(Columbus)--Director of Commerce Donna Owens today unveiled a new statewide program designed to help protect the environment. The Green Buckeye Award Program helps consumers identify gas stations that are in substantial compliance with environmental laws governing underground storage tanks.

"I urge all Ohioans to help protect Ohio's environment by looking for the Green Buckeye when they purchase gas," said Owens. "The Green Buckeye helps 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 (BUSTR), 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.

"Unfortunately, the cost of maintaining compliant tanks is expensive, prompting some station owners to disregard the law and threaten the environment." said Owens. "The Green Buckeye can assists responsible tank owners by helping them attract consumers who care about the environment."

According to State Fire Marshal James J. McNamee, support has been strong from the petroleum industry, as well as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which gave $20,000 to help pay for the program. The U.S. EPA awarded the program a blue ribbon at its All States' Conference in March. In addition, seven other states have contacted Ohio expressing interest in starting similar programs.

"The Ohio petroleum industry believes that the Green Buckeye Program is an innovative enforcement idea and has supported the concept from its inception," said Scott Stipp, Chairman of the Ohio Petroleum Marketers Association and President and CEO of District Petroleum in Sandusky. "Companies that haven't complied with the law simply will lose business, as they should."

Another advantage of the program is that it can help identify stations that are not properly registered with BUSTR. Consumers can report stations without a Green Buckeye sticker by calling (800) 686-2878.

In order to educate the public, Commerce has produced radio and television public service announcements, printed posters and flyers and utilized their state fair booth to promote the program.

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The Department of Commerce enforces regulations regarding industrial compliance, fire codes, financial institutions, securities, real estate, auctioneers, and unclaimed funds, among others. The former Department of Liquor Control joined the Department on July 1, 1997 as the Division of Liquor Control.