SOUTHFIELD, MI - BASF's Greenville and Whitehouse, OH, coatings and resins facilities received the Ohio Chemistry Technology Council's 2003 "Excellence in Responsible Care" Award for environmental, health and safety performance. The award was presented in Columbus at the state chemical trade association's annual conference.

The Responsible Care program is an American Chemistry Council initiative on health, environmental and safety programs and community-outreach efforts. A panel of judges of the Ohio Chemistry Technology Council (OCTC) considered a number of factors in choosing the award winners, including company operation of an active community advisory panel; a strong pollution-prevention effort that puts a priority on source reduction; and operational controls and procedures that prevented any serious accidents or incidents during 2003.

BASF's Greenville location produces resins and coatings used in automotive and industrial applications. The Whitehouse facility includes the company's North American Customer Service Center, Coatings Laboratories and Application and Training Center.

Wally Adams, manager of the Greenville site, said the OCTC award "honors the total team effort of our employees here in Greenville." Karl Schnapp, manager, Site/Administrative Services for the Whitehouse facility, said the OCTC recognition "never gets old" even though the site has won the award for 11 consecutive years. He said the Whitehouse employees and management are "working hard to make sure our tradition of performance continues."