Argent Consulting Services Inc. Introduces Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure Solution Process.

Business Editors

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 21, 2003

Argent Consulting Services Inc. introduces proven delivery process to meet new Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) requirements. On Jan. 9, 2003, the EPA granted a 60-day extension on SPCC Plans to be developed or amended by April 17, 2003. These requirements apply to owners and operators of non-transportation related facilities engaged in the drilling, producing, gathering, storing, processing, refining, transferring, distributing, use or consuming of oil and oil products if they could reasonably be expected to discharge harmful quantities of oil into navigable waters of the U.S. and meet certain criteria.

Argent Consulting Services Inc. has 10 years experience focusing on environment consulting dedicated to regulatory compliance and has developed a time-efficient delivery process for customers required to meet this planning deadline. Environmental experience and understanding of customer needs and the urgency by which SPCC planning must be met has led Argent to create an efficient timeline to guide customers through the compliance process. "They (Argent) have worked with our industry for many years and the product they have put together has made me believe that they understand the reality of our world better than any other service provider." said Bill Janacek, Pinnacle Natural Gas Company's, project director.

Additional EPA guidelines under the final rule published on July 17, 2002, states facilities subject to the new SPCC requirements had to develop a plan or amend an existing plan no later than Feb. 16, 2003, and were required to implement the plan within six months after plan certification or re-certification and no later than Aug. 18, 2003. On Jan. 9, 2003, EPA granted a 60-day extension to those dates. Under this extension, plans must be developed or amended by April 17, 2003 and implemented no later than Oct. 18, 2003. EPA also announced a proposed 1-year extension. If approved, the new deadline for amending existing SPCC Plans to comply with the new rule would be Feb. 17, 2004 and the deadline for implementing revised plans would be Aug. 18, 2004.

Argent Consulting Services Inc. was established in Houston, in 1993 and focuses on environmental consulting dedicated to regulatory compliance. Argent services include expertise in Air, water, hazardous and industrial waste, emergency planning and Community Right-To-Know, Radio Frequency Radiation and health and safety planning.

Additional information on meeting SPCC Plan requirements can be found at: http://www.argentinc.com or to contact Argent Consulting Services Inc. directly, send an inquiry to [e-mail] .

The statements contained in this press release that are not historical, may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are typically identified by words or phrases such as "believes" "expects," "anticipates," "plans," "estimates," " approximately," "intend," and other similar words and phrases, or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "should," "could," and "may." Such forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events, but are subject to many risks and uncertainties, which could cause the actual results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the Company's ability to market its products; the Company's ability to obtain additional products. Although we believe that our expectations are based on reasonable performance and necessarily are subject to risks, uncertainties, and a number of other important factors, many of which are outside of the control of Argent, forward-looking statements.