Update November 27, 2007: The SolarBee Invasive Species Protocol has been revised and is available to the public by request. The procedures, tools, and techniques in this protocol are continuing to be researched and revised to ensure compliance every time, in every State. For more information or a copy of this protocol, please contact: solarbee@solarbee.com

SolarBee was recently in the news regarding the transportation of zebra mussels, an invasive species, in the state of Minnesota. (See link: http://kstp.com/article/stories/S242714.shtml?cat=1)

SolarBee, Inc. is an environmental company and we are committed to the improvement & resolution of water quality issues. Our protocols and procedures regarding the transportation and decontamination of any tools and equipment potentially contaminated with invasive species were formed using information from the "Technical Report 05-157: Decontamination Protocol For Aquatic Nuisance Species" authored by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board in July 2005. Even further, we consider every location we enter as potentially contaminated in an effort to make double sure we do not inadvertently contaminate any location.

The SolarBees in question were en route from Vermont to our main facility in North Dakota for decontamination and were impounded after a routine Department Of Transportation vehicle inspection. We want to state firmly that we would never deploy into any water body units in the condition found by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). According to the "Technical Report 05-157: Decontamination Protocol For Aquatic Nuisance Species”", desiccation is an acceptable decontamination technique with a minimum contact time of 5-7 days. The impounded units were on shore and completely out of the water in Vermont for 14 days prior to being loaded for transportation (double the recommended time).

This event has opened our eyes to the increasingly wide range of regulations across the country relating to the transportation of invasive species whether dead or alive. We would like to commend the Minnesota DNR and thank them for all their knowledge and help in bringing us up to speed on Minnesota law as it relates to the possession and transportation of invasive species. This incident is unfortunate and embarrassing, but the outcome is positive, as it will make us a better company. We are committed more than ever to seek out and adopt the most stringent set of protocols we can find and are taking steps to absolutely ensure this situation is not repeated. Our newly revised protocol will be available to the public once completed (we expect within the month). Until this revised protocol is in place, we have suspended transportation of any SolarBees not originating from our manufacturing facility.