TWENTY-TWO ORGANIZATIONS COMMIT TO ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP

Summary: Georgia Businesses Join P²AD Partnership Program

ATLANTA (August 31, 2005) – The Pollution Prevention Assistance Division (P²AD) has accepted 22 organizations and companies into its environmental leadership program during the third enrollment period. By joining the P²AD Partnership Program, these organizations have made strong commitments to protecting and preserving the environment.

Three state parks, four carpet manufacturing facilities and Zoo Atlanta are among the newest members of the Partnership Program. Two companies, Monsanto-Augusta and Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation, have joined at the Blue Level, the highest and most stringent level of participation.

“P²AD Partners lead the way in implementing sound environmental practices, recognizing that what’s good for the environment can also be good for the bottom line,” said Bob Donaghue, director of P²AD. “The continuing strong response to our Partnership Program underscores the value of performance-based programs such as ours.” The 22 new Partners join 54 others throughout Georgia already committed to environmental leadership through the P²AD Partnership Program.

P²AD Partnership offers a variety of benefits and incentives, including cost savings through increased efficiencies, potential regulatory flexibility, free technical assistance and training, and access to networking and mentoring among peers, state and local officials. The Partnership Program offers four levels of participation, with the entry level for each business or organization based on activities already in place as well as those to be completed during the term of Partnership. Partnership terms range from three years for White, Yellow and Red Levels to unlimited at the Blue Level.

The following companies/organizations were accepted during the spring 2005 enrollment period:

Blue Level – Monsanto – Augusta; Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation

Red Level – Collins & Aikman Floorcoverings; ZF Industries Inc., Gainesville

Yellow Level – American Polycraft Division; Bartow County S.R. 294 Municipal Solid Waste Landfill; Bartow County Sheriff’s Office; Beaulieu Fibers; Beaulieu Fibers-Calhoun; Beaulieu of America – Model Plant; Beaulieu of America-Seretean Plant; Georgia Southwestern State University; Indian Springs State Park; Panola Mountain State Conservation Park; Sweetwater Creek State Conservation Park; Shaw Industries Group, Inc. Plant 13; Shaw Industries Group, Inc. Plant Z; Zoo Atlanta

White Level – CH2MHILL; Dunwoody Nature Center; Georgia Branch, Associated General Contractors; Sustainable Business Partners

Enrollment in the P²AD Partnership Program is open twice a year, from February through April and again from August through October. Additional information and applications are available at www.p2ad.org.

The Pollution Prevention Assistance Division (P²AD) is a non-regulatory division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Since 1993, P²AD has provided free, confidential environmental technical assistance in the areas of pollution prevention, resource conservation, waste reduction, by-product reuse and recycling. In 2004, P²AD established the P²AD Partnership Program to foster environmental leadership and recognize superior environmental performance. The P²AD Partnership Program is free and open to any business or organization that operates in Georgia, and includes four Partnership levels to fit the changing goals and environmental initiative of the participants. For more information about P²AD and the P²AD Partnership Program, visit www.p2ad.org.