BALTIMORE, MD (June 15, 2005) – Regional businesses and their leaders will be recognized for their environmental efforts and accomplishments. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Chesapeake Bay Program and the Maryland Department of the Environment are seeking businesses that have voluntarily implemented pollution prevention projects to receive the 2005 Businesses for the Bay Excellence Award.

Awards are granted to small, medium, and large businesses as well as government facilities. The deadline for nomination is July 12, 2005. Awards will be presented at the organization’s annual meeting in October held at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Laurel.

Past award winners from Maryland include Atotech USA, DAP Inc., Collins & Aikman, Eaton Aeroquip, Lockheed Martin Corp., Procter & Gamble Cosmetics, National Institutes of Health, Scuderi Auto Body, PerkinElmer, Struever Bros. Eccles & Rouse, Unilever, and the USDA, Beltsville Area.

Businesses for the Bay is a voluntary program that encourages and recognizes pollution prevention practices at businesses, government facilities, and other organizations located within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. More than 600 organizations throughout the watershed are participating members. Since the program's inception in 1996, program participants throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed have reported the reduction and recycling of 7.3 billion pounds of waste and materials at a cost savings of $892 million.

For more information on the awards criteria and to download an application, go to www.b4bay.org or call 1-800-968-7229, ext. 719 for more information.

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