Attachment IC – AZ Republic March 25, 2005 Opinion Article by Bob Kard, MCAQD Director
Industry Challenge/Good Neighbor not a 'turf war'
Opinions Bob Kard, Director, Maricopa County Air Quality Department
Regarding the March 11 article "17 firms sign pact to slash emissions"
I was pleased The Arizona Republic covered the launch of the Industry Challenge/Good Neighbor (IC/GN) Partnership in south
Phoenix . Yet I was surprised by the portrayal of the IC/GN Partnership as a "turf battle" going on among federal agencies, citizens,
and state and local government in south Phoenix . This is simply not the case. The IC/GN Partnership is just that, a partnership.
Industry, the federal Environmental Protection Agency and Maricopa County Air Quality Department are working together in support
of the partnership.
The article failed to highlight the fact that a local citizen group made a key recommendation to seek voluntary emission reductions
from industry in south Phoenix and that has become one of the goals of the Industry Challenge/Good Neighbor Partnership. The
partnership clearly supports the community's efforts by working toward the same goal of reduced emissions. The Industry
Challenge/ Good Neighbor Partnership is a voluntary effort to achieve emission reductions and safety improvements in a
neighborhood in which industry and community live side by side.
It is unfortunate that The Arizona Republic chose a misleading negative approach to this story. Rather than celebrate the positive
aspects of the IC/GN Partnership - industry, government regulators and citizens coming together to make a difference in the
community - the article depicted a "turf battle" that "won't necessarily cut the absolute amount of emissions."
In the way of history, on March 8, the Industry Challenge/Good Neighbor Partnership was launched at Goodrich Aircraft Interior
Products in south Phoenix . This event was the culmination of many months of efforts to gain a mutual understanding of each
other's goals and to develop trust among what may be viewed as unlikely partners.
The partnership is designed to reduce air-pollutant emissions, prevent accidental releases of chemicals and benefit the
community through the building of collaborative relationships one partner at a time in south Phoenix .
The Environmental Protection Agency has provided funding for training and workshops and, to date 17 "Industry Partners" have
taken the unprecedented step of signing a voluntary agreement to reduce air pollution and accidental releases. Industry partners
with excellent environmental records will be encouraged to share their best practices, procedures and experiences with others to
promote improvements for all of industry.
On my second day as the director of Maricopa County 's Air Quality Department, I had the pleasure of witnessing these companies
voluntarily signing an agreement to improve the air quality beyond what we, as regulators, can require.
I would like to congratulate our 17 industry partners who became "charter members" of the partnership. Their willingness to make
the air easier to breathe and our lives safer is a model of good business behavior and corporate responsibility. I, too, signed the
agreement because it gives me great pride to know that Maricopa County has been a part of the development of this partnership
and we support it wholeheartedly.
That said, I challenge others to do the right thing by joining and supporting the Industry Challenge/Good Neighbor Partnership.
Bob Kard is director of the Maricopa County Air Quality Department.
