Press Room
Oregon's Department of Environmental Quality Grants Nation's First Green Permit to LP's Hines, Oregon, Plant
Friday, December 8, 2000
News Release No: 130-12-0
Contact:
Kelly Stoner (LP Media Relations)
503-821-5281
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2000
Oregon's Department of Environmental Quality Grants Nation's First Green Permit to LP's Hines, Oregon, Plant
PORTLAND, Ore.?Louisiana-Pacific Corporation (NYSE: LPX) announced today that its Hines, Oregon, engineered wood products plant has received Oregon's Department of Environmental Quality's Green Permit, the first of its kind issued in the nation. LP's Hines plant is one of only two facilities to meet the strict requirements of the Green Permits Program.
The Oregon DEQ adopted the Green Permits Program in August 1999. Participating companies must have or develop environmental management systems and stakeholder involvement plans that outline how the company will reduce pollution, make better use of natural resources and make operational changes that will result in positive environmental impacts.
Several other states, including Wisconsin, California, Texas and North Carolina, are considering similar cooperative, results-oriented approaches to environmental regulation.
"LP is committed to continually improving its environmental performance," said Elizabeth Smith, LP's director of environmental affairs. "The work done at our Hines plant is representative of the company's efforts throughout all its operations. Our Hines plant is one of LP's first facilities to fully implement our company's environmental management system."
Smith noted that the company's environmental management system, or EMS is geared toward enabling facilities to meet or exceed environmental laws. Facilities employing the EMS are required to educate employees on their roles in minimizing environmental impacts and solicit community interaction with its operations. All of LP's 82 manufacturing facilities either employ or are implementing the EMS.
Among its environmental accomplishments, LP's Hines facility has kept air emissions to only 10 percent of the total annual levels allowed by its Oregon DEQ air permit, generated more than $90,000 each year through its planer shavings recycling effort and set up a community advisory council.
"While a relationship with environmental agencies may have been considered adversarial in the past, we view the transparent nature of our interaction with DEQ, environmental groups and our community as positive," said Jim Campbell, plant manager for LP's Hines facility. "Our employees take great pride in exceeding expectations, not only in environmental stewardship, but also in safety and production."
LP is a premier supplier of building materials, delivering innovative, high-quality commodity and specialty products to its rapidly growing retail, wholesale, homebuilding and industrial customers. Visit LP's website at: www.lpcorp.com.