Dick Buchi Receiving EPA Award	EPA Plaque	To view larger image and names of partecipants on photo

On August 11, 2004 Dick Buchi and his team from Hill Air Force Base were presented with an EPA Regional Administrator's Award for Environmental Excellence for the elimination of hexavalent chromium use in their aircraft pre-painting operations. Hill AFB initiated this change in 1996 when it received Pollution Prevention funding to evaluate non-chromate replacements for chromated conversion coatings used in the pre-treatment of aircraft. The goal of the funding, which has proven successful, was to eliminate the exposure of highly soluble and carcinogenic concentrations of hexavalent chromium to workers and Hill AFB's environmental community.

The non-chromate technology, manufactured by Pantheon Chemical and commercially sold under the brand name PreKote, provides Hill AFB and other U.S. Air Force Bases with safer working environments and cost savings. Utah Governor, Olene Walker, conducted the official ceremony which took place at the Utah State Capitol building in Salt Lake City. Others participating in the ceremony included:

•     EPA Regional Administrator, Robbie Roberts
•     Executive Director of the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Dianne Nielson
•     Vice Commander of Hill Force Base, Colonel William McCasland
•     Pantheon Chemical's Chief Executive Officer, Laura Roberts

To view other quotes from the EPA Awards Ceremony click here

To view the photographs from the EPA Awards ceremony click here

To view the video from the EPA Awards ceremony click here

To view the EPA Award Ceremony press release click here

To view the Hill AFB nomination submitted to the EPA click here