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U.S. EPA announces four new Performance Track members for the Pacific Southwest

Release Date: 10/18/2007
Contact Information: Lisa Fasano 415-957-4307

SAN FRANCISCO - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is announcing four new facilities in the Pacific Southwest have joined the National Environmental Performance Track Program.

“These facilities are being recognized because of their leadership in making environmental improvements that go beyond compliance,” said Wayne Nastri, Administrator for EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region. “These efforts play a large role in producing meaningful progress and benefits for the environment in our region.”

Performance Track is a U.S. EPA partnership that recognizes top environmental performance among participating U.S. facilities of all types, sizes, and complexity, public and private. Program partners are providing leadership in many areas, including some that are not currently regulated, such as energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, and water consumption.

The new members and highlights of their environmental commitments are:

Hawaii:
· Covanta Honolulu Resource Recovery Venture: The company operates H-Power, a municipal solid waste to energy plant generating 57 megawatts of electricity. The facility has committed to reducing dioxin/furan emissions by 15 percent and total suspended solids in water discharges by 30 percent.

California:
· Baxter Healthcare Thousand Oaks: The facility manufactures pharmaceuticals for hemophiliacs, and has committed to reducing both energy use and hazardous waste generation by 5 percent.

Arizona:
· Mormon Lake Lodge: Owned by Forever Resorts the lodge is a private recreation facility with a recreational vehicle park, campgrounds, a store, and gas station. The lodge has committed to reduce water use by 166,000 gallons and increase their use of solar power, reducing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 62 metric tons of CO2.

Nevada:
· Lake Mead RV Village: Also owned by Forever Resorts, the facility is a concessionaire for the National Park Service at the Lake Mead Recreation Area and operates a recreation vehicle park, trailer park and store. It has committed to reducing energy use by 5 percent and water use by 1 million gallons.


Nationwide, the EPA welcomed 55 new facilities into the Performance Track ranks, totaling nearly 500 members in 49 states and Puerto Rico. Since the 2000 inception of this facility-based program, Performance Track membership has grown to 57 members in the Pacific Southwest and those members have made commitments to benefit the environment in both regulated and unregulated areas.

In 2006, Performance Track members conserved more than 2 billion gallons of water and 390 billion Btus of energy, reduced hazardous waste generation by more than 10,000 tons, reduced nitrogen oxide emissions by 1,754 tons and conserved more than 11,000 acres of habitat.

The members typically make four beyond-compliance commitments, two for small facilities, over a three-year period. Performance Track facilities must have internal systems in place to manage their environmental impacts, have strong compliance records, engage in local outreach about their performance, and publicly report results.

Applications to Performance Track are currently being accepted, through October 30, and another application period will be open April 1 through May 31. Information on criteria and how to apply is available at the following website: https://www.epa.gov/region09/performancetrack

Performance Track members come from a wide range of industries, such as automotive, paper, personal care products, pharmaceuticals, and government agencies.

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