Environmental Principles

Protection of the Biosphere
We will minimize and strive to eliminate the release of any pollutant that may cause environmental damage to the air, water, or earth or its inhabitants. We will safeguard habitats in rivers, lakes, wetlands, coastal zones and oceans and will minimize contributing to the greenhouse effect, depletion of the ozone layer, acid rain or smog.

Sustainable Use of Natural Resources
We will make sustainable use of renewable natural resources, such as water, soils and forests. We will conserve nonrenewable natural resources through efficient use and careful planning. We will protect wildlife habitat, open spaces and wilderness.

Reduction and Disposal of Waste
By practicing resource reduction, innovative packaging, recycling and reusing materials, we will minimize the creation of waste, especially hazardous waste, in providing products and services to our customers. We will dispose of all wastes through safe and responsible methods.

Wise Use of Energy
We will make every effort to use environmentally responsible and sustainable energy sources to meet our needs. We will invest in improved energy efficiency and conservation in our operations. We will maximize the energy efficiency of products and services we produce and sell.

Risk Reduction
We will minimize the health, safety and environmental risks to our employees and the communities in which we operate by employing reliable technologies and operating procedures that are generally regarded as safe, and by being constantly prepared for emergencies.

Marketing of Responsible Services
We will sell services that minimize adverse environmental impacts and that are safe as our customers commonly use them. We will inform our customers of the environmental impacts of our services, and of their correct use.

Environmental Responsibility
Where a determination has been made that the environment is adversely affected by our actions, we will make every effort to restore the environment.

Right-To-Know
We will train our employees to recognize the safety hazards associated with their employment and provide them with equipment and engineering controls to minimize health and safety hazards.

Risk Assessment and Environmental Audits
We will conduct periodic risk assessments of our products and services, and audits of our work practices and facilities with persons independent of the audited activity. We will use these assessments and audits to determine priorities for action in the continuous improvement of our environmental stewardship, products and services. We will periodically report to the Board of Directors our progress in implementing these principles and in complying with applicable laws and regulations throughout our operations.