Six New Jersey-based metal finishing companies are doing their part to help New Jersey's economy and environment. Their active participation in the National Metal Finishing Strategic Goals Program (SGP) - a partnership between federal, state and local governments and industry - is changing the way they do business while producing benefits for their companies and state residents along the way. These metal finishers, and many like them throughout New Jersey, are implementing pollution prevention technologies and practices that will reduce approximately 1.4 million pounds annually of toxic chemicals from New Jersey's air and waterways.

These contributions were recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in a recent ceremony at DEP headquarters in Trenton. New Jersey's Strategic Goals Program for metal finishers and electroplaters is the third largest in the nation with 45 companies and five wastewater treatment systems signed on.

"The metal finishing Strategic Goals Program is the first of its kind and will serve as a model to encourage other industries to attain environmental goals. This successful program has resulted in great reductions from 25 to 50 percent in discharges, air emissions and sludge generation," said DEP Commissioner Bob Shinn.

"We are very proud that what started as an innovative concept at EPA in 1997 has grown into a full-fledged cooperative program bringing real improvements to New Jersey's environment," said William J. Muszynski, EPA Acting Regional Administrator. "The SGP also demonstrates that when government and business partner for the good of the environment, the corporate bottom line can benefit, too."

The SGP is a voluntary partnership between industry, regulators and communities that rewards facilities for going beyond compliance with existing environmental standards. It grew out of a 1997 EPA initiative to encourage the metal finishing industry to improve its environmental performance over a ten-year period. The SGP partnership is based upon seven ambitious environmental goals ranging from reduced water and energy use to human exposure to toxic metals. The program has resulted in nationwide reductions in sludge shipments to landfills by over 120 million pounds, wastewater discharges by 380 million gallons, and organic chemical releases by 700,000 pounds. DEP became an official participant in the SGP in 2000, and played a key role in establishing a performance ladder for companies in the state based on their achievement of SGP goals. Under the SGP, all six of the New Jersey companies achieved 60% or more of these aggressive goals.

"The SGP and business growth go hand-in-hand," said Bob Sica of New Brunswick Plating and a member of New Jersey's SGP working group. "The SGP is a great way to show your concern for the environment in everyday business decisions and grow in the process." New Brunswick will soon be among the most modern plating facilities in the nation with over 50,000 square feet of shop floor. The facility is just one of New Jersey's 106 metal finishing operations which produce more than $162 million in shipments annually, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Other key benefits and incentives of the SGP include substantial operational and resource savings by facilities, access to best practices and information, an open dialogue with regulators and the potential for regulatory flexibility. "The SGP benefits improve how you are perceived as a company on the environment, with regulators and industry in general," said Mr. Sica.

The Passaic Valley Sewerage Commissioners (PVSC) and the Middlesex County Utilities Authority participated in presenting the awards.

The PVSC has had great success in promoting the SGP. Among the most creative benefits, the PVSC will refund 50% to 100% of the annual permit fee for each company qualifying on the gold or silver level of the New Jersey State performance ladder. "This is a great way to recognize platers and metal finishers for exceptional performance," said Frank D'Ascensio of the PVSC.

Performance ladders are created by local or state SGP programs to structure benefits for incremental improvements by the participating metal finishers. Within this context, local implementation groups have tremendous flexibility in deciding what benefits are appropriate given their environmental conditions, objectives, and regulatory framework. The New Jersey Program has three performance levels: Bronze awards are given for completing one-third of the goals; Silver awards are given for completing two-thirds of the goals; and Gold awards signify 100 percent achievement of the SGP goals.

Accepting awards for the companies being placed on the Silver level of the New Jersey SGP performance ladder are from left to right: Don Knight, New Brunswick Plating, New Brunswick; Gerry Borriello, Automatic Electroplating, Newark; Don and Doff Sica, New Brunswick Plating, New Brunswick; Frank Zemo, Polaris Plating, Paterson; David Norwine, Co-Chairman New Jersey SGP Stakeholder Review Panel. Companies also receiving Silver Level Awards, but not present for the ceremony, were Mara Plating and Polishing, Newark; Sample Marshall Laboratories, Lyndhurst; Stirrup Plating products, Newark.

The Strategic Goals Program (SGP) is a breakthrough, voluntary partnership between the metal finishing industry, government and communities. The program features commitments from metal finishing facilities to conserve water, energy and metals, and reduce hazardous emissions. The SGP has the support of the U.S. EPA as well as major metal finishing trade associations represented by the National Association of Metal Finishers (NAMF), American Electroplaters and Surface Finishers Society (AESF), Metal Finishing Suppliers Association (MFSA) and the Surface Finishing Industry Council (SFIC). The SGP has more than 425 active industry participants, 21 states and 83 local agencies engaged in its efforts.

For information on how the SGP can help your company, the National SGP Outreach team recommends clicking on www.strategicgoals.org or calling 703-354-2172. New Jersey's SGP web site can be accessed at www.state.nj.us/dep/dwq/nj_sgp.htm.