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Maine Boat Builder Makes Positive Environmental Commitments

Release Date: 03/09/2007
Contact Information: Dave Deegan (617) 918-1017

(Boston, Mass. - March 9, 2007) – A builder of custom yachts in Thomaston, Maine is continuing to make significant commitments to a cleaner environment by reducing energy use and hazardous waste generation in its boat production.

Lyman Morse Boat Building of Thomaston, Maine has joined EPA’s National Environmental Performance Track -- a partnership program recognizing facilities that set three-year goals for continuous improvements in environmental performance beyond their legal requirements. Performance Track members must have internal systems in place to manage their environmental impacts, and publicly report results.

The builder of custom yachts, Lyman Morse Boat Building has committed to meet the EPA’s New England Energy Challenge by reducing energy use by 11 percent, reducing styrene emissions by 42 percent and reducing all hazardous waste generation by 10 percent all between 2006 and 2009. They have demonstrated their commitment to environmental stewardship in the past by reducing hazardous waste by an impressive 22 percent between 2003 and 2005.

The Maine yacht builder joins four other new Performance Track members making positive commitments in New England. Overall, there are 46 companies that have made Performance Track part of how they do business in New England.

“EPA applauds the significant commitments made by these New England businesses to a cleaner and healthier environment,” said Robert W. Varney, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office. “Because these facilities have strong environmental records and are willing to publicly commit to continuously improve their environmental performance, they are making a real difference.”

Since the 2000 inception of this facility-based rather than company-based program, Performance Track membership has grown to 470 members in 46 states and Puerto Rico, and those members have made 1,500 commitments to benefit the environment in both regulated and unregulated areas. To date, Performance Track members have collectively reduced their water use by 3.5 billion gallons, reduced their greenhouse gas emissions by 88,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, and conserved more than 14,000 acres of land while helping to protect their local and national environment.

Forty-seven of the new members have committed to reduce their waste generation over the next three years; 37 facilities plan to reduce energy use; 25 facilities pledge to reduce their water use; and 17 facilities have committed to reduce their air emissions. Sixteen have committed to focus on EPA-defined regional and national environmental priorities.


More Information:

EPA’s Environmental Performance Track program in New England:
(epa.gov/ne/ems/performtrack.html)

New Performance Track members:
(epa.gov/performancetrack/round13PTFacilities.htm)