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Virginia Official To Guide Environmental Affairs at Smithfield Foods

Dec. 26, 2001

Smithfield Foods Inc. named Virginia's top environmental official to the newly-created position of vice president, environmental affairs and government relations.

EHS Today Staff

Dennis H. Treacy, director of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, will join the company on Jan. 7.

Treacy has been head of the Virginia DEQ since 1998, when he was appointed by Governor Jim Gilmore. He has overseen Virginia's environmental programs to protect air and water quality, manage solid and hazardous waste, pollution prevention initiatives and safeguard other natural resources.

"Smithfield Foods is rapidly becoming a world class company ... This evolution includes the growth and expansion of the environmental affairs sector of our business. Dennis Treacy will play a key role for us in that objective," said C. Larry Pope, president and chief operating officer.

Treacy said he's impressed with Smithfield Foods' "serious approach to environmental programs. "Top company officials have indicated to me that they want more than compliance and continual improvement in regard to protecting human health and the environment. They want to be leaders in environmental performance. I am excited about the opportunity to help guide this effort."

A Smithfield Foods' hog farming subsidiary became the world's first agricultural livestock operation to earn the coveted ISO 14001 certification for its environmental management system. The company also is investing $15 million in waste management research at North Carolina State University and has pledged $50 million to fund environmental enhancement programs in North Carolina.

Treacy previously was an area manager for government affairs for Browning-Ferris Industries for Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. An attorney, he served as assistant attorney general in the natural resources section of the Virginia Attorney General's office from 1990 to 1995, representing DEQ and the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

Treacy has been active with the Environmental Council of the States, serving on the Executive Board and chairing the Cross-Media Committee and is a member of more than a dozen statewide and national boards and commissions.

edited by Sandy Smith ([email protected])

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EHS Today Staff

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