Airgas' Peter Mccausland Nominated for EPA Award.

Business Editors/Hi-Tech Writers

RADNOR, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 28, 2000

Airgas, Inc. (NYSE:ARG) is proud to announce that Peter McCausland, chairman and chief executive officer, was recently nominated to receive the Environmental Protection Agency's 2000 Stratospheric Ozone Protection Award. He was cited for his "great achievement in stratospheric ozone protection" and "inspiration to others in the search for solutions to global environmental problems" in an August 29, 2000 letter from Norma Hughes, a Director at the EPA.

"As a distributor of packaged gases, we have a responsibility to ensure that our products are safe for the customer and the environment", commented Mr. McCausland. "Airgas is committed to social benefit through corporate activism."

Airgas has emerged as a leader on the issue of mandating returnable cylinders for refrigerant gases. Last October, Mr. McCausland addressed the annual Earth Technologies Forum in Washington D.C., where he advanced the environmental and business merits of the proposed EPA mandate before top government officials, industry representatives, and environmental advocates. Disposable cylinders pose substantial environmental risks through illegal disposal practices and residual gas leakage. These cylinders have already been banned in Canada, and are experiencing similar groundswell opposition in Europe. Mr. McCausland advised, "We have invested significant capital in our fleet of returnable cylinders and currently offer this container option to all refrigerant gas customers. The returnable cylinders allow us to recover and recycle the residual gas at our facilities and prevent its release into the ozone."

The final EPA decision on the refillable cylinder mandate is contingent upon the results of an independent study currently underway to assess the need and viability of the proposed system. "Regardless of the outcome," remarked Mr. McCausland, "Airgas will continue to promote usage of these cylinders."

Airgas, Inc. is the largest distributor of industrial, medical and specialty gases and related equipment and one of the largest distributors of safety supplies in the United States. Airgas' integrated distributor network consists of approximately 700 locations, including branches, packaged gas fill plants, distribution centers, and inbound and outbound telemarketing operations. Airgas can be visited on the Internet at www.airgas.com.