EPA selects Simpson Tacoma Kraft Co. for Environmental Leadership Program pilot project.

TACOMA, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 7, 1995--Simpson Tacoma Kraft Co., a subsidiary of the Seattle-based Simpson Paper Co., announced today that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has selected its Tacoma pulp and paper mill for participation in the agency's pilot phase of its Environmental Leadership Program.

In the Environmental Leadership Program, the EPA will be experimenting in cooperating with members of the regulated community and the states to develop innovative environmental compliance and pollution prevention programs.

EPA Administrator Carol Browner announced the decision to name Simpson Tacoma Kraft Co. as one of 12 Environmental Leadership Program participants at a news conference held today in Washington D.C. with Simpson Tacoma Kraft Co. President Ray Tennison among other senior facility representatives.

At the news conference, EPA announced a year-long Environmental Leadership Program pilot phase to define the requirements of a full-scale Environmental Leadership Program. During the pilot phase, 12 participants from the private and public sectors will conduct pilot projects to test innovative auditing, mentoring and environmental management principles and techniques and to establish public accountability for compliance with existing standards in environmental laws.

Simpson Tacoma Kraft Co.'s Environmental Leadership Program pilot project proposes to focus on five elements: (1) sharing audit information and conducting self-audits; (2) Simpson and EPA and Washington State Department of Ecology personnel exchange; (3) a tiered approach to measuring compliance success; (4) development of a new approach to measure beyond compliance and pollution prevention efforts; and (5) implementation of an "Adopt a Supplier" technique exchange program.

Simpson Tacoma Kraft Co. has appointed David M. McEntee, its environmental services manager, to coordinate the Environmental Leadership Program with EPA and the Washington Department of Ecology.

"Simpson and the EPA hope to use this pilot project as an opportunity to reach environmental protection goals through cooperation and collaboration," said Don Johnson, operations manager at Simpson Tacoma Kraft Co. "We are proud to be the only pulp and paper facility among the 12 Environmental Leadership Program participants. EPA's decision is a vote of confidence in the men and women at Simpson Tacoma Kraft Company who work hard every day to maintain the highest standards of environmental excellence."

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Media Availability: Simpson executives will be available for interviews Monday upon their return from Washington D.C.

CONTACT: John D. Hassell, 206/596-0313 or 206/572-2150