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EPA SELECTS 225 CHARTER MEMBERS OF NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL ACHIEVEMENT TRACK
Release Date: 12/13/2000
Contact Information:
FOR RELEASE: WEDNESDAY, DEC. 13, 2000
EPA SELECTS 225 CHARTER MEMBERS
OF NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL ACHIEVEMENT TRACK
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Carol M. Browner today congratulated 225 businesses and facilities for their selection as charter members in the National Environmental Achievement Track. The program recognizes and rewards businesses for exceeding environmental protection requirements.
“A new era of environmental protection has been launched over the last decade by growing numbers of American businesses,” said Browner. “These businesses recognize that environmental protection can go hand in hand with economic growth. We are especially appreciative of those companies willing to do more than is required by law to protect public health and insure greater protection of our air, water and land.”
Achievement Track companies and facilities have strong records in environmental management with more waste recycling and greater reductions in air and water pollution than are legally required. They have reduced their energy consumption by millions of kilowatts per year, and are committing to an average of 22 percent improved energy efficiency in the future. Commitments for future water use reductions average 31 percent. Some companies have even exceeded in virtually eliminating discharges to surface water, while others are significantly reducing discharges to groundwater to protect underground drinking water supplies. Waste reduction at these facilities is projected to average 44 percent per year, representing millions of pounds of saved resources as process and packaging materials are recycled or reused. Others are significantly reducing emissions of greenhouse gases to help protect the ozone layer, and some will cut their output of toxic air pollutants in half.
Based on several state leadership programs and numerous EPA innovation efforts with states, businesses, and community and environmental groups, the Agency has learned that innovations in environmental management can be used to create strategic business opportunities and advantages while maximizing the health and productivity of ecosystems and communities.
The expectation is that the program will motivate other companies and facilities to achieve similar improvements, and complement existing regulatory activities. The program has been designed so that criteria for participation are proportional to the benefits and that small, medium and large facilities will participate. Emphasis is being placed on continued environmental improvement, effective state/EPA partnerships, and the need to inform and involve citizens and communities.
The roster of companies in the program includes small businesses and large corporations, representing the automotive, pharmaceutical, sports equipment, food processing, chemical and petroleum industries, to name a few.
The facilities and corporate headquarters are located in 38 states and Puerto Rico.
Among the 225 charter members are municipalities and branches of the federal government.
The National Environmental Achievement Track is the first level of the new National Environmental Performance Track program. EPA plans to launch the second level of the program, the Stewardship Track, in May 2001. The National Environmental Performance Track program was established by EPA to recognize and encourage top environmental performers—those businesses which go beyond compliance with regulatory requirements.
Further information on the National Environmental Performance Track, and the process for being recognized for similar achievements, is available at: www.epa.gov/performancetrack
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