Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has changed more than just its name. The Department of Environmental Resources, as it was known until 1995, was charged with the task of policing corporate emissions and other regulatory tasks. When Governor Ridge was elected, the emphasis became protecting the environment as opposed to merely regulating "end of pipe" waste and pollution. With the creation of the Office of Energy and Technology Development (OETD) within DEP in January 1996, the department took a further step towards problem solving, proactively reaching out towards small businesses to provide them with the same pollution preventing tools as larger corporations.

DEP and its partners instituted pollution prevention and compliance assistance programs as a regular service to our corporate clients. These services are available to all Pennsylvanians who wish to exceed existing environmental standards - or go "beyond compliance" - and join the growing list of companies who realize that preventing pollution saves money as well as the environment. Each of OETD's three divisions, Customer Service and Outreach, Technical Services and Support Services, are staffed with seasoned and highly trained professionals ready to provide assistance in a coordinated, user-friendly way. Housed at DEP's central office in the Rachel Carson State Office Building in Harrisburg, or in any of DEP's six regional offices, each of our service providers knows the environmental value and economic benefits of preventing pollution at its source.

Since DEP first introduced Strategic Environmental Management as an effective method to create a positive climate for businesses, communities and individuals, we worked directly with local community interests to encourage Pennsylvania's corporate community to take the zero emissions path. Strategic environmental management integrates environmental management objectives into an organization's overall strategic goals to improve efficiency and help it gain a competitive edge.

The goal of zero emissions prompts businesses to make an honest commitment to pollution prevention at its source by continuously assessing the environmental aspects of their business practices. When zero emissions and strategic environmental management are embraced, regulatory compliance is no longer a problem and maximum savings and flexibility are attained. Companies can profitably meet or exceed environmental compliance threshold requirements.

This past year, DEP strengthened its strategic environmental management position statement by gaining valuable public input from citizens across the Commonwealth. Stakeholder meetings were organized to discuss the voluntary policy and explore ways DEP and communities can work together to promote strategic environmental management. The DEP Citizens Advisory Council, a bipartisan advisory committee, reviewed the policy statement and issued support for strategic environmental management and zero emissions goals.

In 1997, Pennsylvania continued to work with other states to evaluate the potential increase in the environmental and economic performance of environmental management systems based on ISO 14001, one of several internationally recognized strategic environmental management tools. DEP joined other states' environmental agencies to combat the problem through its involvement in the Multi-State Working Group on Environmental Management Systems. The working group has now completed the development of a performance metrics protocol to guide the collection of data from member- state pilot projects. The goal is to develop a national database that will assist state policy makers in evaluating the role of environmental management systems in future environmental regulatory programs and policies.

Many Pennsylvania employers are striving for the Four Zeros: zero defects, zero inventory, zero accidents and zero emissions. Forward-looking companies have already adopted and are achieving this high level of stewardship.

The Pennsylvania businesses, which voluntarily adopted these techniques, enthusiastically endorsed DEP's strategy.