THE U.S. EPA IS WAIVING A POTENTIAL $40,800 PENALTY AGAINST SHENANDOAH'S PRIDE, LLC AFTER THE COMPANY VOLUNTARILY DISCLOSED AND CORRECTED CHEMICAL RELEASE REPORTING VIOLATION AT ITS DAIRY PRODUCT PLANT IN SPRINGFIELD, VA. ACTING UNDER AN EPA POLICY THAT REWARDS COMPANIES FOR STRICTLY MONITORING THEIR OWN ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE, THE AGENCY'S MID-ATLANTIC OFFICE TODAY (6/7/01) ANNOUNCED THAT IT IS WAIVING TOTAL PENALTIES OF $345,105 AGAINST SHENANDOAH'S PRIDE AND SEVEN OTHER COMPANIES IN PENNSYLVANIA AND VIRGINIA THAT VOLUNTARILY DISCLOSED ENVIRONMENTAL VIOLATIONS. IN 1999, SHENANDOAH'S PRIDE NOTIFIED EPA THAT AN ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE AUDIT UNCOVERED POTENTIAL VIOLATIONS OF THE EMERGENCY PLANNING AND COMMUNITY RIGHT-TO- KNOW ACT (EPCRA) -- THE FEDERAL LAW REQUIRING COMPANIES TO FILE ANNUAL REPORTS ON TOXIC CHEMICALS. UNDER EPCRA, COMPANIES THAT MANUFACTURE, PROCESS OR USE MORE THAN A THRESHOLD AMOUNT OF REGULATED CHEMICALS MUST REPORT BOTH ROUTINE AND ACCIDENTAL RELEASES OF THESE CHEMICALS. SHENANDOAH'S PRIDE DISCOVERED THAT IT HAD INADVERTENTLY FAILED TO FILE TIMELY REPORTS ON RELEASES OF PHOSPHORIC COMPOUNDS IN 1995, 1996, AND 1997. THE COMPANY PROPMPTLY FILED THE REQUIRED REPORTS. NOTE: THE ALLEGED VIOLATIONS INVOLVED REPORTING REQUIREMENTS, NOT UNLAWFUL CHEMICAL RELEASES.