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Three Virginia Businesses Get National Recognition for Environmental Stewardship

Release Date: 05/31/2007
Contact Information: Bonnie Smith, 215-814-5543

PHILADELPHIA (May 31, 2007)--The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has selected International Paper of Franklin, DuPont Spruance Plant of Richmond, and Lockheed Martin of Manassas to receive a top honor for their extraordinary environmental outreach efforts.

“I applaud these three Virginia performance track partners who willingly go beyond mandated environmental requirements - - proving that doing what’s good for the environment is also good for the bottom line,” said EPA mid-Atlantic regional administrator Donald S. Welsh.

EPA’s performance track program encourages facilities with strong environmental records to go above and beyond their legal requirements. Members, who include major corporations, small businesses and public facilities, set measurable goals to improve the quality of our nation’s air, water and land. Since June 2000, Performance Track membership has grown to 450 facilities in 46 states and Puerto Rico, with members making more than 1,500 commitments to the environment.

With the Performance Track Awards, EPA recognizes companies for exemplary environmental stewardship. International Paper, Dupont Spruance Plant and Lockheed Martin comprise the Virginia Performance Track group. They have promoted performance track within and outside their organizations. Each facility has at least one sister facility in performance track that applied for membership on the strength of the group’s outreach efforts. In addition, through a collaborative effort with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), the group expanded its outreach efforts to DEQ facilities throughout the state, as well as to joint state advisory boards. The successful outreach efforts resulted in several local government agencies beginning the process of working towards performance track membership.

EPA encourages facilities to apply for membership. For more information, visit epa.gov/performancetrack/index.htm.

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