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EPA’s Performance Track: An Opportunity for Leadership

Learn about EPA's Performance Track program, which recognizes and rewards facilities for their environmental performance and encourages continuous improvement. Discover key facts, membership criteria, performance indicators, member achievements, and the program's impact on small businesses and colleges/universities.

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EPA’s Performance Track: An Opportunity for Leadership

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  1. EPA’s Performance Track:An Opportunity for Leadership Chuck Kent, Director USEPA Office of Business and Community Innovation SUNY Environmental Health and Safety Association Fall Conference November 14, 2005

  2. What Is Performance Track? • Differences in environmental performance • Recognized in EPA-State actions and policies • Carrots may work in addition to sticks • Strive for collaboration with accountability • Goal is to continually improve performance

  3. Performance Track: Key Facts • Facility based, for private & public sectors • Launched in June 2000 • Currently more than 370 members (1 University) • Two application periods annually (Feb-Apr; Aug-Oct) • Work in close collaboration with States • Application & reporting systems are online • Involves benefits & obligations for members • Site visits with a sample of members each year

  4. Criteria for PT Membership • Working environmental management system (EMS) • Commitment to continuous improvement • set four goals for the three-year period • report annually on results • Record of sustained compliance • Commitment to public outreach

  5. Performance Indicators • Upstream -supplier’s performance; material procurement • Inputs -energy, water, & materials use; habitat conservation • Downstream -product impacts • Non-product outputs -air & water discharges; wastes generated

  6. PT Member Results Through 2004 • Water Use: reduced by more than 1.3 billion gallons • Solid Waste: amount generated has declined by nearly 600,000 tons • Energy Use: Decreased by over 8.4 trillion British Thermal Units (BTUs) • Habitat Conservation: set aside 7,871 acres of land, an area larger than 7,000 football fields • NOx: reduced by almost 3,900 tons

  7. Some Members’ Achievements • Washington State University (Washington) -reduced NOx emissions by 69% -restored 4.25 acres of wetlands • Johnson & JohnsonResearch & Development (Pennsylvania) -offset 8,052 metric tons of CO2 through purchase of wind & biomass energy. -cut solid waste by 8 tons • Bridgestone-Firestone (South Carolina) -improved energy efficiency by 19% -avoided generation of 22 million pounds of solid waste

  8. Member Locations • Accepted in 2001 - August 2004 • Accepted in February 2005

  9. Distribution of Members

  10. Size of Performance Track Facilities Number of Members 49 Fewer than 50 31 50 - 99 109 100 - 499 Number of Employees 72 500 - 1,000 90 More than 1,000

  11. Performance Track & Small Business Fewer than 50 employees Criteria Show one past achievement Commit to two future improvements EMS evaluation considers size and scope Sustained compliance record Represent 14 percent of members Members include a printer, dry cleaner, lumber mill, among others

  12. EPA Sectors Program • An EPA program to work collaboratively with Colleges and Universities (C&U) to • Encourage Environmental Management Systems (EMS) and environmental stewardship initiatives • Improve environmental performance of the sector as a whole • Reduce regulatory burdens

  13. Overview of Proposed Rule forCollege and University Laboratories • New regulations for laboratories at colleges and universities • Subpart K • Rule will be optional • satellite area regulations OR new Subpart K • Proposed Rule maximizes flexibility while maintaining equivalent protection • Performance-based management standards • Laboratory Management Plan (LMP)

  14. Management in the Laboratory • Performance-based Standards: • Container labeling • Container management • Training for laboratory workers • Instruction for students • Training to ensure safe movement • Develop a regular schedule for identifying and removing “unwanted material” • Making hazardous waste determination • Conducting laboratory clean-outs • Emergency prevention, notification, and response procedures • Laboratory Management Plan • Describes HOW the performance-based standards will be implemented

  15. EMS & Environmental Stewardship • Letter promoting Environmental Stewardship and EMS • Sent by ACE (The American Council on Education) and EPA • Sent to all college and university Presidents and Chancellors • December 2004

  16. EMS & Environmental Stewardship • EMS web site http://www.campusEMS.org/ • A one page business case “Fact Sheet for Senior Administrators http://www.c2e2.org/ems/tools.htm#getstarted • Case Studies on different EMS approaches

  17. Encouraging schools implementing EMSs to take advantage of the Audit Policy Exploring ERP for Colleges and Universities EPA Audit Policy and Environmental Results Program (ERP) Objective: To get as many schools on the right track to compliance and towards EMSs

  18. Comprehensive Strategic Plan • In order for colleges and universities to accommodate growth on their campuses, institutions need integrate environmental sustainability into every aspect of campus life: planning, environmental quality and education. • Requires an approach that is interdependent & integrated; conscious & visible; linking all organizations’ & operations’ sustainable efforts to the formal curriculum; and communicating everything we’re doing to everyone.

  19. What is the Comprehensive Strategic Plan (CSP)? • One approach to developing a more sustainable campus • A comprehensive checklist • A resource guide • A database of best management practices • Ties plan to the budget • Incorporates “Plan-Do-Check-Act” model

  20. Benefits of the CSP • Implement sound conservation practices into planning and design of capital improvements on campus • Incorporate environmental safety practices • Provide baseline for measuring change • Identify priorities for environmental improvement • Conserve resources • Minimize environmental impacts, including impact on cultural resources

  21. Next Steps • Develop comprehensive checklist / guide in coordination with EPA Programs, trade associations, and interested stakeholders • Collaborate with trade associations and interested stakeholders to create a national challenge program for colleges & universities • Launch challenge program by July 2006 at joint APPA/NACUBO/SCUP Conference

  22. EPA Sector Strategies Division Peggy Bagnoli (202) 566-2957 Bagnoli.Peggy@epa.gov http://www.epa.gov/sectors

  23. Why Join Performance Track? • Recognition for environmental results • A different relationship with government • Lower regulatory transaction costs • More regulatory flexibility • Being a part of a “green club” • Exposing students to top environmental practices

  24. Why Join? Recognition • EPA and state agencies -website -national & regional events -publications • Communities • Investors/Alumni • Employees/Students

  25. Why Join? Relationships • Low inspection priority • Dialogue with EPA and States • Priority on administrative issues • Addressing problems in different ways

  26. Why Join? Reduce Costs & Gain Flexibility • Reduced routine compliance reporting • Extension in the 90-day storage rule • Preference for NPDES permit renewals • Attention in flexible air permitting • Streamlined requirements in RCRA

  27. Why Join? A “Green Club” • Recognized community of high performers • Promote the value of the PT “brand” • Tele-seminars/learning opportunities • Leadership Practices Database • Performance Track Participants Association • Access to resources on program criteria

  28. Why Join? Expose Students to TopEnvironmentalPractices • Onsite EMS provides opportunities for student involvement • Students of environmental studies get a better understanding of the benefits and limitations of an EMS through hands-on experience

  29. Working with States • Joint effort with ECOS • MOAs set terms for close collaboration • Annual conference and regular consultation • Advise on application reviews

  30. States With EPA Agreements ME - 6 WA - 9 NH - 8 VT - 1 ND - 0 MT - 0 MN - 4 MA - 12 OR - 7 ID - 1 SD - 4 WI - 2 RI - 1 MI - 8 NY - 15 WY - 2 CT - 5 IA - 10 PA - 15 NJ - 15 NE - 2 OH - 14 NV - 3 IN - 8 DE - 2 UT - 3 WV - 1 CO - 10 CA - 26 VA - 10 MD - 1 KS - 1 MO - 2 KY - 6 NC - 3 TN - 6 OK - 4 AZ - 6 NM - 4 AR - 5 SC - 7 GA - 15 MS-4 AL - 7 AL - 7 Existing MOAs MOAs in Progress TX-24 LA - 6 FL - 13 AK - 0 PR - 15 HI - 0

  31. States With Performance Based Programs ME - 6 WA - 9 NH - 8 VT - 1 ND - 0 MT - 0 MN - 4 MA - 12 OR - 7 ID - 1 SD - 4 WI - 2 RI - 1 MI - 8 NY - 15 WY - 2 CT - 5 IA - 10 PA - 15 NJ - 15 NE - 2 OH - 14 NV - 3 IN - 8 IL - 15 DE - 2 UT - 3 WV - 1 CO - 10 CA - 26 VA - 10 MD - 1 KS - 1 MO - 2 KY - 6 NC - 3 TN - 6 OK - 4 AZ - 6 NM - 4 AR - 5 SC - 7 Active State Program MS - 4 GA - 15 Developing State Program AL - 7 No State Program TX - 24 LA - 6 # - # of PT Members FL - 13 AK - 0 PR - 15 HI - 0 * Map includes facilities accepted through Round 9

  32. Where Do We Want to Go? • Growth in number and range of members • Increased environmental value • Enhanced business value • Transform relationships • Institutionalize in EPA and State programs

  33. www.epa.gov/performancetrack (888) 339-PTRK www.epa.gov/region02/p2/univ.htm/ EPA Region 2 Regional Coordinator Judy-Ann Mitchell (212) 637-3721

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