Governor's Economic and Environmental Leadership Award

For Immediate Release (C-38-96)
Contact: Communications Office (916) 324-9670
October 23, 1996

555 Capitol Mall, Suite 525
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 324-9670
FAX (916) 445-5563

Sacramento  Nine winners of the prestigious 1996 Governor's Economic and Environmenta Leadership Award were announced today at a ceremony in the Governor's Office.

"These winners, through their outstanding work, have proven Governor Wilson's principle that economic and environmental progress must be achieved together.  California has established the nation's highest environmental standards and today's winners have responded with innovative strategies to advance our state's environmental leadership," California Secretary for Environmental Protection James M. Strock said.

"For six years Governor Wilson has demonstrated the success and the importance of integrating the objectives of sound natural resource management and of economic growth," said Secretary for Resources Doug Wheeler.  "Today's recipients embody Governor Wilson's vision of economic and environmental leadership.  By creating partnerships between the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, and by seeking cooperative solutions to complex challenges, these individuals and organizations have made California a much better place to  live and work."

The winners, listed with their projects and their categories are:

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

Lockheed Martin Skunk Works (Palmdale) - Through sound environmental management,   LMSW has among other accomplishments reduced toxic chemical emissions 97 percent   during the past ten years and has completely eliminated the production use of ozone depleting chemicals.

Allegiance Healthcare (Hayward) - By incorporating environmental values into the core of its
operations, Allegiance Healthcare has reduced its landfill waste stream by 54 percent and
reduced the use of corrugated material in its own packaging by 67 percent.

ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION AND REHABILITATION

Kaiser Ventures, Inc. (Ontario) - Kaiser Ventures is converting 460 acres of a once proposed Superfund site deemed "too contaminated to use" into The California Speedway which promises to annually generate $125 million in economic activity for the Inland Empire.

Westlake Farms, Inc. (Stratford) - Their Demonstration Wetlands Project, in conjunction with state and federal agencies, is using environmentally sensitive and economically affordable ways to dispose of agricultural wastewater.                                   

ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIPS

City of Berkeley, Office of Economic Development - Berkeley's Environmental Economy Program seeks to establish a regional economic center - a "Green Valley" akin to the Silicon Valley - by using public/private partnerships to promote environmentally related businesses and practices.

Santa Barbara Air Pollution Control District - Their Clean Fuels and Energy Program coordinates the development, testing and application of clean air technologies - such as alternative fuel vehicles, natural gas fueling stations and clean commuter buses - using $5 million in seed money from energy companies and $25 million in additional funds without increasing district fees.

Metropolitan Water District of Southern California - The Lake Mathews Conservation Plan, developed under the state's Natural Community Conservation Planning pilot program, incorporates the goals of sound natural resource management with those of sustainable development for more than 12,000 acres of diverse habitat in Riverside County.

INNOVATION

Eco-Scrap, Inc. (Brea) - This private company has developed a full service program to help both small and large businesses obtain emissions reductions credits by retiring more than 1500 high emissions vehicles during the last twelve months.

Safety-Kleen Corporation (Sacramento) - Safety-Kleen is the world's largest recycler of used solvents whose new Cyclonics Parts Cleaner has reduced generation of 1.3 million gallons of hazardous waste each year by re-using a higher flashpoint solvent in its cleaning process.

For more information about these projects, contact (916) 324-9670.

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