[ADEQ Media] ADEQ Director Owens Announces Xanterra South Rim as Newest Member of Arizona Performance Track

[media@lists.azdeq.gov]

ADEQ Director Owens Announces Xanterra South Rim as Newest Member of
Arizona Performance Track

PHOENIX (March 8, 2007) - Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
(ADEQ) Director Steve Owens today announced that Xanterra South Rim,
L.L.C. has joined Arizona Performance Track, a voluntary partnership
between ADEQ, businesses and other regulated entities that recognizes
and rewards environmental leadership for going above and beyond the
minimum requirements of the law. 

Xanterra, which operates lodging and food services for the National Park
Service at the Grand Canyon, South Rim was selected to join Arizona
Performance Track for reducing water used, solid waste sent to landfill,
and greenhouse gas emissions, as well as increasing the amount of
recycled content in products it uses and sells. Xanterra has also
committed to a 50% waste diversion from landfills and zero hazardous
waste generation by 2015, and to a preferred "green" vendor program. 

"We are very pleased to welcome Xanterra to the Arizona Performance
Track program, which provides benefits to participants in recognition of
their commitment to environmental protection," Owens said. "The program
not only encourages companies to be good environmental stewards, it also
allows ADEQ to protect public health and the environment more
effectively by focusing our resources on facilities and entities that
need the most attention."

The Arizona Performance Track is modeled after a national EPA program.
Benefits of participating in the Arizona Performance Track include
reduced inspection frequency, flexibility of permit conditions and
consolidation of reporting requirements. Companies eligible for the
program must demonstrate a history of compliance, a comprehensive
environmental management system (EMS) and a pollution prevention program
in addition to performing two past and four future projects with
quantifiable environmental benefits.

A free seminar on Performance Track and EMS will be held April 3, 10
a.m.-2 p.m., at Scottsdale Stadium, 7408 E. Osborn, Scottsdale.
Sponsored by ADEQ, the National Environmental Performance Track, and the
Arizona Environmental Strategic Alliance, the seminar will cover the
future of Performance Track, how to establish an EMS, and advice from
members and environmental regulators. Information on the seminar is
available at www.azalliance.org.

More information about Arizona Performance Track is available on ADEQ's
Web site at www.azdeq.gov/function/about/track.html.

-end-

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topic concerning the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality should
contact the Office of Communications at (602) 771-2215 or via email at
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