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Lufkin Industries Joins Pollution Reduction Program

Release Date: 10/10/2006
Contact Information: Dave Bary or Tressa Tillman at 214-665-2200 or r6press@epa.gov

(Dallas, Texas – October 10, 2006) Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) marked Lufkin Industries, Inc.’s entry into a national voluntary pollution reduction program. The company pledges to reduce the use of mercury, to recycle mercury found in spent lamps and to replace existing paints and solvents with more environmentally-friendly coatings, for an overall reduction of more than 50 tons of hazardous chemicals.

“Texas companies continue to excel in implementing smart environmental strategies,” EPA Regional Administrator Richard E. Greene said. “By joining this program, Lufkin Industries is going beyond the regulatory requirements to protect the environment and showing good economic sense.”

Three of Lufkin Industries’ facilities have joined the National Partnership for Environmental Priorities, a voluntary program in which private and public organizations work with EPA to reduce the use or release of 31 priority chemicals beyond regulatory requirements. Many of these chemicals are long-lasting substances that can build up in the food chain and harm humans and the ecosystem. The facilities include the Trailer and Oilfield Division, the Gear Repair Facility and the Foundry and Power Transmission Division, all located in Lufkin.

“We are not only the first foundry to become a partner in Texas, but also one of the first heavy manufacturers in this program,” Lufkin Industries spokesman and Vice-President Paul Perez said. “Our plan is to continue trying to identify other areas where we can reduce the use of hazardous chemicals in our manufacturing processes.”

Many fluorescent and high intensity lamps on the market today are considered hazardous waste once they are used because of their mercury content. Lufkin Industries entered the National Partnership for Environmental Priorities by pledging to continue purchasing only non-hazardous lamps at all its facilities, and to recycle spent mercury-laden lamps in lieu of disposing of them as industrial hazardous waste. In addition, Lufkin Industries worked with paint suppliers to formulate new environmentally friendly paints and solvents. These efforts are part of the continuing environmental improvement processes employed by Lufkin Industries.

More information about the company’s pollution reduction pledges and the National Partnership for Environmental Priorities is available at https://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/minimize/partnership.htm.