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Facilities in Andover Mass. and Bucksport Maine Join EPA's National Performance Track Deadline for New Applications April 30

Release Date: 03/24/2003
Contact Information: Peyton Fleming, EPA Press Office, 617-918-1008

BOSTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced that the Gillette Andover Manufacturing Center in Andover, Mass. and the International Paper Company Bucksport Mill in Bucksport, Maine have joined EPA's National Environmental Performance Track program. Performance Track is a voluntary partnership program that recognizes and encourages top environmental performers that go beyond compliance with environmental regulations and commit to continuous environmental improvement. The program, which is implemented on a facility by facility basis, now has more than 300 members including 35 in New England.

"Gillette and International Paper are leading the way to environmental excellence while saving money and improving their productivity," said Robert W. Varney, regional administrator for EPA's New England Office. "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."

"By partnering with the regulated community, we can achieve environmental progress that goes beyond that which would be achieved through regulation and enforcement alone," added Varney. "I encourage other New England facilities to learn more about Performance Track and to consider applying during the current application period, which runs through April 30."

International Paper's Bucksport Mill manufactures lightweight coated paper for use in magazines, catalogs and other publications. Through capital investment, innovative management, and material substitution, the mill has dramatically reduced use of toxic materials, generation of solid and hazardous waste, and air and water emissions (75 percent improvement in major air pollutants, for example). For its voluntary efforts, the Bucksport mill received environmental awards from Maine's Governor and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection in 2001 and 2002. Between 1999 and 2001, the facility reduced sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions from 3,316 tons annually to 975 tons annually, and has committed to further reducing its SO2 emissions to 650 tons annually by 2005. During the same time period, nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions dropped from 1,687 tons annually to 625 tons annually, with a commitment to further reducing its NOx emissions to 470 tons annually by 2005.

The Gillette Andover Manufacturing Center produces personal care products for the Boston-based company. The Andover facility has been a long time participant in EPA's Green Lights Program and is a charter member of NBEN (Northeast Business Environmental Network). Between 1999 and 2002, the facility reduced emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from 0.24 tons annually to 0.16 tons annually, and between 2000 and 2002, it reduced total energy use from 19.4 million kilowatt-hours annually to 18.6 million annually. Gillette has committed to reducing total water use from 316,000 gallons annually to 303,000 gallons annually by 2005, a savings of nearly 10 percent, and has committed to reducing NOx emissions from 16.2 tons annually to 13.0 tons annually.

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.

Nationwide, Performance Track facilities have committed to lowering emissions of greenhouse gases by 26 million pounds; reducing emissions of volatile organic compounds by 98,000 pounds; reducing solid waste by 225 million pounds; and recycling or reusing more than five million pounds of materials.

More information is available on EPA's Performance Track website: https://www.epa.gov/performancetrack. Interested facilities may also contact EPA New England's Performance Track Coordinator, Martha Curran, at (617) 918-1802 or curran.martha@epa.gov.

The New England members of Performance Track are:

In Connecticut:
Clairol, Inc., Stamford, CT; Heating Oil Partners/DDLC Fuels, Danielson, CT; Heating Oil Partners/DDLC Energy, New London, CT; J&J Medical, Southington, CT; The Torrington Company, Watertown, CT; Unilever, 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:
Guilford of Maine, 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 Orthopaedics, New Bedford, MA; DePuy Orthopaedics, Raynham, MA; Gillette Andover Manufacturing Center, Andover, MA; Mitek East/Ethicon, 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)