pilot projects focusing on pollution
prevention under the U.S. EPA's new Environmental Leadership
Program (ELP).

     The utilities are the Salt River Project and the Arizona
Public Service Co.

     "What we want to achieve -- and what this program
exemplifies -- is the potential for a new relationship between
environmental regulators and industry which will result in less
regulatory oversight of industry and increased protection of
public health and the environment," said John Wise, U.S. EPA's
deputy regional administrator.

     U.S. EPA is establishing the ELP to recognize those willing
to develop innovative approaches that will result in moving
beyond simple compliance with environmental laws.

     "With two of the twelve participating companies from Arizona
it is clear that our state is in the forefront of a new and
beneficial relationship between government and industry, a
partnership that is working to secure even greater protection of
the environment we all must share. We are gratified by the
endorsement of the Environmental Protection Agency," said Ed Fox,
Arizona's Department of Environmental Quality's director.

      The Salt River Project and Arizona Public Service Co. will
develop pilot projects which recognize this expanded role by
testing innovative environmental management systems, holistic
assessments and disclosures at their facilities. The
Environmental Leadership Program encourages industry to take
greater responsibility for self-monitoring of their facilities
and reporting any violations to environmental regulators. The
goal of this program is to create a new relationship between
environmental regulators and industry which fosters environmental
leadership.  Pilot project participants will be given a limited
period of time to correct any violations.  
   
    "We are pleased that U.S. EPA has decided to recognize SRP
as a leader in developing successful environmental management
systems," said Dick Hayslip, SRP's environmental, land and risk
management department manager.  "This is a fitting reward for
SRP's employees who contribute significantly to our success in
protecting the environment while providing quality service to a
rapidly-growing customer base."

     "Our company believes that good, solid environment
management enhances our long-term competitive position," said
Dick MacLean, Vice President of Environmental, Health and Safety
for APS.  "This effort not only helps protect the environment, it
fits well with our corporate business strategy."

      The Arizona projects are two of 12 pilot projects that have
been selected nationwide to participate in the Environmental
Leadership Program. U.S. EPA is developing the ELP program in
cooperation with state agencies, which have participated in the
review and selection of participants. U.S. EPA expects the pilot
phase to last about a year after which the results will be
evaluated.

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