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EPA recognizes environmental leaders in South Dakota

Release Date: 05/23/2007
Contact Information: Gail Franklin, 303-312-6497, [email protected]; Kim Smith, SD DENR, 605-773-3152, [email protected]

(Denver, Colo. -- May 23, 2007) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 8 Administrator, Robert E. Roberts, was in Pierre today at the Capitol Lake Visitor's Center to present Environmental Achievement Awards to representatives from 3M Brookings, Homestake Mining Company and the South Dakota Grasslands Management and Planning Project sponsors.

"The organizations receiving these awards have applied the highest standards of leadership by demonstrating creativity and taking innovative actions for the environment," said Roberts. "Their selection for this significant recognition attests to the environmental contributions they have made here in South Dakota."

The 3M facility in Brookings is recognized for implementing more than 100 Pollution Prevention Pays projects that eliminated 2,550 tons of volatile organic compound air emissions, 5 tons of water usage, 3,636 tons of solid waste, 31,000 tons of hazardous waste and 34.1 million British thermal units of energy use since 1995.

Homestake Mining Company is recognized for voluntarily investigating and properly closing more than 200 old, abandoned adits in the Lead/Deadwood area. These adits commonly serve as conduits for groundwater and surface water contamination from acid mine drainage, illegal waste disposal and human/animal entry into unsafe confined spaces. During the closure process, they also ensured that important bat habitats were preserved.

The South Dakota Grasslands Management and Planning Project is recognized for outstanding leadership in providing livestock producers information and technical assistance necessary for them to voluntarily adopt grazing practices which reduced non-point source pollution in the State of South Dakota.

All three projects were nominated for this award by the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources. EPA Region 8 presents Environmental Achievement Awards in four categories to individuals and groups. This award recognizes significant achievements in the protection of public health or the environment and in advancing the Agency’s strategic goals. Among the criteria is an outstanding contribution to environmental protection through a single action, or by an ongoing action over an appreciable period of time.