News

KYOCERA America, Inc. Settles DTSC Dispute

Issue involved permits to reuse water and precious metals

SAN DIEGO – December 23, 2008 – Kyocera America, Inc (“KAI”) announced today that it has settled a long-running dispute with the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) regarding permit issues.

Throughout the dispute, which began in 2003, DTSC never alleged that KAI was polluting or causing environmental harm or threats to human health or the environment. Rather, the dispute focused on whether KAI had appropriate permits and/or other authorization for its manufacturing processes reusing industrial process water and certain precious metals. KAI contended that its processes were exempt from permit requirements or otherwise authorized because the materials involved were not “waste,” as defined by applicable regulations. Although the settlement will require KAI to incur substantial additional costs to resolve the permitting/authorization issues, KAI believes that doing so is the most expedient way to validate its processes and their proven ability to reduce waste.

“We developed our reuse processes to enhance our environmental citizenship, and they have been successful by every measure,” said Bob Whisler, president of KAI. “We are eager to continue our safe reuse of water and other materials instead of discarding them to the environment.  When KAI is able to resume these processes, we expect to reduce waste by more than 85% in key areas. We therefore decided that this settlement represents the fastest means of achieving our environmental goals and resolving the issues with DTSC in a mutually agreeable manner.”

About Kyocera

San Diego-based Kyocera America, Inc. (KAI) designs, manufactures, assembles and markets a broad range of microelectronic packaging solutions and optoelectronic components for the telecommunications, wireless, semiconductor and specialty products markets. The company is a charter member of the San Diego Regional Sustainability Partnership and an active member of the Industrial Environmental Association, chairing its Sustainability Committee and serving on its Hazmat, Water and Energy Committees. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kyocera International, Inc. of San Diego, the North American headquarters and holding company for Kyoto, Japan-based Kyocera Corporation (NYSE:KYO).

Contact:

Kyocera America, Inc.
Meredith Marquis
Cell: 619-961-8191
Tel:   858-576-2706

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