NEWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
QUALITY INN & SUITES HOTEL ADOPTS ISO 14001 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.
San Diego California - July 1, 1999: The Quality Inn & Suites of San
Diego, California, announced today it will adopt the internationally
recognized environmental management system, ISO 14001, as part of a
settlement agreement with the San Diego City Attorney.
Quality Inn and Suites Hotel made the decision to adopt ISO 14001 as part
of the settlement of a complaint by the San Diego City Attorney alleging
that Quality Inn and Suites had improperly disposed of asbestos containing
floor tiles. Although not admitting the complaint to have merit, Quality
Inn and Suites recognized an imperative need for a sound environmental
management system.
"Simply stated, by carrying out ISO 14001, we hope to waste fewer
resources, reduce liabilities, improve our public image and increase
profits" said Mr. Ward. Further, Mr. Ward declared, "we look forward to
all the benefits of being 'green' and of substantial savings of costs."
"In the past, we relied on outside 'experts' to assure that we complied
with our environmental obligations. That has proven very unsatisfactory."
said Barry Ward, Vice President of Narven Enterprises, management company
for the general partner for Quality Inn & Suites. "ISO 14001 will help us
take a closer look at how we manage our environmental activities and reduce
our risk of future infractions." he continued.
Quality Inn and Suites was represented in the negotiation of this
innovative settlement by Mr. S. Wayne Rosenbaum and Mr. Charles V.
Berwanger, Environmental Attorneys with the law firm of Higgs, Fletcher &
Mack LLP of San Diego. Mr. Berwanger stressed "we are extremely pleased
with this settlement. It is good for the environment, it is good for
Quality Inn and Suites and it is good for the hospitality industry
generally." Mr. Rosenbaum continued, "my hat is off to City Attorney
Steven Gold, my counterpart at the City Attorney's office, for his
farsightedness. Mr. Gold understands the best way to improve environmental
compliance is to improve environmental management."
Mr. Rosenbaum is particularly knowledgeable as to not only environmental
law generally, but as to environmental management systems specifically.
Mr. Rosenbaum is not only an ISO 14001 Auditor, but he is also the author
of the definitive text ISO 14001 and the Law, a legal guide for the
implementation of environmental management standards.
Quality Inn and Suites will be assisted in its implementation project by
First Environment, Inc., located in Woodland Hills, California, with
headquarters in Riverdale, New Jersey. First Environment is a leader in
environmental systems implementation. Its broad experience includes many
successful environmental systems' implementation in the manufacturing and
utilities sectors. Dr. Tod Delaney, President of First Environment,
observed "we are excited to have been selected as a member of the
implementation team. We are convinced that ISO 14001 will provide
significant profit enhancement for the hospitality industry while
minimizing their impacts on the environment."
Quality Inn and Suites is currently negotiating with Lloyd's Register
Quality Assurance (LRQA) to provide registration and auditing services.
LRQA is a leading international registrar of Environmental and Quality
Management Systems. Established in 1985 as a subsidiary of Lloyd’s
Register, itself established in 1760, LRQA has today issued ISO 14001 and
ISO 9000 registration certificates to more than 20,000 organizations in
over 100 countries.
LRQA maintains its headquarters in the United Kingdom and operates through
worldwide network of offices from which approximately 1,000 full time staff
deliver its registration and training services. Key to LRQA’s success is
its ability to provide a local service consistently on a global basis. This
capability has resulted in LRQA counting many of the world’s major
multinational companies among its clients.
In North America, LRQA is currently the leading ISO 14001 registrar,
having issued certificates to over 100 organizations. Related services
include:
· Corporate environmental report verification
· Certification of environmental product declarations
· Attestation of corporate environmental programs’ compatibility with ISO
14001
· EMAS verifications
· Certification of health and safety management systems
· EMS training.
In addition to implementing ISO 14001 at the Quality Inn & Suites Hotel,
Mr. Rosenbaum, Dr. Delaney and Mr. Backus will provide workshops for the
hospitality industry throughout San Diego to educate the industry on the
value of adopting ISO 14001.
Finally, Quality Inn and Suites, in furtherance of its desire to
contribute to environmental protection and as a part of its settlement,
will pay all costs incurred by the San Diego City Attorney's office during
its investigation and negotiations, and will make a charitable contribution
to the Western States Project of $20,000 and pay a civil penalty of $50,000.
For more information, please contact S. Wayne Rosenbaum, Higgs, Fletcher &
Mack LLP, 401 West A Street, Suite 2600, San Diego, California 92101,
telephone number (619)236-1551 and facsimile number (619)696-1410.
CONTACT: S. Wayne Rosenbaum June 29, 1999
Higgs, Fletcher & Mack LLP
401 West "A" Street, Suite 2600
San Diego, CA 92101
(619)236-1551
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
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<x-rich><bold><bigger><bigger>S. Wayne Rosenbaum, Esq.
</bigger>HIGGS FLETCHER AND MACK, LLP
401 West A Street
San Diego, California 92101<bigger>
</bigger></bigger>Phone: 619-434-0295
Fax: 619-434-0072
e-mail: enlaw@lawinfo
</bold>URL: WWW.Lawinfo.com/law/ca/environmentallaw</x-rich>
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