(Columbus)--Director of Commerce Donna Owens will unveil Wednesday a new statewide program designed to help protect the environment. The Green Buckeye Award Program will be detailed at a press conference this Wednesday, August 27 at the Shell Oil Company Station located at 4733 Morse Rd, Gahanna (Corner of Morse and Hamilton Roads). The event will take place from 10:30 - 11 a.m.

"When traveling this holiday weekend, Ohioans may encounter an unfamiliar site at the gas pump," said Owens. "The Green Buckeye will help consumers easily identify gas stations that are operating their underground tank systems in substantial compliance with Ohio's environmental laws."

The award, a sticker that can be placed directly on gas pumps of qualifying stations, signifies that the station is in substantial compliance with Ohio's environmental laws. These laws require that underground tanks be registered with the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Underground Storage Tank Regulation, employ leak detection methods, and pay into the Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Release Compensation Board, which provides financial coverage for corrective action in the event of a spill.

The Green Buckeye Program rewards owners who have spent the time and money to ensure that their underground storage tank systems are properly registered and operating in substantial compliance with environmental laws. It works on the premise that the vast majority of consumers will pay more for an environmentally safe product.

Media will be shown various components of the public education portion of the program, including video and radio public service announcements. A question and answer period will follow the presentation. Director Owens, State Fire Marshal James McNamee and Chairman of the Ohio Petroleum Marketers Association Scott Stipp will make remarks.

In the event of rain, the press conference will be held in room 1924 of the Vern Riffe Center for Government and the Arts, 77 South High Street, Columbus. An advisory alerting media to the location will be sent by 8:30 a.m. Wednesday.

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