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Yellowstone National Park earns EPA Environmental Achievement Award

Release Date: 12/1/2005
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DENVER – At 1 p.m. Dec. 1 at the National Park Service Intermountain Regional Office, Lakewood, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 8 Deputy Assistant Regional Administrator Carol Campbell will present EPA’s 2005 Environmental Achievement Award to Yellowstone National Park officials for their initiative in creating a successful environmental management system.

Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Suzanne Lewis will accept the award from EPA. Joining her will be Frank Walker, the park’s assistant superintendent; Steve Iobst, the park’s chief of maintenance; Mike Snyder, acting regional director, Intermountain Region; and National Park Service Assistant Director Steve Martin. Jim Evanoff, the park’s EMS team leader who has been instrumental in the development and implementation of the park’s environmental programs, will not be in attendance but will be recognized.

EPA Region 8 Administrator Robert E. Roberts said, “It is with great pleasure that EPA presents this award to Yellowstone National Park for the initiative and innovative actions that have been taken there on behalf of the environment.”

Roberts noted that Yellowstone National Park developed and implemented an environmental management system that goes beyond the requirements outlined by a presidential order and national environmental laws, taking on a leadership role in the federal and local communities through its innovations in solid waste management.

These actions have resulted in reduction and elimination of pollutants in this special natural environment. Examples include the recycling of 80 percent of the solid waste generated in the park by 2008, and the design and construction of the first small propane bottle recovery unit to recycle disposable propane bottles.

As a result of these and other initiatives, more than 3.5 million visitors will be encouraged to recycle, with a convenient feature of being able to “recycle on the go.”

Yellowstone National Park already diverts more than 65 percent of its solid waste – 1,800 tons a year – from landfills. In addition, innovations from the park’s efforts such as the small propane recovery unit are being used by major retail stores and by other national parks.

EPA Region 8 presents awards in four categories to individuals and groups external to the regional office. This award recognizes significant achievements in protection of public health or the environment, or in advancing the Agency’s current strategic goals. Among the criteria is an outstanding contribution to environmental protection through a single action, or by an ongoing action over an appreciable period of time.