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Bridgestone Firestone Awarded Conservation Award from Tennessee Wildlife Federation

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (March 20, 2008) – Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT) has been named “Industrial Conservationist of the Year” by the Tennessee Wildlife Federation (TWF). The award recognizes the company’s longtime commitment to conservation and, in particular, the efforts of teammates at the new Monterrey, Mexico, plant who worked last year with a local university and bird watching groups to publish and distribute the first Spanish-language bird watching guide for the state of Nuevo Leon.

Representatives from BFNT and the Monterrey plant accepted the award last night at the War Memorial Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn.

“The guide Bridgestone Firestone has created asserts the culture of caring for not only the people they employ, but the communities and natural areas in which those employees live,” Mike Butler, Executive Director, TWF, said at the ceremony. “It is for fostering the education of the local population about the importance of being good stewards to their natural surroundings that we name Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire the Industrial Conservationists of the Year.”

The Conservation Achievement Awards have been given annually by the TWF since 1965. Nominations for the awards are taken from across the state. A selection committee then reviews all nominations and decides on the winners. The selection committee consists of TWF members, members of the board, conservation professionals from across Tennessee and media representatives.

“Congratulations to our teammates across North and South America who are not only dedicated to improving the environment of the communities where we live and work but also for coming up with creative ways to do so,” said Greer Tidwell, Director of Environmental Affairs, BFNT. “We are honored to win this award from such a prestigious organization like the Tennessee Wildlife Federation.”

TWF is a not-for-profit organization established in 1946 whose mission is to champion the conservation, sound management and enjoyment of Tennessee’s wildlife and natural resources for current and future generations through stewardship, advocacy and education.

About Bridgestone Neumáticos de Monterrey, S.A. de C.V.:
Formed in 2005, Bridgestone Neumáticos de Monterrey, S.A. de C.V. is a sister company to Bridgestone Firestone de México, S.A. de C.V. and Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC.  Its tire plant is the first one outside Japan to use the “Bridgestone Innovative and Rational Development” system (BIRD), Bridgestone Corporation’s revolutionary new tire production system. BIRD is the world’s first manufacturing system for tires that completely automates all stages of the tire manufacturing process, from the initial processing of materials to final inspection of the finished product. The facility has a production capacity of about 8,000 tires per day and employs approximately 200 teammates.

About Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT):
Nashville, Tenn.-based Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT) is a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc., whose parent company, Bridgestone Corporation, is the world’s largest tire and rubber company. BFNT develops, manufactures and markets Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires. The company is focused on wholesale and original equipment markets, supplying passenger, light truck, commercial vehicle, off road, motorcycle, agricultural and other tires to its customers in North America.