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EPA Selects Pine Bluff Facility For Participation in National Environmental Performance Track, Recognizes Top Environmental Performers

Release Date: 2/11/2002
Contact Information: For more information contact the Office of External Affairs at (214) 665-2200.

      U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Christie Whitman today announced the acceptance of 32 new members into the National Environmental Performance Track program, including International Paper's Pine Bluff Mill.   Launched just 18 months ago, Performance Track now has 280 members who are recognized for their achievements, as well as for a commitment to top environmental management and to continuously improving their environmental performance.  

      "Through Performance Track, EPA recognizes and rewards businesses and public facilities that demonstrate strong environmental performance beyond current requirements," Whitman said.  "While building a collaborative relationship with EPA, Performance Track participants realize environmental results beyond what could be achieved through regulation and enforcement alone.  Their efforts will be of significant help as we look towards our ultimate goal: cleaner air, purer water and better protected land."

      The National Environmental Performance Track was designed by the EPA to recognize and encourage top environmental performers -- those companies and communities that voluntarily go beyond compliance with regulatory requirements to attain levels of environmental performance that benefit the environment, people and communities.

      Building on previous innovation programs with states, businesses, and community and environmental groups, Performance Track emphasizes continuous environmental improvement, effective state/EPA relationships, and the need to inform and involve citizens and communities.
The International Paper Pine Bluff Mill manufactures pulp and paper on-site from both virgin and recycle/reject waste paper fiber.  The Pine Bluff Mill was the first North American International Paper facility to attain ISO 14001 certification. ISO 14001 is a state-of-the-art international standard for environmental management systems.

      As a member of the Performance Track program, the mill has specifically committed to: decrease the amount of solid waste sent to the active landfill cells, thus prolonging valuable landfill space; reduce the amount of soda discharged to the mill wastewater treatment system; reduce the amount of organic material that is discharged to the wastewater treatment system, and; reduce the amount of dry lime (raw material) purchased by approximately 25 percent or 10 tons per day.

      The newest Performance Track members have made environmental commitments to reduce water consumption, reduce emissions of particulate matter, increase recycling and reduce total solid waste.  Members agree to meet these commitments within the next three years.

      The new members add their efforts to the already substantial commitments made by existing members.  So far, over their initial three years of participation, for example, Performance Track facilities are committed to reducing solid waste by 225 million pounds; lowering emissions of greenhouse gases by 26 million pounds; recycling or reusing more than five million pounds of materials; and reducing emissions of volatile organic compounds by 98,000 pounds.

      Performance Track's member facilities represent both small businesses and large companies from the chemical, electronic, automotive, dry cleaning and pharmaceutical industries, among others.  They also include a public facility: NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center.

      More information about Performance Track is available on EPA's web site, https://www.epa.gov/performancetrack/.