71 firms commit to environmental improvements beyond regulations

Seventy-one facilities from 29 states and Puerto Rico have renewed or joined an Environmental Protection Agency program that rewards facilities that voluntarily exceed regulatory requirements.

The National Environmental Performance Track program rewards 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. Only facilities with a record of sustained compliance with environmental requirements are eligible to participate in this program.

Of special note in this tenth round of Performance Track membership:

– The automobile industry is demonstrating increased interest in Performance Track with the first U.S. auto facility member, the Ford Motor Company, Atlanta Assembly Plant, and six Michelin tire manufacturing facilities.

– Fort Lewis Public Works in Fort Lewis, Wash., is the first United States Army facility in the program.

– Thirty-nine new Performance Track facilities have made strong commitments to the environment in a wide range of categories. Here are some examples of what these facilities have committed to achieving in the next three years:

– The Coca-Cola North America Syrup Plant in Columbus, Ohio, plans to reduce biological oxygen demand pollutant discharges by more than one-and-one-half million pounds and its water usage by more than 900,000 gallons.

– Federal-Mogul-Boyertown in Boyertown, Pa., plans to reduce its use of sulfuric acid by 50 percent.

– The Ford Motor Company, Atlanta Assembly Plant in Atlanta, Ga., has committed to reducing volatile organic compound emissions by more than 24 tons and water usage by nearly 14 million gallons.

– The Louisiana-Pacific, Jasper OSB facility in Jasper, Texas, has committed to reducing its energy use by more than 45,000 million British thermal units.

– Michelin Spartanburg Manufacturing in Spartanburg, S.C., plans to reduce water usage by four million gallons and its energy use by more than 40,000 MMBtus.

– The 3M Eau Claire facility in Eau Claire, Wis., has committed to reducing its hazardous waste by more than 1,300 pounds.

For information on the National Environmental Performance Track program in general, visit http://www.epa.gov/performancetrack/. (PR)