The following is a letter from the United States Environmental Protection Agency to the Norchem Corporation:

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency applauds Norchem Corporation for your excellent environmental leadership in developing your "NUpHASE" and "MAXIMIZE" detergents in partnership with EPA's Design for the Environment ("DfE") initiative. DfE seeks to promote the use of chemical formulations with improved environmental and human health characteristics. Your NUpHASE and MAXIMIZE products achieve that objective in the industrial and institutional laundry sectors.

The key purpose of the DfE-Norchem Corporation partnership is to recognize and encourage the environmentally preferable chemistry and technology of NUpHASE and MAXIMIZE. EPA is enthusiastic about Norchem's successful efforts to reformulate these detergents. Norchem's use of more biodegradable and less toxic surfactants, bleaches, and solvents illustrates your active environmental stewardship and dedication to continuous improvement. The significant water, energy and fabric savings of NUpHASE and MAXIMIZE offer important environmental advances as well.

Industrial laundries as well as hotels, nursing homes, and other institutional laundries using products recognized by the DfE program will be participants in this important national effort to protect our country's aquatic environment and at the same time improve the working conditions within the laundry. Again, I commend Norchem Corporation for your commitment to improving the performance and environmental profile of your products.

Sincerely, Bill Hanson, Chief Design for the Environment Program