The Pollution Prevention HERO (Humboldt Environmentally Responsible Organization) Award honors business for their outstanding pollution prevention efforts. The awards will recognize businesses that look beyond traditional hazardous waste treatment, control, and disposal methods.

The Pollution Prevention HERO award program was initiated by the North Coast Pollution Prevention Committee to recognize business in Humboldt County who have excelled in pollution prevention. Presented every other year, the award demonstrates that environmental protection and economic competitiveness are complimentary objectives, and that pollution prevention is good business.

Pollution prevention is:

• Source reduction
• In-process recycling
• Clean technologies
• Raw material substitution
• Preventative maintenance

Pollution Prevention HERO awards are given to private business or public facilities in small, medium, and large size categories for outstanding achievements in reducing the generation of hazardous waste, industrial wastewater discharge, and/or air emissions.

Applicants are evaluated on the following criteria (finalists receive site visits):

· Reduction in hazardous waste volume and/or toxicity

· Improvement in worker and/or community safety

· Transferability of programs and technologies to other similar businesses

· Commitment to waste reduction and pollution prevention at all organizational levels

Award winners will receive a framed certificate to display at your business that acknowledges the positive efforts of your company. Award winners will be officially recognized at appropriate city council and county board of supervisors meetings during National Pollution Prevention Week, September 20-26, 1999. Award winners may also be interviewed by the news media for a news story highlighting your business’ environmental achievements. The community will know that you’re doing your share for a cleaner environment. A sound pollution prevention program is a good alternative to enforced environmental compliance. Finally, your pollution prevention success can translate to reduced material costs for your business.

One Pollution Prevention HERO award will be presented in each of the following award categories:

· Small Business (10 employees or less)

· Medium Business (11 - 50 employees)

· Large Business (more than 50 employees)

Applicants will only be evaluated against those in their size category.

Applicants must be currently operating a business in Humboldt County.

Applicants must agree to have their accomplishments published through written summaries in an awards booklet.

Applicants must agree to host a site tour for judges.

Facilities with current enforcement actions may be disqualified.

Applications will be ranked by North Coast Pollution Prevention Committee members.

The top two businesses in each category will then be toured by representatives from the North Coast Pollution Prevention Committee. The winner will be chosen based on the findings of this on-site tour.

The North Coast Pollution Prevention Committee (NCPPC) was established in April 1993. Several agencies on the North Coast saw the need to organize and provide compliance assistance to businesses in the area. The purpose of the NCPPC is to provide resources and communication between local regulatory agencies who assist businesses in pollution awareness and reduction

The North Coast Pollution Prevention Committee includes representatives from:

• Cal/EPA, Office of Pollution Prevention and Technology Development
• Cal/EPA, North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board
• City of Arcata
• City of Eureka
• County of Humboldt, Division of Environmental Health
• North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District

For more information regarding the Pollution Prevention HERO awards or this application, contact Ms. Tracy Wyhlidko, Chairperson of the North Coast Pollution Prevention Committee

at (707) 441-4362

Application Information

Applicants should respond to each of the items on the enclosed application form. Due to the limited amount of space on the form, applicants are encouraged to use up to five additional pages to respond to the questions and may submit unlimited supporting documentation (i.e., photographs, MSDS’s, statistical reports, etc.) to substantiate the effectiveness of the pollution prevention activities at your facility. If a particular question does not apply to your organization, please indicate this and explain why.

Return applications to Ms. Tracy Wyhlidko,

North Coast Pollution Prevention Committee,

4301 Hilfiker Lane, Eureka, CA 95503

All Humboldt County businesses are eligible. Pollution prevention activities may include, but are not limited to:

· Changes in production processes or raw materials which reduce the volume and/or toxicity of the waste produced.

· Processes that recover reusable materials or energy that otherwise may be considered waste.

· Improved operation and/or maintenance of existing process equipment and methods that reduce or prevent waste generation.

· Technology/product development to implement and sustain pollution prevention activities.

· Outreach and educational programs to promote pollution prevention.

End of pipe environmental management techniques (e.g., off-site recycling, treatment, incineration, disposal) do not qualify as pollution prevention and therefore will not be considered for awards through this program. However, these accomplishments may be included in the application as supplementary material to demonstrate your commitment to good environmental practices.