Washington, D.C. – EPA is today announcing 54 facilities from 25 states and Puerto Rico as new members in the National Environmental Performance Track Program. Performance Track rewards facilities that voluntarily exceed regulatory requirements, implement systems for improving environmental management; work with their communities, and set three-year goals for improvements in environmental performance. Only facilities with a record of sustained compliance with environmental requirements are eligible to participate in this program.
“Performance Track recognizes these facilities as environmental leaders because they deliver results beyond what is expected or required by law,” said EPA Acting Administrator Steve Johnson. “These facilities demonstrate on a daily basis that economic prosperity and environmental protection can go hand in hand.”
New Performance Track members have made strong commitments in a wide range of categories. For example, the Coca-Cola North America Ontario Syrup Plant in Ontario, Calif., has committed to reducing its water use by more than 2.2 million gallons over the next three years, more water than needed to fill two Olympic-sized swimming pools. Fuji Hunt Photographic Chemicals in Orange Park, Fla., has committed to eliminating its use of the hazardous chemical hexane, preventing almost 264,000 pounds per year of this contaminant from entering the environment. The Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire facility in LaVergne, Tenn., has committed to reducing its annual energy use by 162,930 MMBtus, the average amount of energy 1,550 households use in one year.
Eighteen companies with existing Performance Track facilities have expanded their membership today:
Other new Performance Track members include:
EPA also welcomes the following federal facilities: Capulin Volcano National Monument in New Mexico, and Performance Track’s first National Forest, the Wallowa Whitman National Forest in Oregon.
Since the program’s inception in June 2000, Performance Track membership has grown and produced solid environmental results. The program currently has over 350 members in 46 states and Puerto Rico. To date, Performance Track members have collectively reduced their water use by 1.3 billion gallons and their generation of solid waste by nearly 970,000 tons, increased their use of reused or recycled materials by nearly 77,000 tons, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of 67,000 tons of carbon dioxide.
Performance Track encourages participation by all-size facilities. The major industries are represented, with manufacturers of chemical, electronic and electrical, and medical equipment composing nearly 40 percent of the current members. The public sector is also represented by members such as national defense installations, postal facilities, and municipalities. Performance Track provides incentives that promote high levels of environmental performance and a learning network in which best practices are shared. These benefits translate to greater efficiency and reduced costs for both Performance Track facilities and environmental regulators.
In a related issue, on Feb. 24, EPA recognized corporate-wide environmental leadership for the first time under Performance Track. Historically a facility-based program, Performance Track added this Corporate Leader designation to recognize companies that have demonstrated a commitment to company-wide environmental excellence.
For more information on Performance Track membership benefits, visit: www.epa.gov/performancetrack/benefits. For information on the program in general, visit: www.epa.gov/performancetrack For more information on the Corporate Leader designation, visit: www.epa.gov/performancetrack/corporateleaders
