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EPA New England's StarTrack Is Model for National Environmental Achievement Program

Release Date: 07/10/2000
Contact Information: Amy Miller, EPA Press Office (617-918-1042)

BOSTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has launched a national program designed to motivate and reward top environmental performance by companies and public agencies. Under the National Environmental Performance Track program, which was based in part on a similar program developed by EPA New England, EPA will reward facilities whose environmental performance exceeds minimum regulatory requirements and who take extra steps to reduce and prevent pollution.

The new program in many ways mirrors EPA New England's StarTrack Program, in which participating facilities have set the pace in demonstrating ways to better protect the public health and the environment. Under the Performance Track program, benefits for participants will include national recognition, regulatory and administrative flexibility, a more cooperative relationship with EPA, a reduction in record-keeping and reporting requirements, and flexibility in meeting certain regulatory requirements.

"EPA New England decided that facilities that go above and beyond in their environmental efforts should be recognized and rewarded," said Ira Leighton, Acting Deputy Regional Administrator for EPA New England. "Facilities that have agreed to meet the StarTrack Program requirements have been rewarded in a variety of ways, including the knowledge they are doing the right thing. As EPA institutes a similar program nationally, we are certain they will see the same rewarding results."

"Businesses that participate in the National Environmental Performance Track program are going beyond compliance to better protect public health and the environment," said EPA Administrator Carol M. Browner. "The Performance Track opportunity will be offered to companies that have demonstrated true leadership and deserve the benefits. We're highlighting such companies as models of a higher level of environmental achievement."

Like New England's StarTrack Program, Performance Track is intended for top performing facilities and companies with a proven record of regulatory compliance, a sound environmental management system (EMS), and a commitment to continued improvement and outreach to the local community and the public.

The National Environmental Performance Track creates a system that recognizes performance at two levels, called Environmental Achievement and Environmental Stewardship. The National Environmental Achievement Track facilities are top environmental performers. They have a systematic approach to managing environmental responsibilities and take extra steps to prevent pollution and to be good corporate citizens. The National Environmental Stewardship track, which is still being developed, is for companies that are helping to define best practices within their industries and are leading the way in protection of the environment.

There are two deadlines for application: Sept. 1 for charter applicants, who will be notified in November and who will receive additional recognition benefits, and Sept. 30, for notification in December. More information, including application forms and instructions, is available at: www.epa.gov/performancetrack. E-mail inquiries can be directed to: [email protected].

Companies interested in learning more about the program have been invited to a Performance Track workshop being held from 8:30 am to Noon Aug. 2 at EPA New England's office in Boston. Anyone interested in attending can call Marge Miranda at EPA (617-918-1825).

EPA New England's StarTrack facilities include:

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., Worldwide Beauty Care - Stamford, Conn.
Unilever Home and Personal Care USA - Clinton, Conn
US Postal Service Hartford Vehicle Maintenance Facility and Processing and Distribution Center - Hartford, Conn
BOC Gases - Kittery, Maine
International Paper Company Androscoggin Mill - Jay, Maine
Acushnet Rubber Co. Inc, New Bedford, Mass.
GAF Materials Corporation - Millis, Mass.
PerkinElmer Optoelectronics - Salem, Mass.
Spalding Sports Worldwide - Chicopee, Mass.
Texas Instruments, Inc., Materials and Controls Group - Attleboro, Mass.
US Coast Guard, Air Station Cape Cod - Cape Cod, Mass.
Dexter Corp., Polymer Systems - Seabrook, NH
Environmental Soil Management, Inc. - Loudon, NH
Sanders, A Lockheed Martin Company - Hudson, Nashua, Litchfield,
Manchester, Merrimack, NH
Toray Plastics (America), Inc. - North Kingston, RI

All 14 facilities that participated in EPA New England's StarTrack program conducted annual compliance and EMS audits and had their environmental activities reviewed and certified by an independent third party. They have produced annual environmental performance reports about their operations and environmental performance. These reports, posted on EPA New England's web site, include unprecedented public reporting on such areas as the company's energy use and emissions that are not otherwise reported, such as greenhouse gases.

In StarTrack, as well as the National Performance Track program, the environmental performance reports are aligned with emerging voluntary environmental reporting standards, such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI).