Pittsburgh, Pa., October 16, 2001 —The Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (GATF) has named Marcia Y. Kinter, vice president–government affairs for the Screenprinting and Graphic Imaging Association International (SGIA), as the recipient of the 2001 William D. Schaeffer Environmental Award. Initiated in 1990 in honor of GATF’s former research director William Schaeffer, this award honors significant contributions to environmental awareness by an individual in the printing industry. Though Ms. Kinter is primarily an advocate for the screen printing and graphic imaging industry, her influence has expanded beyond the focus of her "home" industry, and directly to the heart of environmental safety and heath regulation and activity as it relates to the graphic arts industry as a whole. This expansion has benefited all printing disciplines, which share many common regulatory concerns. She is a key player in regulatory initiatives on federal, state, and local levels, and is proactively involved with regulatory development at the planning stage and beyond. She is well versed in the way regulations are developed and has been highly successful working with regulators to establish regulations that both protect the environment and benefit business. In several letters of support, Ms. Kinter’s dedication to balanced environmental policies is noted. "Balancing the competing interest of printers and the environment objectively and articulating her concerns so clearly is a unique skill that results in her comments and opinions being listened to seriously both inside and outside of government. It’s a rare gift that more of us should have because it results in both environmental and economic progress," wrote Jim O’Leary, program analyst for the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). She is well respected by industry peers and regulators alike. Prior to Ms. Kinter joining SGIA in 1989, the association did not have a defined program emphasizing government activities. Soon after her arrival, SGIA elected to participate in two EPA voluntary partnership programs: Design for the Environment (DfE) and the Common Sense Initiative (CSI). Her commitment to these volunteer programs, for nearly a decade, has resulted in numerous benefits for the screen printers and the industry on the whole. Under SGIA’s leadership and DfE program support, Marcia Kinter and her staff designed an innovative SGIA DfE-Environmental Management System (EMS) product to help screen printers develop sophisticated, pollution prevention-based EMSs. This was the nation’s first sector-based EMS and, to date, the only sector-based EMS effort that has been implemented across the country. As a result of the success of this innovative project, EPA is encouraging other sector-based EMS approaches. Additionally she is a leader in numerous other programs aimed at educating the industry such as the Printer’s National Environmental Assistance Center (PNEAC) and the National Environmental Health & Safety Conference. She has worked on several state- level projects including developing two rules for California’s South Coast Air Quality Management District. She is also a sought-after industry speaker and frequently writes informative articles. For these efforts and many more, Ms. Kinter will receive a plaque at a luncheon on Saturday, October 27, 2001, during the 2001 GATF/PIA Fall Administrative Meetings at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort in St. Petersburg, Florida. William D. Schaeffer Environmental Award Background Candidates for the Schaeffer Award must meet the following criteria: * Significantly increase knowledge of the environmental effects of the materials and processes employed in printing and binding operations to both the printing industry and regulatory agencies. * Promote a wholesome and active graphic arts image by addressing and mitigating regulatory and public concerns for the environmental impact of graphic arts operations. * Encourage better environmental controls and a reduction of health hazards within the printing industry. * Help the industry cope with a growing tide of EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) regulations. The award also recognizes contributions within the industry, time spent, and personal and/or organizational resources expended with returns to the industry in terms of cost savings, more reasonable regulations, improved community relations, and/or a more wholesome workplace.