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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

OPEI Makes Progress Toward overturning Proposed Ban In Texas
Industry and Users of Gasoline Powered Lawn and Garden Equipment to Benefit from Trade Association's Efforts

Alexandria, VA, September, 2000 --- A proposed ban on morning use of gasoline powered lawn and garden equipment might be overturned, thanks to efforts by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI). The ban, which has been proposed by the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC), would become effective in the Houston/Galveston area (eight counties in the ozone non-attainment area) from April 1st through October 31st, beginning April 1st, 2005. TRNCC's objective is to help achieve compliance with federal ozone or urban smog standards, and accordingly, the use of all gasoline powered handheld and non-handheld lawn and garden equipment would be prohibited between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon. If passed, this rule could result in a hardship for consumer and professional users of this equipment and be damaging to business.

To help pave the way for an overturn of this ban, OPEI's initiatives are focusing on other ways that TNRCC can achieve the federally mandated ozone or urban smog standards:

1. OPEI will work with TNRCC on refining the Texas emissions model for outdoor power equipment which estimates the total emissions (TNRCC may have overestimated);
2. OPEI will work with TNRCC on adoption of regulations for all new portable non-spill gas cans and spouts. This would provide Texas with emission reductions similar to those achieved through the proposed hours of use ban.

OPEI recently held successful meetings with TNRCC representatives and while their alternative proposals are not final with the TNRCC, OPEI is optimistic such efforts will achieve mutually beneficial results. OPEI's efforts to modify the proposed regulation would save the industry millions of dollars over the next several years by allowing continued sales of products in Texas. Concurrently these efforts would also benefit equipment users in Texas. A final determination on OPEI's alternative proposals will be made by the TNRCC on December 6, 2000.

OPEI is a trade association whose membership is primarily composed of U.S. manufacturers of powered lawn and garden maintenance products, components and attachment supplies, as well as industry-related services. OPEI's domestic members manufacture in excess of 95% of the U.S. consumer retail market for gas and electric powered lawn and garden maintenance products.

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