WARRENTON, Va., Nov. 17, 1999 -- American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) has earned an Excellence Award, presented by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, for the company’s leadership in promoting environmentally-sensitive vegetative management practices in its power line rights-of-way.

AEP was one of only 10 recipients of the coveted award among some 110 partners in a national voluntary effort known as the Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program (PESP). The awards were presented at a PESP national workshop here today.

PESP partners agree to reduce the use and risk of pesticides on the land and to tailor the use of such products to specific site characteristics, crops and vegetation and regions. The EPA, the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Agriculture administer the program.

"We at AEP have worked very hard to adopt and implement the methods promoted by this program, so it is gratifying that EPA has recognized our efforts and honored us with this award," said Lynn Grayson, a forestry manager for AEP who accepted the award. "AEP is a charter member of PESP. We not only fully endorse the objectives of the program, we promote its practices among electric utilities and many different kinds of land users."

AEP was honored for its early endorsement of PESP risk reduction objectives and its recruitment of the Edison Electric Institute, the national association of investor-owned utilities, as a PESP member. AEP developed what became the Environmental Stewardship Strategy for Electric Utilities, which was adopted by EEI member utilities. AEP led the effort by EEI to secure a PESP project grant, which was used to develop a vegetation management program in conjunction with Virginia Tech. The program presents best management practices in the Environmental Stewardship Strategy.

"We are believers in a selective approach to herbicide application," Grayson said. "We seek to reduce the amount of active ingredient in products applied per acre. It’s our intent to control only tall-growing species and to allow low-growing grasses, shrubs and herbs to thrive in our rights-of-way. This provides an excellent habitat for a variety of animal species because it is a source of food and cover."

AEP, a global energy company, is one of the United States´ largest investor-owned utilities, providing energy to 3 million customers in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. AEP has holdings in the United States, the United Kingdom, China and Australia. Wholly owned subsidiaries provide power engineering, energy consulting and energy management services around the world. The company is based in Columbus, Ohio. On Dec. 22, 1997, AEP announced a definitive merger agreement for a tax-free, stock-for-stock transaction with Central and South West Corp., a public utility holding company based in Dallas.