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News Release Office of the Governor State House, Providence, RI 02903 RI Department of Environmental Management 235 Promenade St., Providence, RI 02908
ALMOND PRESENTS POLLUTION PREVENTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP AWARDS The six award recipients are S&A/Paramount Printing, Lincoln, Award for Excellence in Pollution Prevention; General Dynamics/Electric Boat, North Kingstown and The Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Newport, Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Pollution Prevention; Mr. Harold Gadon, Cranston, Award for Excellence in Environmental Leadership; and Tytex, Inc., Woonsocket and the Community College of Rhode Island, Lincoln/Warwick/Providence, Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Environmental Leadership. "By joining forces with the Narragansett Bay Commission, the University of Rhode Island, the Environmental Protection Agency and a host of organizations, our Department of Environmental Management has come a long way in addressing pollution prevention," said Almond. "I applaud all the companies we honor today for their commitment to sound environmental management practices that are designed to curb pollution before it begins." "Pollution prevention is good for human health and the environment, and it makes good business sense as well," said Reitsma. "Companies can save money on their costs for raw materials, waste treatment and disposal, reduce their regulatory burdens and permit fees, and at the same time improve their employees' work environment." Robert W. Varney, the newly appointed regional administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), also announced at the ceremony that a total of $125,000 in EPA grants has been awarded for two pollution prevention projects in Rhode Island. "Rhode Island's metal finishers and other businesses have made huge progress in recent years cutting pollution in their operations and these grants today will further those efforts," said Varney. "These pollution prevention activities are a major reason why Narragansett Bay is so much cleaner today and why additional improvements are expected down the road." The University of Rhode Island's Center for Pollution Prevention will receive $75,000 to develop a certification program for the state's autobody industry. The project will involve designing a curriculum to help auto refinishing businesses understand and comply with environmental and health/safety regulations, and allow businesses to become certified with this training. The Narragansett Bay Commission will receive $50,000 to conduct pollution prevention audits of metal finishing companies within its servicing area. Follow-up audits will be conducted to assist companies with implementing suggested pollution prevention activities. The Governor's Awards were created in 1991 by the DEM, in partnership with the Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce, to recognize public and private organizations, businesses and individuals that have implemented pollution prevention within their daily operations. Pollution prevention is characterized by use of materials, processes, or practices that reduce or eliminate the creation of pollutants at a source before it reaches the environment. The award recipients were selected by Department of Environmental Management each year in coordination with National Pollution Prevention Week which, this year, runs from September 17 through 23. -30- |
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rev. 3/1/07