NEWPRO - Northern Engineered Wood Products Inc.

COMPOSITE PANEL ASSOCIATION ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERABLE PRODUCT (EPP) SPECIFICATION

Following Executive Order 13101 (1988), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency developed guidelines for environmentally preferable purchasing to encourage the purchase of products with enhanced environmental performance considering multiple environmental attributes.

Since then few industries and federal agencies have developed EPP based certification criteria. In 2001, the Composite Panel Association began the process of developing an EPP-based certification program to permit companies to certify that their products were (1) made from 100% recycled or recovered fiber, as specifically defined; and (2) fully compliant with ANSI standards for product emissions.

Recognizing the increased demand for environmentally friendly products, and based on EPA's guidelines, the composite panel industry began the development of an EPP specification and certification program in 2001 with a view toward making it available to all qualifying industry mills in North America. Approved by CPA's Board in October 2002, this program represents the first of its kind in the wood products industry.

CPA will certify products to its EPP Specification within the association's accredited and widely recognized Grademark Certification Program, which follows International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Guide 65 for quality control programs and is currently being considered for American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accreditation. EPP certification procedures mandate an initial application and inspection and that participants be subject to quarterly on-site audits to ensure compliance. Products that bear the EPP stamp provide assurance that they have been certified as meeting these rigorous requirements.

CPA's EPP certification program is intended for widespread use throughout the woodworking industries. Beyond raw board producers, it will provide opportunities for manufacturers of furniture, cabinetry, millwork, fixtures and other finished products. All products produced at the Smithers mill are EPP compliant. The Wanham Mill is in the process of instituting the EPP program and is expecting to be EPP compliant by the summer of 2003.

Smithers Secured EPP Certification