WILSON, N.C. (March 15, 2006) - Hail, hail, the gang’s all here! Now that the Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT) facility in Wilson, N.C., has been accepted into the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s prestigious National Environmental Performance Track (NEPT) program, all seven of the company’s U.S. tire plants share this recognition for outstanding environmental performance.

“We were the first tire company accepted into the program, and now we’re the first company to have all of our American-made tires produced in NEPT plants,” said Greer Tidwell, director of environmental management for BFNT. “Luck might bring a seven to a slot machine or a dice game, but it was hard work and commitment to environmental excellence that brought all seven of our U.S. tire plants into this elite program. It makes our entire family proud to see the Wilson facility receive this recognition and complete the circle.”

The EPA created the voluntary NEPT program to reward and recognize companies that show a commitment to environmental performance that goes above and beyond current requirements and that have a proven track record of improving environmental performance over time.

In order to qualify for the NEPT program, the Wilson facility fulfilled a number of requirements, including: a good record of compliance with environmental regulations; a public commitment to specific environmental performance goals, annual public reporting on progress toward the goals and an integrated system for continuing to improve compliance and environmental performance. The facility’s established goals for the next three years include improving several manufacturing processes to increase energy efficiency and reduce waste generation.

“This program confirms to our teammates that as each of them perform the environmental aspects of their jobs, it adds up to excellent results,” said Jim Pridgen, plant manager of the Wilson facility. “Our success in improving environmental performance goes hand-in-hand with our focus on efficiency, which will help us stay competitive. We’re proud of where we are today, but we’re going to keep on going. This is a commitment all of our Wilson teammates share, and we look forward to seeing it through.”

“I am proud to recognize Bridgestone Firestone’s Wilson, N.C., facility as a new member of EPA’s National Performance Track Program,” said Jimmy Palmer, EPA regional administrator in Atlanta. “This facility is achieving superior environmental performance that is valuable not only to its good name and reputation, but also to the nation’s success in making our air cleaner, our water purer, and our land better protected for future generations.”

The Wilson plant is the seventh BFNT tire plant in the United States to be accepted into EPA’s National Performance Track program. Four facilities, located in Des Moines, Iowa; Warren County, Tenn.; Aiken County, S.C.; and Oklahoma City, Okla., joined the highly selective program as charter members in 2000. The company’s Bloomington, Ill., and LaVergne, Tenn., facilities joined the program in 2003 and 2005, respectively.