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In the February 28, 1997 Issue:

POLLUTION PREVENTION INFORMATION CENTERS BEING ESTABLISHED


The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is soliciting grant proposals to establish a national network of pollution prevention information centers. Currently there are limited mechanisms to coordinate the development, review, and dissemination of pollution prevention information among those promoting source reduction technologies, according to the EPA.

Access to pollution prevention information and assistance varies across the country. In addition, not all programs providing assistance to small businesses have access to pollution prevention information. As a result, EPA is supporting a program to:

"The development of a pollution prevention information network of centers would allow state pollution prevention information needs to be addressed on a regional basis and allow for improved information exchange. A coordinated network would facilitate information exchange and decrease duplicative research that might be conducted in each state," according to the solicitation notice.

EPA hopes the competitive grant process will:

EPA anticipates that between $750,000 and $1 million will be available for this program. Awards will be made through a competitive process for amounts not to exceed $350,000. Projects may last up to three years. State match of 1:1 is required.

Eligible applicants include state governments and related entities. Local governments, private universities, private non-profit entities, private businesses, and individuals are not eligible, but are encouraged to work with eligible applicants in developing proposals that include them as participants in the projects.

Grant applications must be postmarked by April 28, 1997. To obtain more information regarding this program, contact Beth Anderson, EPA Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, at 202/ 260-2602 or by e-mail at <anderson.beth @epamail.epa.gov> To receive a copy of the Federal Register notice describing the solicitation, contact SSTI at 614/421-SSTI (7784).


BALDRIGE WINNERS OUTPERFORM S&P 500 AGAIN

The "Baldrige Index" for 1996 outperformed the Standard & Poor's 500 for the third year in a row, according to a study prepared by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The fictitious index is made up of winners of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.

NIST "invested" a hypothetical $1,000 in each of the five publicly traded, whole company winners of the Baldrige Quality Award and a percentage of $1,000 in the parent companies of nine subsidiary winners. The percentage represented the number of employees the subsidiary has as a percentage of the whole company's employee base. An equal amount was hypothetically invested in the S&P 500 at the same time.

NIST found that the group of five whole company winners outperformed the S&P 500 by 3.5 to 1, achieving a 380 percent return on investment compared to a 110 percent return for the S&P 500.

Meanwhile, the group of all publicly traded winners (which includes the five whole company winners and the parent companies of winning subsidiaries) outperformed the S&P 500 by about 3 to 1, a 325 percent return on investment compared to a 112 percent return for the S&P 500. NIST studies in 1994 and 1995 also found that Baldrige Award winning companies outperformed the S&P 500.

NIST also conducted a similar investment study for the 48 publicly traded companies receiving site visits as part of the Baldrige Award application process. That group outperformed the S&P 500 by 2 to 1, achieving a 167 percent return on investment compared to an 83 percent for the S&P 500.

A copy of the two-page study is available from the NIST Baldrige Award office at 301/ 975-2036 or fax a request to 301/ 948-3716. It is also available on the Baldrige Award's World Wide Web site at http:// www.quality.nist.gov


DOC REPORT SAYS U.S. STEEL INDUSTRY COMPETITIVE

The steel industry has experienced painful changes over the past 10 to 15 years, but has now emerged in much better financial and operating condition, according to a new report by the U.S. Department of Commerce's Office of Technology Policy (OTP).

Downsizing, a strong economy that's allowing the industry to operate near capacity, and substantial sums invested in modernization have made the U.S. steel industry competitive for the U.S. market, the study finds.

The Basic Steel Industry is part of OTP's Meeting the Challenge: U.S. Industry Faces the 21st Century series of studies that assesses the competitive position of a number of major U.S. industries and the factors influencing their growth. Previous reports have focused on the automobile manufacturing and chemical industries.

Copies of the report can be obtained by calling OTP at 202/482-3037 or sending an e-mail to OTPReports@doc.gov

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