DEP’s Air Division Recognizes Industry’s Environmental Stewardship by the City of Tallahassee

--Partnership for Ecosystem Protection (PEP)--

TALLAHASSEE - The Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Air Resource Management announced today that it recognized three industry facilities for their exemplary performance in environmental stewardship as partners in the Partnership for Ecosystem Protection (PEP) Program. Representatives of the winning facilities were presented distinctive awards during a ceremony held at the Double Tree Hotel in Cocoa Beach on October 3, during the Division’s statewide Annual Air Meeting. The awards recognized pollution prevention realized during calendar year 2000.

The City of Tallahassee was awarded First Place for voluntarily accepting a facility-wide emissions cap for the Sam O. Purdum Generating Station which led to the early retirement of two steam generating units. These units were the oldest and least efficient still operated by the city. The retirement of these units led to a significant reduction in nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, and carbon dioxide. The City of Tallahassee also included pollution prevention activities through their corn hydroelectric dam, solid waste recycling program, natural gas vehicles, co-sponsorship of electric vehicle recharging area, solar power heating panel, and an adopt-a-tree program. Jennette Curtis, the City of Tallahassee’s Environmental Director, accepted the award on the city’s behalf.

Second Place was awarded to Florida Power and Light Company’s Fort Myers Plant and Third Place was awarded to Vought Aircraft Industries, formerly Northrop Grumman.

PEP is an incentives-based recognition program developed by the Division to enhance the department's ability to encourage, promote and reward facilities in Florida through appropriate recognition of their commitment toward pollution prevention and environmental stewardship. Companies that become PEP partners must be in compliance with all air, water, and waste regulations, have a good environmental compliance history and implement pollution prevention activities above and beyond regulatory requirements. Currently, the program includes fourteen facility partnerships.