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The Maryland Department of the Environment, in partnership with the University of Maryland Technology Extension Service, has been offering Maryland companies assistance in implementing Environmental Management Systems (EMSs) since 2001. Groups of four to five companies participate in four workshops and receive on-site technical assistance over a six-month period. The companies can then put in place procedures that will help them assure compliance with environmental laws and regulations, as well as identify and implement additional cost-saving pollution prevention opportunities. Twenty-two Maryland manufacturers have completed the program and nine have chosen to go on and register to the ISO 14001 global standard for EMSs.

The next EMS group is forming now and will start in September 2005. Contact MDE Pollution Prevention Coordinator Laura Armstrong at 410-537-4119, larmstrong@mde.state.md.us, to learn how you can take advantage of this valuable opportunity. There is no cost to participate in this program.