Coca-Cola Enterprises Launches Largest Hybrid Electric Delivery Trucks in North America

Today Governor Sonny Perdue and EPA Deputy Regional Administrator Stan Meiburg joined Coca-Cola Enterprises Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John F. Brock to announce the deployment of the largest hybrid electric delivery trucks in North America.

“I want to commend Coca-Cola Enterprises for receiving this award, and I am proud that this great company relies on Georgia as its home base,” said Governor Perdue. “Their investment in hybrid electric vehicles distinguishes the company amongst its peers and ensures that it remains at the forefront as a true leader in corporate responsibility and sustainability.”

The hybrid electric tractors announced today are the standard bulk delivery truck the company uses for large deliveries. They use about 30 percent less fuel and produce about 30 percent fewer emissions than standard tractors. A motor/generator, working with the transmission and a series of lithium ion batteries, allows the truck to source electrical power instead of gas when traveling at speeds below 30 MPH, reducing emissions and fuel use.

CCE plans to incrementally deploy 185 of the hybrid electric trucks across the United States and Canada in 2009, bringing their total number of hybrid electric delivery trucks to 327, the largest such fleet in North America. The company already has 142 smaller hybrid electric delivery vehicles on the road.

Meiburg, who presented CCE with a leadership award on behalf of the Southeast Diesel Collaborative for the company’s commitment to hybrid vehicles to reduce diesel emissions, added, “EPA is proud to recognize the efforts of Coca-Cola Enterprises to improve air quality and protect public health. Emissions from diesel engines are a serious public health threat and environmental challenge, and reducing these emissions is a priority for EPA.”

“Coca-Cola Enterprises has long been responsive to the needs of our local communities, and the continued expansion of our hybrid-electric fleet here in our hometown of Atlanta and across North America demonstrates our commitment to energy efficiency and climate change,” said Brock. “With the deployment of our newer, larger hybrid delivery vehicles, CCE is continuing to explore ways to help our customers and communities through our corporate responsibility and sustainability efforts. These efforts help us capture operational efficiencies, drive innovation and effectiveness, and eliminate waste while simultaneously protecting the environment.”

Beginning in 2001, CCE began an intensive research and design program with their suppliers to develop, test and produce hybrid electric trucks. The company plans to deploy the large hybrid tractors to: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Portland, San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa, Toronto, Vancouver, and Washington, DC. Additionally, the company plans to deploy incremental hybrid 12-bay trucks to Albuquerque, Columbus, Jacksonville, Las Vegas, and Montreal.

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American Lung Association Faults Environmental Protection Agency for Ignoring Deadly Particle Pollution in Five U.S. Cities in List Released Today

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Lung Association faults the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for leaving five U.S. cities off its list of those required to take immediate action to reduce particle pollution in the air. This deadly omission puts public health in the following metropolitan areas at considerable risk: Houston, Texas; Augusta, Georgia; Columbus, Georgia; Greenville, South Carolina; and Fairmont, West Virginia. In addition, EPA left many individual counties off the list despite the impact of emissions from those counties on pollution in metropolitan areas.

Particle pollution is typically a mixture of ash, soot, diesel exhaust, chemicals, metals and aerosols. It can trigger heart attacks and strokes, and cause irregular heartbeats, lung cancer and premature births. Breathing particle pollution year-round can shorten life by one to three years. The five cities omitted from the EPA's list all showed unhealthy year-round levels of fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5. In its list released today, the EPA only identified counties and metropolitan areas that experience unhealthy spikes in particulate matter pollution over the course of a 24-hour period.

The Clean Air Act requires that the EPA officially notify all localities with documented unhealthy levels of particulate air pollution so that leaders can begin to make necessary changes.

"The Clean Air Act plainly requires the EPA to identify all the places where air pollution poses a threat to public health," said Paul G. Billings, Vice President, National Policy and Advocacy of the American Lung Association. "This process is essential to reducing the burden of air pollution in these communities, because it triggers critical protective measures to reduce air pollution and protect public health."

According to EPA records, year-round particulate matter levels in Houston and Columbus, Georgia, have worsened and people in these communities are at risk. Particle pollution harms people in many ways, even when the particle levels are very low. Particle pollution worsens serious respiratory disorders, including asthma and causes wheezing and coughing. People most at risk include children and teens, seniors, people with asthma and other lung diseases, people with cardiovascular diseases and diabetics.

In 2006, the EPA set new limits, called standards, for unhealthy levels of PM2.5, triggering a two-year process to identify which counties fail to meet the standards. In today's official action, the EPA formally determines, or "designates" counties that fail to meet, or "attain," the standards. Those counties then fall into a classification of "nonattainment" that triggers specific measures to be put in place to reduce emissions. Other counties do not have to comply with these requirements.

EPA misses many individual counties, limiting clean-up in larger cities

The Lung Association also found that EPA's official "nonattainment" list omitted many counties that are part of larger metropolitan areas with recognized unhealthy levels of particle pollution. Large sources of particle pollution, such as highways, railroads and industries are usually spread throughout a metropolitan area. To tackle the complex clean up of these widespread sources, the planning area needs to include all the counties where sources exist. Omitting these counties makes it harder for the rest of the metropolitan area to meet the standard. The American Lung Association previously advised EPA that all the counties should be included in any metropolitan area that monitored unhealthy levels.

"It's naive to act as if air pollution is trapped by the invisible lines that define our counties' borders," said Billings. "The EPA has a responsibility to do more to protect public health when it comes to air pollution."

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MIT Holding, Inc.: Independent certification and validation of ProVectorTM Completed by Georgia Southern University

(BUSINESS WIRE) - The Georgia Southern University Research and Service Foundation located in Statesboro, GA, advised MIT on November 27, 2008 it had successfully completed its independent Validation and Certification of ProVectorTM Models under contract by MIT, Holding Inc.; portions of the study available on-line at www.mitholdinginc.com.

MIT can now offer for public use the first of the new line of ProVectorTM products developed by Dr. Tom Kollars from MEVLABS, Inc. and Pro Vector, LLC and licensed to MIT. ProVectorTM Bt (patent pending) is an economical and environmentally safe device for killing adult mosquitoes. The parts include a plastic flower with colors, chemical attractants and a refill containing Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bt) biopesticide. One refill lasts from three to six months depending on the size of the mosquito population.

ProVectorTM Bt is unique because it is the first commercially available device to imitate a flower to which adult mosquitoes come to feed on Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bt) pesticide. It was designed with the philosophy of keeping “Green” and made of virtually indestructible plastic which reduces waste and it only allows mosquitoes to feed on it, eliminating the spread of pesticides into the environment. The device includes a flower with color, chemical attractants, and a refill containing Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bt) biopesticide. One refill will last from three to six months depending on the size of the mosquito population.

The active biopesticide Bt, is short for Bacillus thuringiensis, is a bacteria that has been studied by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and found Bt safe enough to be exempt from food residue tolerances, groundwater restrictions, species labeling and special review requirements. Bt has historically been used to treat water sources in order to kill mosquito larvae as they filter in water. However, adult mosquitoes do not live in water and have different feeding habits than larvae. In addition to blood, most female mosquitoes feed on sugar sources for energy and all male mosquitoes use sugar sources. The ProVectorTM imitates the look and taste of flowers in order to trick the adult mosquitoes into eating Bt. Dr. Kollars and his staff have had astonishing results with their ProVectorTM Bt formulation, having a kill rate of over 80% in 24 hours and 100% within a week in the laboratory.

ProVectorTM Bt seeks to achieve low cost and safety by using Bt in a contained manner without spreading it to the environment. MIT Holding is pleased to team with MEVLABS, Inc. and ProVector, LLC to provide the ProVectorTM Bt as another tool in the arsenal of public health officials and pest management professionals in their fight to battle mosquitoes and save lives.

About MIT HOLDING

MIT through its wholly owned subsidiaries, based in Savannah, Georgia, provides medical services to Hospitals, Clinics, Doctor’s offices and their Patients. Medical Infusion Technologies is a Pharmacy based infusion business. The licensed pharmacy can dispense infusible and non-infusible prescription pharmaceuticals to treat a wide range of chronic and acute health conditions. The home medical equipment division carries a wide variety of durable medical equipment and supplies for purchase or lease. The division maintains inventory and can rapidly obtain a wide variety of home medical equipment products to match almost any request. The Physician based Ambulatory Care Center provides eight on site intravenous suites for patients with a wide range of IV Therapy needs.

Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the information contained in this release contains forward-looking statements (as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act") and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 the "Exchange Act"), which mean that they relate to events or transactions that have not yet occurred, our expectations or estimates for our future operations, our growth strategies or business plans or other facts that have not yet occurred. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "might," "may," "could," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "likely," "intend," "believe," or "continue" or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology. For an explanation of some of the risks and uncertainties facing MIT HOLDING and its investors, please see our most recent prospectus on file with the Securities Exchange Commission. The risk factors contained therein should be considered by prospective investors for their potential impact on forward-looking statements included in this release. These important factors, among others that might not be listed, may cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. We caution investors that such discussions of important risks and uncertainties are not exclusive, and our business may be subject to other risks and uncertainties, which are not detailed there.

Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. We make forward-looking statements as of the date of this release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements after the date hereof whether as a result of new information or events, changed circumstances, or otherwise, except as required by law.

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News to Use in Fayetteville, Atlanta, Savannah, Statesboro and all of Georgia

Waste Management and Sony Electronics to Host Free Electronics Recycling Event

PRNewswire/ -- To encourage consumers to recycle electronic devices in an environmentally sound manner, Sony Electronics Inc. and Waste Management Recycle America are asking Atlanta-area residents to take action and recycle their old electronics for free Nov. 22 at Turner Field from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The first 2,000 participants to drop off their unwanted electronics will receive a free, environmentally friendly cloth tote.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 82 percent of the 2.25 million tons of old TVs, cell phones and computer products generated in the last two years ended up in landfills. By recycling old electronics products, useful materials -- such as glass, plastic and metals -- can be collected and re-used in the manufacture of other products. Since their partnership began, Sony Electronics and Waste Management have collected more than 11.1 million pounds of electronics waste, and the companies anticipate that number will grow exponentially as they continue to host events throughout the country.

Typically, residents would need to pay for their electronics to be properly collected and recycled, but as part of their ongoing efforts to help consumers recycle electronic devices safely, Sony Electronics and Waste Management are picking up the tab for this weekend's event, where any brand of electronics will be collected for free. In addition, the companies have committed to collecting and processing these items in an environmentally sound manner.

Both Sony and Waste Management are signatories to the Basel Action Network's Manufacturers' Commitment to Responsible E-Waste Recycling. The actions signify the companies' agreement to conduct their electronics recycling programs transparently and in accord with rigorous environmental and worker safety standards, and adhere to measures to prevent the export of hazardous e-waste to developing countries.

The event is part of Sony Electronics' ongoing Take Back Recycling program, which provides free recycling for Sony products. This national effort is also bringing attention to recycling e-waste and educating the public that there are alternatives to trashing electronics, and that -- through recycling -- natural resources can be used again and greenhouse emissions are reduced in the process.

"Sony Electronics intends to lead the industry in environmental stewardship by providing consumers with end-of-life solutions through our Take Back Recycling Program," said Mark Small, vice president of environment, safety and health for Sony Electronics. "These special recycling events help us inform consumers that with Waste Management, Sony Electronics has established a local permanent drop-off location which they can use all year long to recycle their electronics when unplugged for the last time."

This coming February, all television stations will transition from broadcasting on analog airwaves to digital. Some older televisions will not be able to pick up the digital transmission, so Sony Electronics and Waste Management are taking a proactive approach to this issue by offering residents a permanent network of drop-off points that gives consumers a convenient way to recycle their old televisions through the Take Back Recycling Program, through which this weekend's event is possible.

"People are seeking services to help them recycle electronic waste responsibly and economically," said Matthew Coz, vice president of Growth and Commodity Sales, Waste Management Recycle America. "We hope to collect as much recyclable material as possible through this free event. It is our way of demonstrating a shared commitment with the community, by providing outstanding customer service and environmental stewardship."

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Plantation Pipe Line Will Pay Penalty for Fuel Spills in Va., N.C., Ga.

PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Plantation Pipe Line Company, Alpharetta, Ga., has agreed to pay a civil penalty and implement safeguards in order to resolve a Clean Water Act lawsuit over fuel pipeline spills in three states, the Justice Department, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state of North Carolina announced.

The company has agreed to pay a $725,000 penalty for discharges of jet fuel and gasoline in Virginia, Georgia and North Carolina, and for inadequate spill prevention safeguards at a Virginia facility. The company also has agreed to implement $1.3 million in new spill prevention safeguards.

"Companies like Plantation Pipe Line that operate oil production infrastructure have a responsibility to ensure the safety and integrity of their operations," said Ronald J. Tenpas, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division. "We continue to work closely with the Environmental Protection Agency to enforce this nation's environmental laws."

"Federal oil pollution prevention requirements, along with regular pipeline upgrades, are designed to prevent the kinds of oil spills that have occurred on Plantation's pipeline system," said Donald Welsh, administrator for EPA's mid-Atlantic region. "The pipeline upgrades required in this settlement will help protect the environment by preventing future spills."

"Oil spills can cause significant harm to the environment," said Jimmy Palmer, EPA Regional Administrator in Atlanta. "EPA will continue to ensure that facilities handling oils follow established procedures to minimize risk to our water and sensitive ecosystems."

The lawsuit cited Plantation for four separate fuel spills from 2000 to 2006, totaling 1,005 barrels (or 42,210 gallons):

-- On Nov. 27, 2006, at least 97 barrels of gasoline leaked from a
Plantation pipeline in Mecklenburg County, N.C., some flowing into Paw
Creek.
-- On Feb. 22, 2003, at least 788 barrels of gasoline spilled from a
pipeline in Hull, Ga., some entering a tributary of East Sandy Creek.
-- On Mar. 13, 2002, at least 20 barrels of jet fuel were discharged from
a pipeline in Alexandria, Va., some flowing to a tributary of Hooff
Run.
-- On Jan. 10, 2000, at least 100 barrels of jet fuel leaked from a
pipeline in Newington, Va., some of which spilled into Accotink Creek.


The lawsuit also cited Plantation Pipe Line for failing to prepare and implement a required spill prevention, control and countermeasure plan for a 420,000-gallon oil storage tank at its Newington, Va., facility.

The settlement requires Plantation to pay a $715,000 penalty to the federal government's Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund and $10,000 to the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources. In addition, the company will implement $1.3 million in spill prevention safeguards, including upgrades to pipelines and excavating buried valves to improve regular inspection capabilities.

The Clean Water Act prohibits discharges of oil into waterways and coastal areas in quantities that may be harmful to the environment or public health. Oil spills threaten both fresh water and marine environments, harming plant and animal life through physical damage and the toxicity of the oil itself, which may poison exposed organisms. For more information on the effects and cleanups of oil spills, visit: http://www.epa.gov/oilspill.

The proposed consent decree, filed by the U.S. Department of Justice on behalf of EPA and North Carolina, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval. A copy of the proposed consent decree is available on the Justice Department Web site at www.usdoj.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html.

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Chambliss, Isakson Applaud EPA’s Swift Decision to Support Governor Perdue’s Request to Provide Relief from Gas Shortage

U.S. Senators Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., and Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., today applauded the decision by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to support Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue’s request to temporarily extend relief from the federally enforceable sulfur gasoline requirements in the 45-county fuel control area. The waiver granted by the EPA is effective immediately and will help ease the gas shortage in Georgia.

“I applaud the swift decision by the folks at EPA to uphold Governor Perdue’s request,” said Chambliss. “Extending relief from this requirement in the short term will make more gas available in the fuel control area until supplies can be replenished.”

“With the decrease in supplies of gasoline due to recent hurricanes, it is absolutely critical to temporarily extend relief from the sulfur gasoline requirement until supplies are back to normal,” Isakson said. “I am thankful EPA acted on this request quickly and hope this will help remedy the current situation.”

Chambliss and Isakson sent a letter to the EPA today in support of Governor Perdue’s request. Text of the letter is below:

Mr. Stephen Johnson, Administrator
United States Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20460

Dear Administrator Johnson:

We are writing in support of Governor Sonny Perdue's request for an extension to relief provided from the federally enforceable Georgia SIP sulfur gasoline requirements in the 45 county fuel control area. As you know, this request comes as a result of a severe shortage of Georgia SIP sulfur gasoline caused by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

We urge your immediate approval of Governor Perdue's request and ask that, should the Governor need to make additional requests, you act upon them as expeditiously as possible.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter and we stand ready to assist you in any way we can.

Sincerely,

Saxby Chambliss Johnny Isakson
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International Conference at University of Georgia to Focus on Weeds

Weeds. We often speak the word with a grimace, thinking of knotty lawn problems or unwanted species that cost farmers billions in control every year. And yet weeds also have much to teach about how plants can adapt to changing environments imposed on them through human influence.

That’s why the University of Georgia will host an international conference in September called “Agricultural Weeds: Bridging the Gap between Evolutionary Ecology and Crop Science.” The event will bring together applied scientists and evolutionary ecologists to discuss how weeds become problematic to farmers, and how researchers from a range of disciplines can begin to address a common ground for tackling the problems that weeds pose to the nation’s food supply.

“The goal is to promote integrative thinking about the process of weed domestication to agriculture and the evolution of ‘weediness,’” said Regina Baucom a postdoctoral researcher in the department of genetics and co-organizer of the conference.

Other organizers, also in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, include John Burke and Shu-Mei Chang in the department of plant biology, and William Vencill of the department of crop and soil sciences in the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. This conference will be small and highly interactive, with around 50 people expected.

The conference will be held Sept. 11-13 in the Georgia Center for Continuing Education. Keynote speakers will be Jonathan Gressel, emeritus professor of plant sciences at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, and Jodie Holt, professor in the department of botany and plant sciences at the University of California, Riverside.

Topics in the conference will include evolutionary ecology of weed species, weed adaptation to the agricultural system, transgene movement from crops to wild species, parasitic weeds, weed shifts and weedy species of special interest. Some 17 speakers will be present for the event, and there will also be poster sessions. Speakers will include representatives from other universities, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and industry.

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