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Facilities Earn Kudos for Environmental Leadership

Release Date: 05/09/2006
Contact Information: Roxanne Smith, (202) 564-4355 / [email protected]

(Washington, D.C. - May 9, 2006) A 90 percent reduction in waste at a plant, a 41 percent drop in the use of napthol spirits, and innovative approaches in protecting the environment are just a few of the many achievements of eight companies and two states. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is recognizing these members of the National Environmental Performance Track program for their exemplary environmental performance.

"From Wall Street to Main Street, President Bush and EPA are changing the way individuals and organizations think about their role in protecting our shared environment," said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. "By committing to conservation, America's leading companies are proving that doing what's good for the environment is also good for business."

EPA is also releasing the Performance Track's Fourth Annual Progress Report, a detailed synopsis of Performance Track members' achievements. Collectively, members have reduced water use by nearly 1.9 billion gallons, conserved close to 9,000 acres of land, and increased their use of recycled materials by nearly 120,000 tons. In 2004 alone, members collectively reduced their water use by more than half a billion gallons, reduced their hazardous waste generation by 800 tons, and reduced their use of non-renewable transportation fuels by more than 43,000 gallons.

EPA is designating Xanterra Parks & Resorts, Greenwood Village, Colo., the 2006 Performance Track Corporate Leader for its exceptional corporate-wide commitment to environmental stewardship and continuous improvement, and for its substantial involvement in Performance Track.

Environmental performance awards are being presented to the Naval Air Engineering Station of Lakehurst, N.J.; Norco Cleaners in Dolton, Ill.; and Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials, LLC, in Marlborough, Mass. The principal evaluation criteria for this award are the progress made toward performance goals and the breadth and challenge level of the member's performance commitments. This evaluation was supplemented with consideration of the member's annual performance report quality, compliance history, and community outreach efforts.

This year's winners for extraordinary efforts in outreach are Colonial Acres Golf Course, Glenmont, N.Y.; Johnson & Johnson World Headquarters, New Brunswick, N.J.; Rockwell Collins' Headquarters, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and the U.S. Department of Energy and DynMcDermott Petroleum Operations' Strategic Petroleum Reserve, New Orleans, La. Outreach award winners make a special effort to inform the public on what it means to be a Performance Track member through presentations, promotional materials, and employee awareness.

EPA is also welcoming 75 new members to the Performance Track program.

The National Environmental Performance Track program recognizes facilities that work with their communities, set three-year goals for continuous improvements in environmental performance and have internal systems in place to manage their environmental impacts. Since the program's inception in June 2000, Performance Track membership has grown to more than 400 members in 46 states and Puerto Rico and those members have made more than 1,500 commitments to the environment.

Information on award winners: epa.gov/performancetrack/benefits/halloffame.htm

Information on Performance Track: epa.gov/performancetrack