July 7, 2005

BATTELLE TO COLLABORATE WITH PINE BLUFF ARSENAL TO PROVIDE TESTING SERVICES FOR CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL DEFENSE

Pine Bluff, Arkansas-Battelle announced today that it has finalized an agreement to collaborate with the Pine Bluff Arsenal to establish a chemical defense material surveillance and testing operation.

Pine Bluff and Jefferson County officials and community leaders made the announcement with Battelle today at an event at the Economic Development Alliance of Jefferson County. Also speaking at the downtown Pine Bluff offices of the Alliance was U.S. Congressman Mike Ross who joined others in welcoming Battelle to the local business community.

It was followed by a dedication ceremony for the Arsenal's newly completed Quality Evaluation Facility (QEF), where Battelle will conduct activities beginning later this summer. They were joined by U.S. Congressman Vic Snyder, Jim Crider, President and CEO of the Economic Development Alliance of Jefferson County, and other senior Army officials.

The new 33,000 square-foot facility houses laboratories for testing chemical defense equipment and provides the latest state-of-the-art capability for the Arsenal's Chemical Material Surveillance Program.

When fully operational, the facility will enhance the Arsenal's mission of testing chemical defense equipment such as gas masks, filters, and protective clothing for the Department of Defense. The facility contains secure testing areas equipped with exhaust and waste-handling systems that will allow hazardous test materials to be handled in a safe and environmentally friendly manner.

The joint operation will provide support to and complement the Arsenal's current missions as it seeks designation as the Defense Department's Center of Industrial and Technical Excellence for Chemical and Biological Defense Equipment.

"We're proud to join the greater Jefferson County business community and we recognize and applaud their support for the Arsenal and its broad mission," said Battelle's Bob Coughlin, Vice President of Operations for Battelle's National Security Division. "We see this as an opportunity to provide first-rate support to this important Arsenal function."

More than 1,500 Battelle scientists and engineers are engaged in chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear programs, operating a number of specialized laboratories and facilities.

Battelle is a global leader in science and technology. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, it develops and commercializes technology and manages laboratories for customers. Battelle, with the national labs it manages or co-manages, oversees 19,000 staff members and conducts $2.9 billion in annual research and development. Battelle innovations include the development of the office copier machine (Xerox), pioneering work on compact disc technology, medical technology advancements, and fiber optic technologies.

For more information, visit www.battelle.org or contact National Media Relations Manager Katy Delaney at (410) 306-8638 or at delaneyk@battelle.org.