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Bridgestone/Firestone Plant Accepted
Into U.S. EPA’s National Environmental Performance Track
Bloomington, Ill. (April 9, 2003)— Bridgestone/Firestone
North American Tire, LLC is proud of its plant for many reasons. Yes, it’s
the plant that makes the really big equipment tires in Bloomington, Ill., but
it also has achieved quite an honor-the plant was recently accepted into the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Environmental Performance
Track (NEPT).
“The Bloomington plant’s
acceptance into NEPT is an important symbol of its dedication to excellent
environmental management. Most importantly, the award serves as further
proof to our associates that we all are part of a team that cares about
their community,” said Greer Tidwell, director of environmental
management for Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT).
The EPA created the voluntary NEPT
program to reward and recognize companies with a proven track record
of improving environmental performance. In order to qualify for the
NEPT program, the Bloomington facility had to fulfill a number of requirements
including demonstrating its strategic plan with objectives and targets
to reduce environmental impacts, methods for evaluating performance
and taking corrective actions, and a record of sustained compliance
with environmental requirements.
The Bloomington plant becomes a member
of an elite group that includes four other BFNT U.S. tire plants, located
in Des Moines, Iowa; Warren County, Tenn.; Oklahoma City, Okla.; and
Aiken County, S.C., which joined the program as charter members. The
program is selective and not everyone who applies is accepted.
“This further demonstrates our
company’s commitment to environmental excellence,” said
Mark Emkes, chairman, CEO, and president, BFNT. “Just as our
tires are winners on race tracks around the world, our associates and
our plants are winners in their communities by being a part of EPA’s
Performance Track.”
Nashville-based Bridgestone/Firestone
North American Tire, LLC, is a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas Holding,
Inc., whose parent company, Bridgestone Corporation, is the world's
largest tire and rubber company. BFNT develops, manufactures, and markets
Bridgestone, Firestone, Dayton and private and associate brand tires.
The company is focused on wholesale and original equipment markets,
supplying passenger, light truck, commercial vehicle, off-road, agricultural
and other tires to its customers in North America. |
