Press Release
Aug. 20, 2001
Immediate Release
Contact: Diana Kees, (919) 715-6515
Distribution: Targeted
DENR Secretary to Commend Town of Gastonia
for its Environmental Stewardship
| What |
DENR Secretary William G. Ross Jr. will tour the Town of Gastonia’s Long Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant from 11 – 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday to learn more about the town’s environmental management system (EMS), which this summer became North Carolina’s first public agency to certify its environmental management system (EMS) to the voluntary ISO 14001 standard. Following the tour, Ross will meet with the Town of Gastonia’s mayor, several city council members, and members of the town’s wastewater treatment department staff at a luncheon to congratulate Gastonia on its proactive environmental practices. Gastonia’s Wastewater Treatment Division began voluntary development of its EMS in February 1999, when it became one of six members of a DENR pilot program. It was certified to ISO 14001 on June 15, becoming North Carolina’s first governmental entity to achieve this goal. Its certification covers the Long Creek and Crowders Creek Wastewater Treatment Plants, laboratories at both plants, and the Resource Recovery Farm and Pretreatment. Gastonia joins only about a dozen public agencies nationwide to achieve ISO 14001 certification. The adoption of EMSs by North Carolina organizations, public and private, furthers DENR's vision of a healthy environment and a vibrant economy by moving organizations beyond compliance and toward environmental sustainability. DENR encourages organizations to implement an EMS through a department policy statement. |
| When/Where | Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2001 – 11 a.m. Long Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant 3000 Long Creek Disposal Plant Road Dallas, N.C. Noon - Milano’s Restaurant (704) 854-3946 904 South New Hope Road Gastonia, N.C. |
| Highlights | DENR Secretary William G. Ross Jr. will be the keynote speaker |
| Contact | Diana Kees, DPPEA public information officer, (919) 715-6515/6500,
diana.kees@ncmail.net Beth Eckert, Town of Gastonia EMS coordinator, (704) 866-6035, bethe@cityofgastonia.com |
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