Bluewater Network announced todaythat Mercury Marine had won its first-ever, "2001Environmental Leadership Award", for leadership and commitmenttowards protecting the marine environment.

Bluewater Network, which has been afrequent critic of the marine engine industry, has been impressedby the recent performance of Mercury Marine.

Dr. Russell Long, Executive Directorof Bluewater Network said, "Since George W. Buckley becamePresident of Mercury Marine, the company has voluntarily pursuedenvironmental standards both more aggressively and rapidly thancalled for by regulatory agencies such as the EnvironmentalProtection Agency and the California Air Resources Board.

"This is clearly demonstratedby the fact that Mercury has certified more "ultra-lowemissions," three-star engines than any other manufacturer,has committed to end the sale of its conventional two-strokes inthe US and Canada by model year 2006, and has set up a clean,state-of-the-art indoor test facility to reduce air, water andnoise pollution from its engines." Long pointed out that DFIand Optimax sales would continue.

"In addition, Mercury hasvolunteered to use California's new eco-label on all of itsengines in the US and Canada to provide boaters with importantenvironmental information for making their purchase decisions.Finally, Mercury has also expanded its line of four-stroke engines,a technology that Bluewater believes will prove to be the cleanestof all in the near future.

"Mercury's commitment toending the sale of conventional two-strokes destroys the argumentthat it can't be done. In the future, companies'environmental records will be judged by who follows Mercury'slead, and how quickly. The days of dirty outboards and the classictwo-strokes are numbered."

Dr. Russell Long: 415-788-3666, ext. 110