When Governor Ridge first formed the Office of Energy and Technology Development, he wanted to make pollution prevention the centerpiece of the Department of Environmental Protection in the Commonwealth. This report shows how this approach helps Pennsylvania's citizens comply, and, at the same time, improve products and enhance market competitiveness by introducing Strategic Environmental Management, energy efficiency, new technology, a philosophy of Zero Emissions and concepts like environmental accounting to the marketplace.

For instance, DEP's Pollution Prevention and Energy Efficiency Site Visit Program continues to break new ground. Its goal is to identify pollution prevention and energy efficiency opportunities targeted specifically to a company's business goals, processes and facility. Site visit recommendations are cost effective, result in an improved bottom-line and a healthier environment. Many participants also realize an added bonus of improved product quality.

The Pennsylvania Environmental Assistance Network, a partnership of business assistance providers, affords Pennsylvania's small and medium-sized businesses greater productivity and profits by adding pollution prevention and energy efficiency practices to their range of technical assistance services.

Assisting the regulated industry attain compliance occupies a large portion of our staff time and effort. In 1997, DEP was involved in over 5,800 individual cases of compliance assistance. This included permit reviews, specific site work/inspections and clarifying regulations. We held seminars across the Commonwealth on such topics as open burning, improved self-monitoring technology, wastewater treatment operations and other compliance-related topics. Contacts with individual clients totaled nearly 15,000.

Pennsylvania's business community once again demonstrated how innovative it is by implementing pollution prevention initiatives. The Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence was a means of recognizing those corporate and civic leaders who implement projects benefiting the state's environment and economy. Last year's award winners demonstrated that protecting the environment is not only the "right thing to do," but also enormously profitable. Twenty of the Pollution Prevention Award winners collectively reduced liquid wastes by 27.5 million gallons, solid waste by 15.1 million tons, air emissions by 18.8 million tons and their operating costs by $79 million annually. Clearly, pollution prevention pays.

Pennsylvanians and the business community look to DEP to assist them in reducing business costs by preventing pollution at its source, instead of simply meeting compliance standards. A strong economy and a clean environment are not just compatible goals; they are two sides of the same coin.

James M. Seif
Secretary
DEP