John G. Waffenschmidt Appointed to the Pennsylvania Environmental Justice Advisory Board

MORRISTOWN, N.J., March 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Covanta Energy Corporation, an internationally recognized owner and operator of large-scale Energy-from-Waste and renewable energy projects, announced today that John G. Waffenschmidt, vice president of environmental science and community affairs, has been appointed to the Pennsylvania Environmental Justice Advisory Board (EJAB) by Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Acting Secretary Michael L. Krancer.

The EJAB is charged with protecting the environmental health of communities, especially those communities with the greatest concentration of environmental risks, by overseeing the implementation of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's (PADEP) Environmental Justice policy. The Board will review and advise PADEP management on existing and proposed regulations and policies concerning the environment and lead the way on issues relating to Environmental Justice.

The United States EPA defines Environmental Justice (EJ) as the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin or income with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies. In 1992, the EPA created the Office of Environmental Justice to integrate EJ into its policies, programs and activities.

"I'm extremely pleased to be appointed as a member of the EJAB by the Pennsylvania DEP," said Mr. Waffenschmidt. "At Covanta, we are committed to addressing EJ concerns and are dedicated to an open and transparent discussion of potential EJ issues. I look forward to being an active participant in such a foresighted group and I feel particularly enriched to be able to once again serve the citizens of Pennsylvania on such an important issue."

Mr. Waffenschmidt was a member of the original workgroup that helped establish the EJAB. At various points in his career he has worked as a regulator, served as a member of local government, worked as a project developer and been a preparer of applications for new solid waste facilities. This past summer Mr. Waffenschmidt presented at the Chester, PA Environmental Justice Conference.

Covanta's commitment to EJ has evolved in a manner similar to the U.S. EPA's, with specific efforts rooted in the early 1990s and evolving to the more comprehensive program it is today. The company is presently developing an EJ policy that includes input from a variety of EJ experts and advocates. This policy will serve as the overarching strategy for future efforts.

Covanta's Energy-from-Waste facilities provide a safe, sustainable waste disposal method that reduces greenhouse gases and produces clean, renewable energy from municipal solid waste. The company continues to work to address the needs of the communities by maintaining healthy relationships and constructive interaction with community leaders, clients and others interested in facility operations.

About Covanta

Covanta Energy Corporation is an internationally recognized owner and operator of large-scale Energy-from-Waste and renewable energy projects and a recipient of the Energy Innovator Award from the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Covanta's 44 Energy-from-Waste facilities provide communities with an environmentally sound solution to their solid waste disposal needs by using that municipal solid waste to generate clean, renewable energy. Annually, Covanta's modern Energy-from-Waste facilities safely and securely convert approximately 20 million tons of waste into 9 million megawatt hours of clean renewable electricity and more than 9 billion pounds of steam that are sold to a variety of industries. For more information, visit www.covantaenergy.com.

SOURCE Covanta Energy Corporation

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