Who: Indiana Department of Environmental Management, City of Vincennes, City of Boonville

What: CLEAN Community Challenge (CLEAN) and Environmental Stewardship Program seminars

Where/When:

. 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (local time) on Tuesday, Sept. 23, at the Vincennes City Council Room, 201 Vigo Street, Vincennes, Ind.

. 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (local time) Wednesday, Sept.  24, at the Scales Lake Pavilion, 800 W. Tennyson, Boonville, Ind.

Local government officials and business leaders interested in improving their environmental performance while learning about potential cost-saving opportunities are invited to two free seminars. The first seminar will be held from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 23 at the Vincennes City Council Room, 201 Vigo Street, Vincennes. The second seminar will be held Wednesday, Sept. 24 at Scales Lake Pavilion, 800 W. Tennyson, Boonville, Ind.

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), the City of Vincennes and the City of Boonville are holding the seminars to provide information about IDEM's CLEAN Community Challenge (CLEAN) and Environmental Stewardship Program (ESP).  ESP and CLEAN are voluntary state programs aimed at community and business.  IDEM staff will explain the advantages and benefits of participating in each. In addition to IDEM staff, current ESP and CLEAN members will be sharing their experiences to help others learn how pollution prevention can benefit their operations and their environment.

CLEAN helps a community standardize its environmental affairs by developing a Quality of Life Plan, which focuses on continuous improvement. Joining CLEAN can help communities identify wastes and inefficiencies and pinpoint opportunities for grant funding. Additional information about CLEAN can be found at http://www.in.gov/idem/4135.htm.

To become an ESP member, businesses must maintain an exemplary compliance record, certify that they have adopted and implemented an approved environmental management system, and commit to specific measures for continued improvement in their environmental performance.  ESP members also qualify for expedited permit review, flexibility in permitting, reduced reporting frequencies, and coordination of compliance inspections. To maintain membership, companies must report on their environmental initiatives every year and reapply for ESP membership every three years. For details about ESP, visit http://www.idem.IN.gov/prevention/esp.

"CLEAN and ESP recognize local communities and businesses who have shown a exceptional drive to surpass their legal responsibilities and achieve continued environmental improvement," said IDEM Commissioner Thomas Easterly.  "We hope to reach out to more businesses and communities by offering this seminar to help them learn how pollution prevention can benefit their operations."

The seminar is free but space is limited. Registrations for either seminar can be made  by September 19 by calling Scott Anslinger, IDEM, at (812) 483-2545 or by emailing ransling@idem.IN.gov.

About IDEM
IDEM (http://www.idem.IN.gov) implements federal and state regulations regarding the environment. Through compliance assistance, incentive programs and educational outreach, the agency encourages and aids businesses and citizens in protecting Hoosiers and our environment. 

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