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Wheelabrator Begins Early Upgrade of Air Quality Control Systems at its Claremont, NH, Waste-To-Energy Facility Government Officials Applaud Initiative

HAMPTON and CONCORD, NH - SEPTEMBER 13, 2001 - Wheelabrator Technologies announced today that it has voluntarily started the planning, design engineering, and regulatory permitting process for a multi-million dollar upgrade of the air quality control equipment at its waste-to-energy project in Claremont, NH. When fully operational in 2003, the upgraded systems will improve the removal of mercury from exhaust gases and contribute to an overall increase in environmental performance.

The 200 ton-per-day Claremont plant converts municipal solid waste from 70,000 residents in 29 New Hampshire and Vermont communities into electric power that is sold to the Connecticut Valley Electric Corporation. Built in 1987, the project has employed air quality control equipment that has consistently met regulatory standards.

Governor Jeanne Shaheen, who has made reducing mercury emissions a priority, applauded Wheelabrator's willingness to work with the state to further reduce its emissions. "Mercury emissions pose a danger to the health of our citizens, wildlife and environment. Wheelabrator's initiative will reduce mercury emissions from the Claremont facility by almost 90 percent. These reductions will help New Hampshire achieve its goal of cutting mercury emissions in half by 2003. I commend Wheelabrator for taking this critically important step."

Under current state and federal air emission regulations, the $2-million retrofit would not have been required to be in place until the end of 2005. To achieve the benefits earlier, Wheelabrator has chosen to fast-track the upgrade project and will absorb all of the costs of the air quality control system upgrade, in conjunction with a restructuring of the Project's municipal solid waste disposal contract, eliminating the costs that would have otherwise been incurred by the participating New Hampshire and Vermont communities.

U.S. Senator Bob Smith commended Wheelabrator, noting that "Not only will this action increase environmental performance, it will also lift a potentially crippling financial burden off of the many New Hampshire towns. My office had met with representatives of Wheelabrator some time ago to discuss a potential solution to reduce mercury without overwhelming the resources of these communities, and they have done just that. I am pleased and grateful for this voluntary action by Wheelabrator."

As part of the upgrade, Wheelabrator will install acid gas scrubbers and carbon injection systems that collectively will remove 85 - 90% of the trace mercury emitted as a result of mercury-bearing products in municipal trash delivered to the plant each day. The new systems represent the state of the art in modern emission control technology and a major step forward in New Hampshire's statewide efforts to control mercury.

State Representative Jeb Bradley of Wolfeboro, Chair of the House Science, Technology and Energy Committee, and the sponsor of several mercury reduction bills in the legislature, said he was "pleased to see Wheelabrator take the lead in providing earlier reductions in mercury than is required by current law." He further stated that, "Reducing one of the state's sources of mercury pollution by more than 90% is very beneficial to our environment." New Hampshire State Senate Environment Committee Chairman, Carl Johnson of Meredith also applauded Wheelabrator's action, saying, "Wheelabrator's decision to move forward now with these reductions will help to accelerate the legislature's goal of eliminating mercury emissions in New Hampshire."

Regarding the announcement, State Representative Terie Norelli of Portsmouth stated "I am pleased that the company has agreed to install controls at the Claremont facility because I believe this is an important step in our fight to eliminate toxic mercury emissions in New Hampshire." Bradley and Norelli sponsored legislation in 1999 that resulted in mercury emissions at the waste-to-energy facility in Penacook being reduced by more than 95%.

Wheelabrator has been a leader in combating mercury pollution, advancing scientific research, conducting successful multi-state efforts for the recycling of mercury-containing products, and providing comprehensive public education programs nationwide. Last year, the Company joined with New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES) in a landmark program to provide state residents with new digital thermometers in exchange for conventional mercury-based devices. The successful program was conducted at Wheelabrator's facilities in Penacook and Claremont and resulted in the collection and proper disposal of more than 2500 mercury-bearing instruments.

Former DES Commissioner and current Regional Administrator of EPA's New England Office, Robert Varney, who was instrumental in helping to launch the thermometer exchange program, said of today's announcement "Wheelabrator is showing exemplary environmental leadership with this voluntary action. Mercury pollution is a serious public health threat in New Hampshire and this investment will bring the state an important step forward in achieving its mercury reduction goals."

In a statement today from the DES, Assistant Commissioner Dana Bisbee said that Wheelabrator's installation of this air quality control equipment is another significant step toward accomplishing the goals in the State's Mercury Reduction Strategy, initiated in 1998. "The Strategy sets forth a goal of 50 percent reduction in mercury emissions across New Hampshire by 2003," Bisbee explained, "and currently we have reached a level of 45 percent, thanks largely to similar measures taken at Wheelabrator's Concord waste-to-energy facility. The installation of this equipment in Claremont will result in a total of 55 percent in statewide reductions."

Wheelabrator Technologies' President, Drennan Lowell, asserted the Company's dedication to the early completion of this retrofit. "This project will meet important goals and requirements for safely managing solid wastes in the region," he stated. "Most important, it will do so several years earlier than required by law, putting the long-term well being of local communities well ahead of regulatory schedules. We are delighted to reaffirm our committed partnership with these communities and the NH/VT Solid Waste Project.

Wheelabrator Technologies, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Waste Management Inc., is one of the United States' most successful developers, owners, and operators of commercial renewable energy projects. Since beginning operation of its first waste-to-energy plant in 1975 in Massachusetts, Wheelabrator has processed more than 100 million tons of municipal solid waste, converting the waste into more than 50 billion kilowatt-hours of clean, reliable electric energy.

The Company currently owns and/or operates 16 waste-to-energy facilities with a combined daily processing capacity of 23,750 tons of trash and a total electric generating capacity of 671 megawatts. The Company also owns eight alternative energy projects with a total capacity of 271 megawatts. Combined, these clean, renewable power sources provide enough electricity to provide the energy needs for more than 900,000 homes.

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