FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                         April   8 , 2008

COUNTY’S YONKERS SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT WINS EPA AWARD  Plant recognized for its ISO 14001-certified environmental management system

Westchester County’s wastewater treatment plant in Yonkers will receive an Environmental Quality Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 2  for its environmental management system.  The award to the Yonkers Joint Wastewater Treatment plant will be presented Apr. 25.

The plant,  which serves  25 municipalities and 500,000 people, was the first wastewater treatment plant in the state to be certified in 2006 to the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System Standard.

County Executive Andy Spano said,  “This prestigious environmental award is a tribute to the 88 men and women who operate and maintain the Yonkers treatment plant and to the Department of Environmental Facilities commissioner and managers who provide them with the support and guidance they need.”

To attain the ISO 14001 certification, the plant and the department had to meet 17 specific, stringent requirements including identification of all environmental impacts, and compliance with all legal and other requirements.  To learn more go to http://www.westchestergov.com/environment_waterair.htm

Certification of the county’s remaining six wastewater plants is expected by the end of 2008.