Attachment ID – AZ Republic August 5, 2006 Article
6 companies reduce emissions as part of Industry Challenge
Partnership with EPA and county designed to cut down pollution
Michael Clancy
Six south Phoenix companies have reduced air-pollution emissions by more than 9 tons a year after they joined other companies
in a voluntary partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency and Maricopa County .
The 22 companies taking part in the Industry Challenge/Good Neighbor Partnership that reduced emissions were Earl's
Fiberglass, ON Semiconductor, Sanmina-SCI, Schuff Steel Co., Super Radiator Coils and UCSC Inc.
The partnership began in March 2005 and runs through spring 2008. Members hope to reduce routine air emissions of priority
pollutants 20 percent by next year and reduce the number and severity of accidental releases. The companies decided they could
meet a goal of more than 30 percent.
Maricopa County Air Quality Department Director Bob Kard lauded the accomplishment, saying, "This incredible partnership
achieved this goal without any new regulations."
But environmental advocate Steve Brittle of Don't Waste Arizona said that while he applauds any reductions in emissions, other
members of the partnership actually increased emissions.
Additional charter members ChemResearch, National Gypsum, Phoenix Brick Yard, Rinker Materials and Western States
Petroleum Association have also set air-emission-reduction goals and are working to meet those.
Partnership Chairman Trace Terrin of the county Air Quality Department said the effort is especially crucial in south Phoenix , where
industrial areas sit side by side with residential developments.
A fire in 2000 at the Central Garden warehouse and another in 1992 at Quality Printed Circuits both resulted in toxic chemicals
covering the area. He said the companies have worked with each other and with EPA officials to determine how to cut emissions,
plan environmental systems and otherwise reduce the use of dangerous chemicals.
He said the reductions were accomplished for "high priority, high toxicity chemicals like formaldehyde, sulfuric acid,
perchloroethylene and xylene." "This year's results are great news," said Steve Thorne, Environmental Health and Safety Engineer
at Sanmina-SCI and the partnership's co-chairman.
Thorne said his company has taken a stand on pollution and was able to persuade others to get on board for several reasons:
good public relations, the health of employees and neighbors, even a reduction in costs.
"As we started meeting, the other companies started seeing the benefits," he said. "Eleven companies achieved some sort of
reduction in pollutants, while others focused on accident prevention and environmental planning."
Jeff Scott, the EPA's Waste Management Division director for the Pacific Southwest region, said the reductions will help public
health. He pointed out that south Phoenix has a high rate of childhood asthma.
Emission reductions are tracked and reported annually. The Industry Challenge/Good Neighbor Partnership companies will
continue efforts to reduce emissions in 2006 and 2007 and report results to the public.
