The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced the creation of a new Performance Track Program to reward environmentally responsible companies. Do you qualify?

In an effort to reward businesses that have achieved a higher environmental performance level than legally required, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has instituted the National Environmental Performance Track. This program was designed to encourage companies to take extra steps toward a higher level of environmental protection. Ultimately, the goal is to have these companies impose stronger guidelines on their own industries. In recognition of their efforts, the EPA plans to grant “beyond-compliance” companies greater regulatory and administrative flexibility, a lessening of both record-keeping and reporting mandates, and the nationwide honor that such a distinction deserves.

The program defines two levels of excellence: the National Environmental Achievement Track and the National Environmental Stewardship Track. The first focuses on companies with solid compliance records and a demonstrated commitment to environmental improvement. The second will be used to single out industrial achievers with the very highest standards and truly exemplary environmental records. To reward meeting the level of performance defined by the National Environmental Stewardship Track, the EPA plans to include permitting incentives specifically geared towards the model companies.

The culmination of innovative EPA pilots such as Project XL and the Common Sense Initiative, the National Environmental Performance Track program defines a new direction in the EPA’s approach to working with industry. According to deputy associate administrator, Jay Benforado: “There are companies that are doing more than the minimum and are able and willing to do more. And we really don’t have programs in place that recognize what they do and reward what they do. What we’re hoping is that this is the beginning of a larger change, where [EPA] can actually build new regulations around this concept.”

Because of the various processes that companies perform, the EPA has stated that it will consider induction into the program on a “case-by-case” basis. Applications for Performance Track acceptance are available at the EPA’s website at http://www.epa.gov/performancetrack/contact/contact.htm

Source: EPA Program Will Reward Top Performers
Aug. 24, 2000
Kathie Canning
http://www.chemicalprocessing.com/cp/index.html