NBU NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 29, 2004

Contact: Gretchen Reuwer, NBU Communications Manager, (830) 629-8486

NBU Quarterly PEERS Awards presented to Orlando Pena

NEW BRAUNFELS—Orlando Pena, a 26-year veteran of the NBU Wastewater Division, was recently selected as the recipient of the PEERS Award for the third quarter of 2004. PEERS stands for Performance, Effort, Efficiency, Recognition and Selection. All NBU employees are encouraged to submit nominations for this award on a quarterly basis. NBU managers review submittals and the individuals’ performance, and decide on an employee who has excelled in his or her duties for that time period.

Pena is the Assistant Wastewater Superintendent at the Kuehler North and South Wastewater Treatment Plants, a position he has held since 1985. He is a well-respected individual both among his co-workers and others in the industry. He earned his “A” wastewater certification in 1991. This is the highest level of certification issued by TCEQ. In 1990, he received what was then called the Employee of the Quarter Award. This has since evolved into the PEERS Award.

In addition to his regular duties, Pena has spent many hours over the past several months educating schoolchildren, the public and his peers in the industry as to the inner workings of an exemplary treatment plant. He has served as charter member and officer in the local Texas Water Utilities Association. His knowledge and skills are invaluable in helping others understand the wastewater treatment process, and the Kuehler plants often serve as training facilities for regulating agencies because of the excellent compliance record that Pena and his co-workers have maintained.

During a recent Emergency Tabletop Exercise for the Kuehler plants, Pena played a key role in familiarizing the Comal County Emergency Coordinator, fire, police and sheriff departments with the NBU facilities and the equipment and chemicals present at these locations. He was very involved in the presentation of NBU’s response plan in the event of a terrorist activity or natural disaster to the entities that would be on the front line of assisting in an emergency.

For his efforts, Pena’s co-workers are proud to honor him with the PEERS Award for the Third Quarter of 2004.