The Clean Air CampaignÂ® Honors Pacesetting Employers

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The Clean Air CampaignÂ® Honors Pacesetting Employers

Eight employers, one individual honored for excellence at 2003 PACE Awards

ATLANTA, GEORGIA, Oct. 14 -/E-Wire/-- The Clean Air CampaignÂ® presented the 2003 PACE Awards on October 2, honoring seven employers, a property manager and an individual for their outstanding efforts to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality in metro Atlanta. Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue delivered the keynote address and Captain Herb Emory of WSB Radio presented the awards. Ellen Macht, executive director of The Clean Air Campaign, unveiled new initiatives for the region and announced the winner of the first annual Clean Air Challenge.

"The judges for this year's PACE Awards had a real challenge in choosing the winners because there were so many excellent entries," said Macht. "Each year the quality and quantity of PACE applications improves, indicating that more employers are making serious efforts to provide employees with commute alternatives."

Nine awards were presented in five categories: Â· The PACE Awards for overall employer programs were presented to four employers: Biolab, Inc. for small business; Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company â Marietta for large business; Veterans Affairs Regional Office, Atlanta for small public sector employer; Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Atlanta for large public sector employer; and Cousins Properties, LP for property manager.

Â· The HOVie Award, presented in cooperation with the Georgia Department of Transportation, honored Georgia-Pacific Corporation for its efforts to encourage and facilitate use of the HOV lanes;

Â· The Pace Setter Award recognized Denise Brisbon of Lafarge North America for her extraordinary efforts in creating and maintaining effective employer-based programs;

Â· The PACE Starter Award honored newcomer Trojan Battery Company for its first-year efforts in the employer-based program arena; and

Â· AT&T; received the PACE Spotlight Award for excellence in a single program element - a highly successful telework initiative. (more) Clean Air Campaign Honors Pacesetting Employers/Page 2

Honorable Mentions were awarded to: Southern Aluminum Finishing Company â PACE Award, small business Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP â PACE Award, small business Children's Healthcare of Atlanta â PACE Award, large business Emory University, Emory Hospital and The Emory Clinic â PACE Award, large business City of Snellville â PACE Award, small public sector employer Zoo Atlanta â PACE Starter

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Georgia Division won the first annual Clean Air Challenge, a competition among 80 metro Atlanta employers to demonstrate the highest percentage of non-SOV trips by employees or tenants over a three-month period. During June, July and August of this year, 39 percent of FHWA Georgia Division employees' total number of commute trips were non-SOV. It is estimated that FHWA employees' use of alternative transportation modes prevented more than 21,000 miles from being driven on metro Atlanta roads during the three months of the Challenge.

The PACE Awards, presented by The Clean Air Campaign in cooperation with eight area transportation management associations (TMAs), are open to any public or private organization located in the thirteen county metro Atlanta nonattainment region. The PACE Awards were sponsored by the Atlanta Business Chronicle and Atlanta Gas Light Company.

Raffle prizes at the event included round-trip airline tickets from AirTran Airways and Delta Air Lines; dinner for two at Aria; gas logs donated by Atlanta Gas Light Company; a bicycle tune-up at Bicycle South; Wolfgang Puck Express gift certificates donated by Day Wilburn Associates, Inc.; an electric grill and tools from Georgia Power; a one-night stay and brunch for two at the Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead; an HP calculator; one dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts each month for a year; an Atlanta coffee table book and a picture frame from MARTA; a $100 gift card for Simon Malls; a camcorder; one pound of Starbucks coffee per month for six months; four tickets to Stone Mountain; a two-night stay and a round of golf at The Retreat at Lake Blackshear; two folding camping chairs from Turner Broadcasting System; and a Saving the Giant Panda book and four tickets to Zoo Atlanta.

The Clean Air Campaign is a not-for-profit organization that offers employers free assistance in the design and implementation of commute options and other smog-reducing programs as part of its role as the region's clearinghouse for solutions to air pollution and traffic congestion. In addition, the organization provides a children's education program, issues Smog Alert notifications and provides financial incentives to promote alternative commuting behavior. For more information about The Clean Air Campaign, call 1-877-CLEANAIR and ask to speak with an outreach coordinator; or visit www.cleanaircampaign.com.

BACKGROUNDER 2003 PACE Award Winners Program Highlights

Small Business: Biolab, Inc.: Biolab relocated from Decatur to Lawrenceville in May 2003. Understanding that the company's 250 employees would be greatly affected by the move, Biolab proactively worked with The Clean Air Campaign to evaluate four potential relocation sites based on their access to existing and planned transportation infrastructure. Following the selection of the new site, Biolab again called on The Clean Air Campaign to assist in developing a commute options program. Biolab provides a variety of incentives, including $3 for each day employees use an alternative mode of transportation, a free vanpool option for six months and a six-month, 75 percent subsidy for Gwinnett County Transit passes. Biolab continues to build on its commute options program, as it has recently established a pilot teleworking program and plans to offer this option to other employees by the end of 2003. Biolab turned what could have been a negative situation into an opportunity to strengthen its employee and community relations. Employees arrive to work less stressed, save gas money and enjoy having company for the ride to and from work. In addition, Biolab prevented massive employee turnover, and actually had an employee withdraw a resignation letter when she learned about the commute alternatives being offered by the company.

Large Business: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company â Marietta: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company â Marietta has been offering commute options for 14 years, although its program has become more focused and successful since becoming a Clean Air Campaign partner in 2001. At that time, Lockheed set a goal of establishing a vanpool program and exploring the possibility of compressed workweeks. Because a majority of Lockheed employees are under a union agreement, implementing work schedule changes and employee benefits proved to be a larger challenge than had been anticipated. After initial skepticism, Lockheed reorganized its approach and gained the union's acceptance of its program. Lockheed's vanpool program is a model of success, with 40 vans in operation. Vans receive preferential parking close to the plant, which is a significant benefit given the company's 932-acre facility. Vanpools have also provided significant cost savings for many Lockheed employees who commute from Macon, Rome and other towns outside the metro Atlanta area. Lockheed employees work a compressed (9/80) schedule, eliminating 7,800 vehicles from metro Atlanta roads one day every other week. More than 900 of Lockheed's employees have signed up for the company ridesharing program -- the largest sign-up total at a single site in the state. Lockheed provides bicycles and electric vehicles to provide transportation between buildings at the facility, eliminating the need for short automobile trips.

Small Public Sector: Veterans Affairs Regional Office, Atlanta: The Veterans Affairs Regional Office (VARO) developed an alternative transportation program in 1999. At the time, VARO was located in Midtown Atlanta, providing employees with easy access to MARTA. When VARO relocated to Clairmont Road, its parking became even more limited and its employees did not have the same convenient MARTA rail access. To combat this problem, VARO worked with the Clifton Corridor Transportation Management Association (CCTMA) to develop vanpools and carpools for its employees. Incentives for employees who rideshare include free or discounted preferred parking and vanpool subsidies of up to $100 per month. VARO provides its ridesharing employees with Guaranteed Ride Home. VARO also encourages employees to take advantage of other commute options, such as transit, biking, walking and teleworking. MARTA passes are fully subsidized for qualified employees through

the federal Commuter Choice program, bike racks and shower facilities are located on site, and equipment is provided for qualified employees to telework. In addition, all departments are able to participate in alternative work schedules, either through flextime or a compressed work week. More than 20 percent of VARO's employees participate in the alternative transportation program, enjoying a less stressful commute. In addition, the vanpool program has helped VARO retain employees whose commute changed with the move from Midtown to Clairmont Road.

Large Public Sector: Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Atlanta: The Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC), located on Clairmont Road, employs more than 2,000 people dedicated to providing both primary and specialized outpatient health care. VAMC has offered an alternative transportation program for its employees since 1994, and sets annual goals in an effort to continually improve program offerings and participation. For 2002-03, VAMC sought to increase its MARTA ridership by 10 percent, increase employee carpool/vanpool participation by 10 percent and develop one new vanpool. To meet these goals, VAMC undertook a variety of activities, such as offering MARTA fare tokens/passes for sale on-site, providing transit trip planning through the transportation office, offering discounted and preferred parking to carpool and vanpool riders, giving a vanpool subsidy of up to $100 per month and providing Guaranteed Ride Home for all program participants. VAMC continued to encourage employees to take advantage of other commute alternatives as well, including biking, walking, teleworking and alternative work schedules. VAMC surpassed all of its goals, increasing MARTA ridership an amazing 187 percent and adding three new vanpools. Meeting these goals has helped VAMC cope with a parking shortage, and has enabled the organization to remain a competitive employer in a field experiencing a significant shortage of qualified employees.

Property Manager: Cousins Properties, LP: Cousins Properties manages office complexes and buildings throughout metro Atlanta. Realizing that decision makers were increasingly moving away from "location, location, location" to "access, access, access" as the golden rule of real estate, Cousins recognized that solving regional traffic problems could increase the viability of their properties. With access to more than 266 employers and 23,700 employees who are tenants in its 14 buildings within TMA areas, Cousins is in a strong position to facilitate the growth of commute options programs. In addition to promoting commute alternatives, Cousins is also committed to shuttle programs as an effective means of eliminating traffic congestion, most notably in conjunction with the Perimeter and Buckhead TMAs. One of its properties, the Concourse, located in the Perimeter area, is home to the most successful private shuttle system in metro Atlanta, carrying 1,200 passengers per day. Cousins is also actively assisting the Buckhead Area Transportation Management Association (BATMA) in developing the buc, its new shuttle program scheduled to launch before the 2003 holiday season. By working directly with TMAs to develop transportation options, Cousins' properties are more accessible and more attractive to new tenants.

PACE Setter: Denise Brisbon: As Lafarge North America's employer coordinator, Denise Brisbon has been a driving force behind the company's continued innovative initiatives to reduce traffic and improve air quality. After the company consolidated its headquarters to Alpharetta, Denise took the reins of the commute options efforts by organizing a successful transportation fair that resulted in nearly 10 percent of employees signing up for 1-87-RIDEFIND, the regional rideshare database. In just the past year, Denise has created

innovative programs including Lafarge's Lunch Bunch program, which provides employees with a catered lunch twice each week, for which Denise secured group discounts from area restaurants. Not only does this program encourage employees to carpool by providing them with access to lunch on-site, but it also gives employees who drive to work alone an incentive to keep their cars parked during lunch hour. Each week the Lunch Bunch eliminates up to 100 lunchtime trips. Denise's leadership and zeal is an example of the difference that a single person can make in combating traffic congestion and air quality problems, as she has not only been able to sustain Lafarge's successful programs, but increase enthusiasm and participation in new and established programs.

PACE Starter: Trojan Battery Company: Trojan Battery Company is a Lithonia-based leading manufacturer of long-lasting deep-cycle batteries. In less than a year, Trojan has moved from being a Clean Air Campaign Participant to a Platinum Level Partner by completing a partnership plan that outlines the company's commitment to various programs and by implementing an employer-based incentive program. While most companies begin a commute options program with the goal of increasing employee use of commute alternatives, Trojan was fortunate to begin with a high percentage of employees already engaging in those behaviors. Their goal in partnering with The Clean Air Campaign was to support their carpooling employees and to help reduce employee turnover. One of the key components in accomplishing those goals was to begin offering Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH). Trojan appointed four GRH administrators to cover each shift and different production areas of the plant, ensuring that employees have ready access to the service if needed. Applications for 1-87-RIDEFIND and GRH program information are included in the employees' new hire packet, encouraging them to begin using commute alternatives from the start. The GRH program has already helped several employees continue to use alternative transportation, and, in combination with the other commute options, has helped Trojan realize increased attendance among its employee base.

PACE Spotlight: AT&T;: As one of the world's leading telecommunications companies, it's not surprising that AT&T; has a robust telework program. What is compelling, and earned AT&T; the Spotlight award, is the fact that the company's telework program in metro Atlanta beats their impressive national averages for participation. Nationwide, 33 percent of AT&T; managers work from home at least one day a week and 17 percent do so full time. In contrast, 48 percent of Atlanta managers work from home at least one day a week, and 21 percent do so full-time. This heightened participation adds up to increased environmental benefit for metro Atlanta. In 2002, AT&T; managers locally avoided commuting almost 14 million miles, avoiding the consumption of 670,000 gallons of gas. AT&T; has seen many benefits from encouraging broad participation in its telework program. Surveys indicate that employees are more productive, with 77 percent of them devoting the time saved by not commuting to work. In addition, 71 percent of the participating employees are much more satisfied with their jobs, which ultimately translates into better results for the employer. AT&T; has become a recognized telework leader as it expands its program and shares its expertise with other companies looking to do the same. Clair Krizov, AT&T;'s Environment and Social Responsibility Executive Director, presented Atlanta's telework story to the U.S. President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) in September 2002. (more) Backgrounder/Page 4

HOVie Award: Georgia-Pacific Corporation: Georgia-Pacific is one of the world's leading manufacturers and distributors of tissue, paper, packaging, building products, pulp and related chemicals. In Atlanta, the company has two locations â corporate offices downtown, and the Eastern Sales Center in Marietta. Using a combination of carpools, vanpools and transit, Georgia-Pacific employees have prevented the release of approximately 56,838 pounds of pollutants this year. Georgia-Pacific offers employees a variety of commute options. Employees who use these alternatives are often able to take advantage of the HOV lane, which helps them to reach their destinations faster and avoid much of the stress of traffic jams. Employees are given incentives to make use of these options, including parking subsidies for carpoolers and drivers of eco/green vehicles, free reserved parking for vanpools of seven or more people and $30 per month for vanpool riders. During orientation classes, new employees are encouraged to register with 1-87-RIDEFIND, the regional rideshare database. Georgia-Pacific also provides Guaranteed Ride Home for employees who participate in the alternative transportation program. In the downtown corporate office, 53 percent of Georgia-Pacific's 3,000 employees participate in its commute options program. More than nine percent of employees at the company's Distribution Division Headquarters in Cobb County participate in the program, which has enabled Georgia-Pacific to avoid a $100,000 parking expansion.

Clean Air Challenge: Federal Highway Administration, Georgia Division: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Georgia Division is an office of the U.S. Department of Transportation with the responsibility to administer the Federal Aid Highway Program in Georgia. During June, July and August of this year, 39 percent of FHWA Georgia Division employees' total number of commute trips were non-SOV trips â the highest percentage of any metro area employer or property manager participating in the Clean Air Challenge. It is estimated that FHWA employees' use of alternative transportation modes prevented more than 21,000 miles from being driven on metro Atlanta roads during the three months of the Challenge. FHWA Georgia Division accomplished this feat thanks to its highly successful commute options program. Alternative work schedules are a key part of the program, with employees able to take advantage of both flex-time and compressed work week options. FHWA also provides free monthly passes for the 83 percent of its employees who use mass transit. FHWA Georgia Division's commute options program enjoys an incredible participation rate of almost 97 percent. It was launched six years ago to align employees' individual actions with the Federal Highway Administration's goal of providing nationwide leadership to improve mobility and air quality while reducing congestion. The Georgia Division employees have taken that challenge seriously, and have committed to setting an example by using commute alternatives whenever possible.

AT&T; Environment, Health & Safety

Tracy Paden/Candace McCaffery, [REDACTED-PHONE],

[REDACTED-EMAIL] or [REDACTED-EMAIL]

www.cleanaircampaign.com

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