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EPA RECOGNIZES FIVE MASSACHUSETTS FACILITIES FOR THEIR WORK TO BECOME ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERS

Release Date: 09/22/1999
Contact Information: Amy Miller, EPA Press Office (617-918-1042)

BOSTON - Five facilities in Massachusetts was among 15 in New England recognized today by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for their demonstrated commitment to environmental leadership.

The facilities recognized as part of EPA-New England's StarTrack program were: EG&G Electro-Optics in Salem; GAF Materials Corp. in Millis; Spalding Sports in Chicopee; Texas Instruments/ Materials &Controls Group in Attleboro and the US Coast Guard Air Station on Cape Cod. The StarTrack program began in 1996 as a way to encourage facilities to become environmentally efficient while making better use of government resources.

The program works by rewarding those facilities that agree to complete three steps aimed at protecting the environment. The facilities agree to: audit their environmental management and compliance performance each year; publish an environmental performance report each year and have audit results reviewed and certified by an independent third party every three years.

By using a third party auditor rather than an EPA inspector, the company helps make more efficient use of public and private resources. The yearly performance reports increase public understanding of a facility's environmental performance. In return for their efforts, StarTrack companies get such benefits as limited amnesty on penalties for violations and public recognition.

"Companies like these in Massachusetts are doing exemplary work developing and monitoring their own environmental systems," said John P. DeVillars, EPA's New England Administrator, who spoke at the event. "That's good for the environment and good for taxpayers because it allows EPA to channel its energies to other, less environmentally responsible companies."

The Massachusetts facilities are:

• EG&G Optoelectronics in Salem, with more than 250 employees, manufactures electro-optic devices for defense and commercial industries.
• GAF Materials Corp. in Millis, with 3,300 employees in the U.S., is one of the oldest manufactures of roofing materials in the country.
• Spalding Sports has 900 employees and is a major sporting goods manufacturer.
• Texas Instruments/ Materials &Controls Group has 4,500 employees and manufactures electronic sensors and controls.
• The US Coast Guard Air Station on Cape Cod which includes an aircraft search and rescue operation and a military housing authority.

In Connecticut: Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. in Stamford; US Postal Service in Hartford and Unilever HPC in Clinton.

In Maine: BOC Gases of Kittery and International Paper Company's Androscoggin Mill of Jay.

In New Hampshire: Dexter Corporation/Polymer Systems in Seabrook; Dexter Corporation/Electronic Materials in Londonderry; Environmental Soil Management Inc. in Loudon; and the Sanders A. Lockheed Martin Co. with plants in Hudson, Nashua, Litchfield, Manchester and Merrimack.

In Rhode Island: Toray Plastic in North Kingston.