[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 81 (Wednesday, June 21, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1219-E1220]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                ECOZONE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 20, 2006

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, in a time of increasing public demand for 
clean air, clean water, energy independence and improved environmental 
quality, I wish to commend the founder of EcoMedia--Mr. Paul Polizzotto 
for his visionary public-private partnership called ``EcoZone,'' which 
will debut this week here in our Nation's capital. EcoZone leverages 
the resources of private corporations to improve local community 
environments at no cost to the taxpayer. Whether this is through 
funding projects which promote clean air, clean water, energy 
efficiency or greenspace, EcoZone allows corporations to demonstrate 
their commitment to local communities and is an example of the growing 
recognition by corporations that environmental sustainability and good 
corporate citizenship are profitable enterprises. I encourage the EPA, 
the Department of Energy, NOAA and other relevant government entities 
to pursue partnerships via the EcoZone program all across this country.

               EcoZoneSM District of Columbia


                                Overview

       1. EcoZone is the flagship program of EcoMedia, the world's 
     premier environmental media company, which brings together 
     government and industry to fund technologies and solutions to 
     serious environmental problems--at no additional cost to 
     taxpayers.
       2. EcoMedia's flagship program, EcoZone, is the first 
     public-private media partnership model in the nation to use 
     corporate sponsorships to generate revenue for local 
     governments to fund critical environmental and clean energy 
     projects in their communities.
       3. EcoZone consists of initiatives in four signature areas: 
     air; energy; water; and parks and green space.
       4. District of Columbia is the first city in the nation to 
     launch EcoZone; other cities and states expected to launch 
     EcoZone programs in 2006 include St. Petersburg, Miami, Long 
     Beach and additional Southern California communities and the 
     State of New Jersey and many more.
       5. The historic agreement between the District of Columbia 
     and EcoMedia implements the nation's first EcoZone program 
     and will help the city comply with federal and state 
     environmental regulations mandating clean water and air in 
     Washington, as well as identify best management practices to 
     promote greater energy efficiency, preservation of greenspace 
     and a cleaner local environment.
       6. Previously, EcoMedia launched its EPA award-winning 
     pilot program Adopt-A-Waterway, to help fund and clean up 
     local waterways. Successful Adopt-A-Waterway cleanup programs 
     are currently underway in Miami, FL; Long Beach, CA: 
     Sacramento County, CA, among other communities.
       7. Under the EcoZone program, the city will receive 
     critical funds secured through sponsorships of educational 
     signage that promote environmental messages. The signage will 
     include EcoZone's public education messages, encouraging 
     citizens to be stewards of

[[Page E1220]]

     the environment and remind them to recycle, ride-share, turn 
     lights off when not in use and avoid littering, among other 
     eco-friendly tips, accompanied by sponsoring corporate logos. 
     In the District of Columbia, there will be approximately 100 
     EcoZone signs located throughout the city.
       8. Half of the sponsorship revenues from the educational 
     signage go directly to a dedicated and audited local 
     government account to fund pre-determined environmental 
     projects selected by the cities. This is accomplished at no 
     additional cost to local taxpayers.
       9. Since 2002, EcoMedia Partnerships, through the pilot 
     Adopt-A-Waterways program, have funded critical community 
     programs such as these:
       Water quality testing
       Storm drain catch basin insert filters that mitigate storm 
     water runoff
       Watershed cleanup
       Steambank restoration
       Extensive educational programs
       10. Local governments can also use EcoZone funding to 
     undertake environmental projects that otherwise simply 
     wouldn't happen. The funds can be used for such things as:
       Hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles (buses and municipal 
     auto fleets) that improve both air quality and energy 
     efficiency;
       Solar paneling on city facilities to provide alternative, 
     cleaner energy;
       Greening projects to convert industrial lots into green 
     space;
       Catch basin insert filters that filter out trash and 
     debris, oil and grease, contaminated sediments and even 
     pathogens.
       11. EcoZone leverages corporate sponsorships to fund, 
     produce and implement comprehensive public education and 
     environmental outreach programs including public service 
     commercials on local cable stations and radio, grassroots 
     education campaigns, local community events and online media.
       12. EcoMedia's founder and chief executive is noted 
     environmental entrepreneur Paul Polizzotto, who was named an 
     ``environmental hero'' in 1999 by the Environmental 
     Protection Agency for a process he pioneered while running 
     his industrial environmental cleaning company, Property 
     Prep--the first of its kind to help companies become 
     environmentally compliant. Paul's inspiration for pioneering 
     private sector solutions to environmental challenges began 
     during his surfing days in Manhattan Beach, California, his 
     hometown. Paul recognized the importance of creating a 
     comprehensive model that involved business, government, 
     environmental advocates and communities without increasing 
     additional costs for local communities and taxpayers.
       13. In recognition of his achievements, Polizzotto has 
     received the following recognition: ``Public-Private 
     Visionary'' as featured in Vanity Fair magazine's May 2006 
     ``Green Issue''; the Coastal Living 2003 Leadership Award 
     from Coastal Living magazine for protecting our coastlines; 
     the 2002 Keeper Award for improving water conditions in the 
     Santa Monica Bay from the Santa Monica Baykeeper; and the 
     Year 2000 Achievement Award from the U.S. Environmental 
     Protection Agency for developing innovative technologies to 
     mitigate toxic urban runoff.

Mayor Anthony A. Williams Announces That the District of Columbia Will 
Become the Nation's First Site to Implement the `Ecozone sm 
                                Program

       Washington, DC, June 20, 2006.--In a unique public/private 
     partnership designed to forge solutions to the District's 
     most critical environmental challenges, District of Columbia 
     Mayor Anthony A. Williams today announced that the city will 
     launch the nation's first, and flagship, `EcoZone 
     sm program designed to fund important technologies 
     and solutions to measurably improve the local environment in 
     the areas of air, water, energy and greenspace--at no 
     additional cost to taxpayers.
       As the Nation's Capital, it is fitting that the District of 
     Columbia should implement the nation's first--and flagship--
     EcoZone program,'' said Mayor Williams. ``In partnering with 
     the federal government and the private sector for revenue and 
     support, the city can now address some of the most urgent 
     environmental challenges in our city--at no additional cost 
     to District taxpayers. Washington, DC is one of the most 
     beautiful cities in the world, and it is critical that we 
     maintain its beauty and a clean and healthy environment for 
     our residents and visitors.''
       Initial corporate sponsors for the District of Columbia's 
     EcoZone program include DaimlerChrysler and CH2MHill, AbTech, 
     Alcoa, BAE Systems, Zipcar and Willard Intercontinental 
     Hotel. Government agencies that will lend their support 
     include NOAA, EPA and the Department of Energy.
       Mayor Williams made the announcement at a press conference 
     at the City Museum & Historical Society of Washington, DC, at 
     Mt. Vernon Square. Among those joining the Mayor were Paul 
     Polizzotto, founder and CEO of EcoMedia; John Bozzella, Vice 
     President of External Affairs and Public Policy, Americas, 
     DaimlerChrysler Corporation; Liliana Maldonado, Senior Vice 
     President and Northeast Regional Manager, CH2M HILL; Benjamin 
     Grumbles, Assistant Administrator, Office of Water, EPA; Alan 
     Hecht, Director for Sustainable Development, Office of 
     Research and Development, U.S. EPA; Stephanie Branche, 
     Government Liaison, Region 3, EPA; Richard Moorer, Deputy 
     Assistant Secretary for Technology Development, U.S. 
     Department of Energy; Elizabeth Scheffler, CFO, Administrator 
     for Management and Budget, National Ocean Service, NOAA; and 
     William O. Howland, Jr., Director, Department of Public 
     Works, the District of Columbia.
       The District has entered into an agreement with EcoMedia to 
     implement the EcoZone program. EcoMedia is a leading 
     environmental media company that brings together government 
     and industry to forge solutions to pressing environmental 
     problems. The initiative will be funded solely through 
     corporate sponsorships, with half of all EcoZone revenues 
     generated from educational outdoor signage going to fund the 
     District's pre-determined environmental and clean energy 
     projects in each of the EcoZone's four signature areas: air, 
     energy, water, and greenspace.
       ``We are particularly happy today to announce our corporate 
     sponsorship of the innovative EcoZone program as it launches 
     in the nation's capital,'' said John Bozzella, Vice President 
     of External Affairs and Public Policy, Americas, 
     DaimlerChrysler Corporation. ``The EcoZone program 
     complements our commitment to developing vehicles that have 
     less impact on our environment, whether that's through 
     reducing fuel consumption and exhaust emissions, emitting 
     less CO2 or developing new alternative drive 
     systems, such as fuel cells.''
       Said Liliana Maldonado, Senior Vice President and Northeast 
     Regional Manager, CH2M HILL, ``We are proud to join in the 
     launch of today's EcoZone program, a partnership project 
     between communities and companies, because it reflects CH2M 
     HILL's ongoing mission to protect and preserve natural 
     resources around the globe. Since 1946, CH2M HILL has been 
     helping clients provide high quality drinking water and 
     sanitation for communities around the globe, environmental 
     remediation, sustainable development, habitat restoration, 
     energy efficiency, green architecture and low impact 
     development. From planning to design to construction and 
     operations, CH2M HILL embraces health, safety and 
     environmental protection because it is the right thing to do 
     for our people, our communities and our environment.''
       Under the EcoZone program, educational signage featuring 
     environmental messages will be posted throughout the 
     district. The signage will include EcoZone's public education 
     messages reminding consumers to recycle, ride-share, turn 
     lights off when not in use and avoid littering, among other 
     eco-friendly tips. In the District of Columbia there will be 
     approximately 100 EcoZone signs located throughout the city.
       Half of the revenues from the EcoZone corporate 
     sponsorships of educational outdoor signage will go directly 
     to a dedicated and audited government account to fund the 
     pre-determined environmental projects selected by the 
     District government. This will help the city comply with 
     federal environmental regulations, and/or fund new local 
     environmental programs that otherwise would not happen. 
     Cleanup projects can include:
       Storm drain catch basin insert filters that mitigate storm 
     water runoff,
       Hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles for municipal fleets 
     that improve both air quality and energy efficiency,
       Solar paneling on city facilities to provide alternative, 
     cleaner energy,
       Greening projects to convert industrial lots into green 
     space.
       EcoZone leverages program sponsorships to fund, produce and 
     administer comprehensive public education and environmental 
     outreach programs, including local cable television and radio 
     public service commercials, grassroots education campaigns, 
     branded merchandise, local community events and online media.
       Paul Polizzotto, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, 
     EcoMedia, said, ``We commend Mayor Williams for his 
     commitment to the quality of life in the District of Columbia 
     and for joining with businesses to launch our nation's first 
     EcoZone program. The District's EcoZone program, we hope, 
     will be the beginning of a national grassroots movement among 
     cities, corporations and consumers working together to 
     improve and strengthen our environment.''
       Additional cities and states to be included in a 2006 
     national rollout of the EcoZone program include: Miami; Long 
     Beach and other Southern California communities; and the 
     State of New Jersey, among others. EcoZone is the second 
     public private sponsorship model created by and managed by 
     EcoMedia. Its pilot program, Adopt-A-Waterway', 
     was launched in 2001. This award-winning, national program 
     pioneered the public/private model of raising money for 
     environmental cleanup--at no additional cost to taxpayers--
     and is currently underway in Miami, FL, Long Beach, CA, 
     Sacramento County, CA, as well as other communities 
     throughout the country.
       Based in New York City, EcoMedia is a leading environmental 
     media company dedicated to pioneering market-based media 
     solutions that generate necessary funds and resources to 
     address critical environmental challenges. For more 
     information, log on to: www.ecomedia.us.




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