SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (March 6, 2007) – For Firestone Building Products’ (FSBP) plant in Salt Lake City, it must be easy being green. The company’s diligent environmental efforts have paid off with acceptance into the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) prestigious National Environmental Performance Track (NEPT) program. The facility, which manufactures roofing insulation is the first non-tire plant in the Bridgestone Americas family to receive this certification.

In addition, the facility has been welcomed as a partner in the State of Utah Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) “Clean Utah” program. While a separate program from NEPT, both have common objectives, along with shared environmental and human health goals.

FSBP Salt Lake City Plant Manager Michael McCrea and his staff hosted several members of the Denver EPA and Utah DEQ at the Salt Lake City plant earlier today, where they received commemorative plaques and took their guests on a plant tour.

“As a member of the NEPT and Clean Utah programs, our plant has been recognized as a leader among U.S. facilities in protecting the environment,” said McCrea. “That is a designation we proudly accept and embrace. Our commitment to excellence extends beyond our products to our teammates and our community. By making an effort to keep our environment clean, we are honoring that commitment.”

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. The program encourages facilities to work continuously on improving environmental performance and to work closely with their community and employees.

In order to qualify for the NEPT program, the Salt Lake City facility fulfilled a number of requirements, including: a successful Environmental Management System that enables the facility to reduce its environmental impacts and increase its operating efficiency; 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 a commitment to remain involved and active in the community. The facility’s established goals for the next three years include reducing waste and limiting usage of raw materials through better efficiencies.

“Firestone’s Salt Lake City plant is a welcomed addition to the EPA’s National Performance Track Program,” said Mary Byrne, EPA Region 8. “The facility shines as a leader, not only in its industry, but in its treatment of the environment. We believe that stewardship toward the environment is good business practice. As we work to make our air cleaner, our water purer, and our land better protected for future generations, we look forward to the contributions and partnership of Firestone Building Products.”

The “Clean Utah” program encourages and rewards businesses for going beyond compliance to preserve and protect Utah’s environment. To be accepted as a Clean Utah facility, applicants must first pass a compliance screen to ensure they are in good standing with local, state and federal environmental requirements. Companies at the program’s entry level work to develop an Environmental Management System (EMS), a continual cycle of planning and implementing then reviewing and improving processes that a company takes to meet its business and environmental goals.

With an EMS in place, a company is eligible for the partner level, where it actively works on projects aimed at improving environmental performance, further minimizing impact. Firestone’s plant was welcomed at the partner level.

FSBP’s Salt Lake City plant produces Polyisocyanurate insulation, a roofing insulation material. With its superior energy efficiency, greater cost effectiveness and proven fire safety, Firestone Polyiso is the insulation trusted most by roofing professionals. Polyiso rigid foam board insulation is used in approximately 60 percent of all new commercial construction applications. All Firestone Polyiso insulations use EPA-approved blowing agents.