SYRACUSE, NY, 04-JAN-01 -- Lockheed Martin Naval Electronics & Surveillance Systems-Syracuse (NE&SS-Syracuse) today announced it is the first Central New York company, and one of only 225 facilities nationwide, to be accepted as a charter member of the Achievement Track of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) National Environmental Performance Track Program. Lockheed Martin's Syracuse facility complied with all of the requirements necessary to become a charter member of the Achievement Track. The facility scored high marks for its positive relations with the community, said Evans Stamataky, EPA regional coordinator.

The National Environmental Performance Track is designed to motivate and reward top environmental performance, according to the EPA. In order to become a charter member of the track, facilities must show that they are committed to improving their environmental performance.

Lockheed Martin's Syracuse facility has significantly reduced its solid and hazardous waste generation and water usage during the past two years. In addition, the facility has made a commitment to further reduce hazardous and solid waste by decreasing the amount of hazardous materials used at the facility and improving its solid waste recycling rate.

NE&SS-Syracuse's acceptance into this charter program is a testament to the kind of importance we place on our environmental management program, said Brian Kent, manager, Environmental Safety and Health (ESH). We have voluntarily made a commitment to the EPA and the public to go beyond compliance to improve our environmental performance. We are proud to serve as a model for other companies and will continue our commitment to environmental excellence.

A leader in ground-based and airborne radar, surface vessel and submarine electronic warfare, anti-submarine warfare systems and sensors, minehunting systems and vessel traffic management, Lockheed Martin Naval Electronics & Surveillance Systems-Syracuse serves customers including all branches of the U.S. armed forces, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Departments of Commerce, Transportation and State, and defense and transportation departments of countries on six continents. NE&SS-Syracuse employs approximately 2,100 people at its Syracuse, N.Y., headquarters and is a unit of Lockheed Martin Corporation.