EPA Recognizes Performance Track Award Winners
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Stephen L. Johnson on May 21 announced 2008 awards to a limited number of National Environmental Performance Track members for exceptional achievements in reducing their facility environmental footprints, reaching out to local communities, working with state agencies, and demonstrating environmental stewardship at the corporate level.
"Our Performance Track leaders are helping change the way businesses view their responsibility to protect our shared environment," said Johnson. "These companies are meeting this challenge by proving that doing what's good for our environment is also good for business."
Since the program's inception in June 2000, Performance Track membership has grown to more than 500 facilities in 49 states and Puerto Rico, and members have made more than 3,500 commitments to the environment.
EPA designated Xerox Corp. of Webster, N.Y., the 2008 Performance Track Corporate Leader. All five of Xerox's U.S. manufacturing facilities are members of Performance Track. Xerox joins the ranks of other Corporate Leaders -- Baxter Healthcare Corp., Johnson & Johnson, Rockwell Collins, and Xanterra Parks & Resorts.
Environmental performance awards were presented to TDK Components USA Inc. of Peachtree, Ga.; Rohm and Haas of Kankakee, Ill.; Lafarge Aggregates SE of Douglassville, Ga.; and the Naval Air Engineering Station of Lakehurst, N.J. EPA made its selection based on members' progress toward achieving environmental performance goals and the breadth and challenge of these goals.
The winners for extraordinary efforts in outreach were the Management and Engineering Services, LLC of Longmont, Colo.; Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. of Palmdale, Calif.; Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC of Wilson, N.C.; and Hewlett Packard of Corvallis, Ore.
The state of Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, Office of Environmental Services, and the state of South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Waste Management Division received special recognition for supporting Performance Track and its members. Louisiana expedited issuance of air and water permits for Marathon Oil based on the company's exemplary environmental performance and Performance Track membership. In South Dakota, the state agency collaborated with Ellsworth Air Force Base to provide regulatory benefits that enable the facility to pursue an ambitious set of environmental goals.