Environmental Partnerships and Pollution Prevention, 1995 Environmental Conference Proceedings

Dennis Sasseville

Environmental Science and Engineering, Inc.

The Main Department of Environmental Protection (MDEP), through its Office of Pollution Prevention, has seen a dramatic increase in business-MDEP partnerships develop over the past 1 to 2 years, including those involving major pulp and paper facilities. Maine is recognized for its environmental leadership and is often found on the forefront of new and emerging initiatives. Under the umbrella of pollution prevention and utilizing total quality skills and methods, bridges have been built with industry where previously only highly adversarial relationships existed. At present, five of Maine’s major pulp and paper mills are participating in this new partnership approach to come degree: Boise Cascade, International Paper, S. D. Warren Somerset, S. D. Warren Winslow, and James River Old Town. Industry representatives from among these mills and the MDEP coordinator of the partnership efforts will discuss the history of the cooperative program, some of the barriers to success and the lessons to be learned by such an approach.