&ERA
EPA PoilutionPreventicm
Accomplishments: 1994
Incorporating Pollute Prevention
Into Business Decisions
EP.A/lOO/R-95/,001
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"•Everybody knows pollution prevention pays."
•President Bill Clinton,-March'1'6, 1995
"I expect pollution prevention to continue to evolve at EPA. As we learn
more no doubt we will have to make adjustments to our programs that reflect
Tw knowledge. In the final analysis, what is critical in our efforts to advance
oUuuon prev'ennon is a willingnes. to take chances, to ^ ™^
practices and'to experiment with new ideas, and above all to cooperate with
eachBother as we £ to harmonize environmental protection with economic
growth." _ . '
| -EPA Administrator Carol Browner. June 15, 1993
Pollution Prevention Policy Statement
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Table of Contents
I. -Introduction -pi ..' . . . :
II. 1994 Pollution Prevention Highlights Q 7
IJI. Using Supplies and'Equipment that'Prevent Pollution Q 10
" .', .Pollution Prevention Incentives for States .
.-•••- Design for the Environment ' .,••/"'
• Green Lights , -•" , ' ,. ' ;
'• Energy Star Computers , ..-..".' ' '
•* Climate Wise . . . . . . ,
". • Water Alliances for Voluntary Efficiency (WAVE)
• Environmental Technology Initiative
Design and Demonstration of Innovative Pollution Prevention Options
• Environmentally Preferable Products
• ' PEST SMART Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program
'. WasteWiSe / '•
• Reducing Municipal Solid Waste ' , .
IV. Incorporating Pollution Prevention into Regulatory and Compliance Activities Q 27
• Pollution Prevention in State Regulatory Programs .,
» Pollution Prevention in EPA Rules .
, • ' Pollution Prevention, in Enforcement and Compliance
• Waste Minimization National Plan «
V. Communicating Pollution Prevention Progress to the Community Q 34
• . Toxics Release Inventory -
• Environmental Justice Grants
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i;
Introduction
Environmental Protection: 1970 -1994 -'.'•'. '• ' -• • :
When the U.S. Congress began to pass environmental legislation in the early 1970s, it
worked issue by issue, and often crisis by crisis. Incidents such as the Cuyahoga River fire.
contamination of drinking water in-New Orleans, and toxic contamination at Love Canal spurred
the passage of the Clean Water Act, -the Safe Drinking Water Act, and the Superfundlaw, • ,
respectively. This symptom-by-symptom, crisis-by-c'risis approach continued through the 1980s
'and'early-1990s. . ' ' . '',.'" : , .. . ...
The benefits of this approach are indisputable: over the last 25 years, the U.S. has made
great progress protecting human health and the environment by recycling, treating, and safely
disposing of pollutants and waste. We no longer have rivers catching on fire. Our skies 'are ,
- clearer. And U.S. environmental expertise and technology are in demand throughout the -world.
There is much to be proud of. • - * . ,
But the single-media, end-of-pipe approach has had other, unintended, consequences.
"The U.S. now has 16 major national environmental laws on the books, which are overseen by -
some 74 Congressional committees and subcommittees. There are thousands and thousands of
pages of detailed, sometimes confusing environmental regulations. This .fragmented approach
has often resulted in pollution shifting -- for example, moving pollutants from air to water and
water to land - instead of pollution prevention, frustration with the complex process of
. environmental regulation, and "too little environmental protection at too high a cost.
Clearly, the U.S. is reaching the limits of relying largely on end-ofrpipe approaches.
While past progress is impressive, there is still a long way to go. For example, 40% of our rivers
; and lakes are still not suitable for fishing or swimming; 54 million Americans still live in areas
that do not meet federal air quality standards; and one .in four Americans live within four miles
of a toxic dump site. To take environmental protection to the next level, and at the same time
enhance the competitiveness of U.S. companies, EPA must work in partnership with industry,
government at the state, local, and tribal level; and stakeholders representing environmental,
community, and work force issues .to prevent pollution at the source, prior to recycling,
treatment, and disposal. • . ...
Pagel
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Pollution Prevention: Environmental and Economic Benefits
Businesses have prevented pollution by changing their equipment and input 'materials,
reformulating or redesigning their products, and improving management, Mining, inventory
control, and materials handling. Pollution prevention has become their preferred approach to
environmental protection for two reasons: Pollution prevention protects the environment and
saves money.' Pollution prevention is potentially the most effective method for reducing risks to
human heai'ih and the environment because it is the surest way to eliminate the risks inherent in
anv release of pollutants into the environment and the surest, way to avoid the inadvertent
transfer of pollutants across media that may occur with traditional end-of-pipe controls In
addition, pollution, prevention protects natural resources for future generations by avoiding
excessive levels of wastes and residues and by minimizing depletion of natural resources.
Pollution prevention is also the most cost-effective method of.environmental protection because
it promotes facility efficiency, reduces the need for expensive end-o -pipe treatment and disposal
technologies, and reduces the long-term liabilities associated with releases into the environment.
There are literally hundreds of cases where companies have reduced their impact on the
environment and saved millions of dollars through pollution prevention. For example:
Participants in EPA's Green Lights program have collectively preventedI over 1.2 billion
pounds of carbon dioxide emissions, 8.7 million pounds of sulfur dioxide emissions, and
4 1 million pounds of nitrous oxide emissions. Participants realize an average return ot
over 25% on investments in energy-efficient lighting, and may reduce their electncity
bills by 40% or more.
By implementing the recommendations of the "DuPont Chambers Works Waste
Minimization Study," a Supplemental Environmental Project conducted pursuant to a
consent decree with EPA, DuPont wilkealize savings-of close to $15 million a year and
reduce emissions from its Chambers Works plant by almost 9 million pounds annually.
"' '
Pollution prevention technical assistance provided by the Massachusetts Office of
. Technical Assistance (OTA) has resulted in impressive pollution reductions and cost
' savings: results from 78 companies (only one-fifth of the total companies OTA works
with) show'cost savings of $3.6 million, and pollution reductions of over 5 million
pounds. • •
. . The Tennessee Waste Reduction Assistance Program (WRAP) conducts pollution
prevention site assessments in a variety of industries. A study of 31 companies revealed
that companies saved an average of $41,500 per year by adopting the recommendations _
' • of WRAP experts.. These recommendations resulted in prevention of 450,000 pounds ot
air emissions, 1.3 million pounds of hazardous waste, and 8.8 million pounds of solid
waste. ' - . •
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'E-PA's Pollution Prevention Policy
While many businesses have made, outstanding, progress in preventing pollution, there is
to 20 before pollution prevention becomes a standard business practice, as -
bv Congt's in assing'the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990. EPA recognizes that
approaches to environmental protection have inhibited pollutionprevention. The .
pffih Prevention Policy Statement, signed by Administrator Carol Broker on
to5 1993 outlines EPA's strategy for implementing the Pollution Prevention Act and
prides asking point for a "new approach to environmental protection. The;pohcy states that
EPA will integrate pollution prevention into Agency programs through:
•• Regulations and Compliance
State and Local Partnerships ; .
Private Partnerships '. f •' ' .
Federal Partnerships
. Public Information/The Right-to-Know
Technological Innovation
New Legislation ,
. . To be effective, EPA's Dilution prevention programs must fit m the context of .the many
factors that confront people who work at industrial, agricultural, and other facilities. As ; •
UuS^ * n ^pag^nvironmental regulations are only one of many issues *at have an impact
on mTdly-to-day orations of a business. (While the picture shows a manufacturer of tricycles,
the analysis is easily applied to a wide range of operations, including agnculture.)
Environmental laws and regulations, for example the Clean Air Act (CAA), Clean Water
Act (CWA) Se Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) cover issues such as air
em ssions discharges to water, and the management of hazardous waste. This single-media
Is tlStrSed by the smokestacks, effluent pipe, and waste barrels (letter E m die
From the facility perspective, these separate air, water, and waste requirements ;oft en
nfusing and at times even inconsistent. Many businesses have responded to their
dontelSL" environment by separating environmental decisions from core business
decisions. EnViromnental matters are often handled by compliance specialists, who ^ o
complex regulatory scheme and have little interaction, with product and process desjgners,
prpduction managers, and others at the core of the business.-
- , . t ,
In ^addition, myriad ^^ other issues confront equipment operators, designers, and managers
(letter A in the picture) on a daily basis. These include purchasing and usrng supplies and
equipment (B), interacting with their community (C), and most importantly, responding to
customer needs (i»- All of these decisions have substantial environmental implications. The^
Thal^ngefor EPA is to create a framework that allow and encourages businesses to integrate
pollution prevention into their con day-to-day decisions.
on the
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Pollution Prevention from the Business Point-of-View
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A .Vew Framework for Environmental'Protection •'• " • '• ' ; '
- The Common Sense Initiative (CSI) is EPA's most visible effort to create a prevention-
oriented framework for environmental protection. This partnership between EPA, industry,
' environmental and community groups, labor, and other federal, state, and local government
aeencies will study the environmental policies facing six industry sectors and recommend
changes to those policies to encourage cleaner, cheaper, and smarter approaches to
environmental protection. \ .
'..'•'. s
Initially, CSI. will focus on six industry sectors: automobile assembly, computers and
'-.electronics; iron and steel, metal finishing, petroleum refining, and printing.' These six industries
form a sizable piece of the American economy, comprising over 11% of U.S.. Gross Domestic
Product and employing nearly 4 million people. They also account for 12.4% of the toxic
releases reported by American industry in 1992. The CSI stakeholder teams have begun meeting
and are expected to-deliver consensus recommendations for cleaner, cheaper, smarter
environmental policies to the' EPA Administrator within one year. The Administrator is
committed to taking immediate: steps to implement the recommendations. . . ' ,
A second and equally ambitious effort has been the creation of the Office of Compliance1
(OC) within the newly-formed Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA). The
Office of Compliance develops and implements.a host of tools - not just traditional enforcement
actions -- to promote compliance with environmental requirements. For example, OC is
developing "compliance assistance centers" for four industry sectors: dry cleaning, metal -
• finishing, small farms, and printing. These multi-media, sector-oriented centers will provide
"one-stop shopping" - a place, where businesses can get comprehensive, easy-to-understand
information on regulatory requirements and pollution prevention technologies. In addition, since
OC is organized around commercial sectors (e.g. manufacturing, energy, transportation, and
agriculture) rather than by individual environmental medium, the office will be able to take the
industry sector perspective to ensure that EPA programs and requirements fit togetherv>are.
understandable, and favor pollution prevention. • •
•. . '•"".-• ' ' v*.
• • ' • EPA is also participating in a number of other projects in an effort to develop a
prevention-friendly environmental policy framework. The Great Printers Project, partly
-underwritten by EPA from its inception, is a partnership of the Environmental Defense Fund, the
Council of Great Lakes Governors, and the Printing Industries, of America. Its objectives are to
• make pollution prevention the primary choice of the Great Lakes states lithographic printing,
industry in meeting and exceeding its environmental and human health protection
responsibilities, and to recast me approach to environmental policy by bringing together
. representatives from government, industry, labor, and environmental groups to'focus on the
• common goals of environmental protection and economic strength. For more information about
the Great Printers Project, call the Environmental Defense Fund at (202) 387-3500.
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•Mid finally EPA Administrator Carol Browner is a co-chair of the Eco-Efficiency Task
Force otTe President* Council on Sustainable Development (PCSD). This group has launched
s7v"al demonstration projects to identify and recommend public policies and pnvate sector
ac ions that will remove barriers and provide incentives for pollution prevention and product
stewardship. To find out more about the Eco-Efficiency Task Force, call PCSD at (202) 408-
5296. , . • . ...'•'
About This Report
This report discusses EPA's progress in restructuring regulation, as well as the Agency's
efforts to go beyond regulation to provide services and establish partnerships that advance
poUut on prevention. State environmental protection programsjmd[other federal agencie are
EPA s partners in this enterprise,, and many of the activities highhghted in ttas report «e the
result of state initiatives 'and innovation, supported in some way by EPA. The report is
structured to reflect .the point of view of the key business decision-makers - that is, the people
inside the circle in the picture on page 4.
Chapter III discusses the steps EPA is taking to help business people incorporate
pollution prevention into their decisions about purchasing and using supplies and..
equipment. Most of EPA's current pollution prevention activities fall into this category.
(B in the picture.) ,
Chapter IV discusses the steps EPA is taking to create regulatory programs that -
encourage businesses to consider pollution prevention first in developing regulatory
compliance strategies. (E in the picture.)
Chapter V primarily discusses the steps EPA is taking to improve the "national
scorecard'-' that businesses use to publicly display their progress in preventing pollution,
the Toxics Release Inventory. (C in the picture.)
For More Information
For more information on the programs and activities described in this report please^all
the contact listed at the end of each section. .For information on other EPA pollution prevention
' activities, or for copies of this document, call the Pollution Prevention Information
Clearinghouse, at (202) 260-1023. • , .
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..-. •„. '..'. II. v ; ', ' •'•;. .
1994 Pollution Prevention Highlights
In 1994, EPA...
/ Supported 68 state and tribal organizations across the nation with grants
' to initiate the development and implementation of pollution prevention efforts.
/ Worked in partnership with dry cleaners, screen printers, printed
wiring board manufacturers, and aerospace equipment manufacturers
through the Design for the Environment (Dffi) program to facilitate the development and
use of cleaner alternative chemicals, processes, and technologies. • -
/ Promoted energy efficiency and pollution prevention through its
"Green Programs." 1,612 organizations have joined Green Lights, and more than
300 computer and monitor manufacturers, representing more than 80% of U.S. sales,
have joined the Energy Star Computers program.
S Encouraged water efficiency and pollution prevention through the
WAVE program. WAVE'S charter members are expecting to reduce water usage by
over 2.25 billion gallons per year, for an annual savings of nearly $8.5 million in water,
sewer, and energy costs. .
V Fostered the development of innovative pollution prevention
technologies in a wide range of industries through the President's Environmental
Technology Initiative.
/ Developed draft guidance for the purchase of "environmentally
preferable products" by the federal government, drawing input from trade
associations, individual companies, environmental organizations, the White House Office
. of Environmental Policy, the General Services Administration (GS A), and other
stakeholders. .
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II. 1994 Pollution Prevention Highlights (continued)
/ Formed a partnership to design and implement environmentally-sound
pesticide use practices. The PEST SMART program involves EPA, USDA,' FDA, ,
six major agricultural groups, and 17 major utilities across the country. '
/ Launched the WasteWiSe Program, a voluntary effort to spur municipal solid
. waste reduction by large businesses. Preliminary reports indicate that WasteWiSe
members are reducing waste at substantial cost savings. For example in garget
Stores eliminated 1.5 million pounds of packaging waste and saved $4.5 million in
initiating a packaging reduction program. •
/ Worked in partnership with state and local governments, businesses,
and citizens to reduce the generation of municipal solid waste. One
- indication of the value of these programs is that a drop in per capita waste generation is
predicted to take place by the year 2000.
/ Released the Waste Minimization National Plan, which states national goals
for the reduction of constituents in hazardous wastes, and identifies regulatory, non-
regulatory, and organizational tools to accomplish these goals. The plan encourages all
stftes and generators of hazardous waste containing persistent, *™c™^™>™*
toxic constituents to define their own baseline years, set their own goals, and track their
own progress toward meeting those goals.
/ Worked with states to incorporate pollution prevention principles in
their regulatory programs. EPA and states have worked in partnership to develop
flexible apache* * ustog EPA media grant funds to support state pollution prevention
•' programs and activities. ' .
/ Incorporated pollution prevention into a number of proposed
' regulatory standards, including-rules for the pulp and paper industry, the pesticide"
packaging and repacking industry, and for the use of halogenated solvents.
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II. 1994 Pollution Prevention Highlights (continued)
/ Laid the groundwork for a new approach to enforcement, one which
promotes and supports pollution prevention. EPA's new Office of
Enforcement- and Compliance Assurance (OECA) will maintain an imposing enforcement'
presence as a means of deterrence, but will also supplement .traditional.enforcement tools
with compliance assistance and.other innovative approaches:.
/ Increased the public's ability to track progress in preventing toxic waste
- generation and releases, by nearly doubling the number oftoxic chemicals required
to be reported under TRI, and by collecting for the first time toxic release data from .
federal-agencies. : •
/ Launched the Environmental Justice through Pollution Prevention
Grants Program, which will provide financial assistance to poor and minority
communities for identifying and implementing pollution prevention solutions for
environmental problems in their neighborhoods.
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III.
Using Supplies and Equipment that Prevent Pollution
"'[Regulations often do not reach the more complicated corporate decisions needed to evaluate
nmanufacLring, packaging, distribution, and marketing practices to reduce pollution and
consumption We must encourage these efforts by entering into partnerships W,h pubic
anons where such cooperation can produce tangible wronmental results. ;
- EPA Pollution Prevention Policy Statement ' . •
This chapter discusses the steps EPA is taking.to help business people incorporate . .
pollution pevemron into their decisions about designing products and processes^Purchasing and
s and equipment, and financing pollution prevention investmen^. Most of EPA s
prweSion activities fall into this category. Many of the pollution prevention
highlighted here are attributable to the success of EPA's voluntary programs, m
whicProgSsive businesses have joined with EPA, states and other stakeholders; c, setand
achieve gods that go beyond compliance with existing regulatory programs. These voluntary
progrlmfwill lay me groundwork for future.efforts to improve environment^ Protection through
polE Pr venLn. The activities highlighted here share two key characteristics, first, they are
cooperative efforts involving a range of .stakeholders; and second, they are all a, med at
preventing pollution by helping facilities improve their products and processes. This section
includes overviews of:
Pollution Prevention Incentives for States
Design for'the Environment
.Green Lights . " :
Energy Star Computers •
Climate Wise •'..-.
'Water Alliances for Voluntary Efficiency .(WAVE)
Environmental Technology Initiative ;
Design and Demonstration of Innovative Pollution Prevention Options
Environmentally Preferable Products • .
PEST SMART Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program
WasteWiSe • . '
Reducing Municipal Solid Waste
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Pollution Prevention Incentives for States Grants
Introduction ' . -. • • ..-.,,,.. , - . • .
The Pollution Prevention Incentives for States (PPIS) grant program, established under.
• the authority of the Pollution Prevention Act of 199.0, provides funding to state and tnbal
organizations to support the development or implementation of pollution prevention programs,
These programs, >in turn, provide pollution prevention assistance to businesses and industries m
the form of training and technical assistance, including waste assessments and facility planning.
The goal of the PPIS grant program is to assist businesses an'd industries in identifying pollution
prevention strategies and solutions for complying with federal and state environmental; .
regulations. \ • • ; - • • '.;••_• • : ...'•'
Selected Accomplishments .. . ' - .. :
. In 1994 EPA awarded approximately S6 million in PPIS grants to 68 state and tribal .
organizations across me nation to support the development or implementation of
pollution prevention efforts. Some sample activities are highlighted below: :
-By implementing recommendations from the Colorado Department of Health technical
assistance program, Majestic Metals will reduce their VOC emissions by 7,400 pounds,
reduce rinse water use by 770,000 gallpris, and save $25,000 per year.
- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the Tennessee Valley Authority is
implementing a demonstration project at a bulk fertilizer and pesticide dealership to
identify areas where changes in business practices could substantially reduce or prevent
solid and hazardous waste, waste water, storm water, and air emissions.
-The Tennessee Waste Reduction Program (WRAP) has trained over 12;000 people in
pollution prevention and waste reduction techniques. ' . •
Plans far the Future , - . -
EPA will award approximately $6 million in PPIS grants in fiscal;year 1995, focusing
especially on opportunities for cooperative eff9rts.with other federal or state agencies,
businesses, and trade associations. , . ,
Contact
Lena Ferris, Pollution Prevention Division, (202) 260-2237,
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Design for the Environment
Introduction
The Desien for the Environment (DfE) program harnesses EPA's expertise and leadership
to facilitate information exchange and research on pollution prevention efforts. DfE works with
businesses, trade associations, and other stakeholders in specific industries to evaluate the nsks,
costs and performance of alternative chemicals, processes, and technologies. In addition DfE
helps individual businesses apply specific tools and methods to undertake environmenta1 design
efforts DfE creates voluntary and cooperative partnerships between EPA, industry, public
interest groups, and. other government entities to:
Create.standard methodologies for using risk information and provide-ace ess to
that information; ' '.,.'•' j
Develop customer-focused information products to convey risk reduction and
pollution prevention options; and -
Provide incentives for industries to engage in risk reduction activities.
Selected Accomplishments
The DfE Dry Cleaning Project released a number of information and outreach products
that describe "multiprocess wet cleaning," an alternative to dry cleaning which uses
biodegradable soaps, heat, steam, and pressing to clean clothes. This process was
identified by an EPA-dry cleaning industry team as an alternative to perchloroethylene,
the chemical solvent used by most dry cleaners.
The DfE Screen Printing Project developed and released a draft "cleaner technologies
' substitutes assessment" (CTSA) on screen reclamation-systems, using data from a month-
long demonstration on alternative screen reclamation systems.
In partnership with the printed wiring board (PWB) industry .(a sector of the computer'
' • 'and electronics "industries), EPA is evaluating alternative chemicals, processes, and
technologies involved in PWB fabrication.
DfE established partnerships with two sectors of the U.S. aerospace.industry to identify
alternative technologies to make the industry "leaner and cleaner." DfE is helping the
defense sector identify ways to streamline aircraft design and assembly to reduce costs,
enhance competitiveness, and prevent pollution. The program also is working with the
small aircraft industry to evaluate less toxic technologies to strip paint from planes.
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Design for the Environment (continued)
" Plans for the Future • ' ~. ' \ '. ' " ' ' • '. "
". The Dry-Cleaning Project will demonstrate alternative cleaning technologies at three sites
around'the U.S. to educate and assist dry cleaners in the implementation of these new
processes. - . , ' . '' . •
•' ..'-'- ' • "*---'
EPA and the Screen'Printing Association International (SPAI) will sponsor a resource
conference for screen printers in April 1995, to highlight technologies used by printers to
, reduce risk and save money: DfE will also conduct a videoconference on Total Cost ,
- Accounting for .screen printers to help them implement pollution prevention alternatives.
. : ' The Printed Wiring-Board Project andXithography Printing Project begin their •- -
' implementation phases. ' ' •
' . • A new project, known as "the Green Chemistry Challenge," will promote pollution
' '• • .prevention and industrial ecology'through a new DfE partnership with the chemical
industry EPA and .the chemical industry will jointly sponsor national awards for
companies that develop pollution prevention processes for chemical production and use.
Major targets will be using renewable resources for chemical production, substituting .
solvents that do not contribute to air pollution, and designing new chemicals and -
chemical processes that are more safely made and that are safe for the environment.
Contact
Joe Breen, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Design for the Environment
Program, (202) 260-0686. .. .. ,
Pag«13
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Environmental Accounting Project
The Environmental Accounting project is a collaborative effort between EPA and
stakeholders in business, trade associations, and academia. The project's goal is to promote the
adoption of environmentally sound management accounting and capital budgeting practices.
Incorporating environmental costs into business.decisions will allow pollution prevention and
other environmental projects to compete for funds on equal footing with other, more traditional
investments.
Selected Accomplishments
\s a follow up to .a stakeholder meeting in December 1993 with participants from EPA,
business, trade associations, and academia, EPA published the "Stakeholders Action
Agenda" and the "Workshop Proceedings."' The Action Agenda highlights steps that can
be taken by each stakeholder group to increase the integration of environmental costs .into
management accounting and capital budgeting processes. The Agency also published a
"Summary of Pollution Prevention Case Studies with Economic Data," which details cost
savings in 200 pollution prevention case studies.
Under a cooperative agreement with the Telliis Institute, EPA developed and distributed to
federal state, and local government agencies software that helps users conduct total cost
. assessments. "P2.FINANCE" is a spreadsheet package designed to guide the data collection and
analysis essential to the financial evaluation of pollution prevention projects.
Plans for the Future . •• '
In 1995 EPA will develop a resource guide on methods of environmental accounting. The guide
will describe existing methods and evaluate them against a set of life cycle criteria, and provide
access information for each tool. The Agency will also publish a guide to commercially-
' available project management software systems and evaluate the extent to which environmental
information is incorporated into each system. .
EPA will publish an "Introduction to Environmental Accounting: Key Concepts and Terms" - a
document that will orient readers to environmental accounting by explaining key underlying
concepts and clarifying common terms.
EPA will also publish case studies on efforts by AT&T and Ontario Hydro to implement
environmental accounting, these studies will include the resources utilized by these companies
to conduct environmental accounting.
Contact .
Holly Elwood, Pollution Prevention Division, (202) 260-4362.
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Green Lights
Introduction .... . ..- '•.•;.. ' ;
Lighting accounts for 20-25% of the electricity used in the U.S. Energy-efficient lighting
has the potential to cut lighting electricity use by 50-75%, reduce pollutants resulting from
lighting electricity,use by 50-75%, and free $18.6 billion from rate-payer bills for investments
elsewhere EPA's Green Lights Program was the first voluntary, non:regulatory program
designed to prevent pollution, promote public-private partnership, recognize environmental
leadership, and improve participants' bottom-line energy costs by encouraging the use of energy-
efficient lighting in .buildings. ,.
Green Lights Results To Date:
» : LlbiHios pounds of carbon dioxide
emissions prevented .
* iL7 million pounds of sulfur dioxide
emissions prevented;
emissions prevented.
Selected Accomplishments
1,612 organizations have joined Green
. Lights as of November 1994, and are
. >• in the process of upgrading 4.3 billion
square feet of commercial,
manufacturing, retail, and government
facilities to more energy-efficient
lighting. The average rate of return
for investments in more energy
efficient lighting is over 25%, and
many organizations reduce their
electricity bills by 40% or more while
maintaining or improving lighting •'..-•
quality. - ~ , „ . ' .. •
Plans for the Future
EPA will continue to recruit participants for the Green Lights program. The Agency will
use focused marketing plans to target hospitals, universities, large and medium-sized
corporations, and^mall.businesses, collectively representing an additional 2 billion
square feet of space.
Contact
Maria Tikoff, Green Lights Program, (202) 233-9178.
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Energy Star Computers
Introduction
Office equipment is the fastest growing source of electrical load in the commercial
sector Energy consumption by office equipment represents 5% of commercial energy sector
use and in tnf absence of change,.is forecasted to teach/10% by the.ycar 2000. Research shows
thai much of this electricity, however, is wasted: most office equipment is orJy m use a small
portion of the time it is left on, and between 25-40% of computers are needlessly left on each
nteLt \ significant portion of shared computers and printers are left on each night since no one
individual has responsibility for turning them off. Energy Star Computers represent an
eVpraton of the concept implemented so successfully by Green Lights: that using more energy.
efficient equipment in homes and offices can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save
' companies money. "Energy Star" computers and printers power down to save energy when they
are not being used. This-"sleeP" feature can cut a products electricity use by over half.
Selected Accomplishments
By August 1994, more than 300 computer and monitor manufacturers, representing more
than80%ofU.S.sales,hadjoinedtheprogramandareProducmgEnergyStarPC
systems Over 40% of all computers sold in the U.S. in the first year of the program July
1993-June 1994) were Energy Star. An average Energy Star computer uses 50 /. less
energy than a non-Energy Star system, for a potential electricity cost savings of $30 -
per year per computer.
More than 45 printer manufacturers, representing more than 90% of US. sales,are
producing Energy Star printers. Over 85% of printers sold m the US. in the first year of
the program were Energy Star. An average Energy Star printer also uses 50% less
energy, for a potential cost savings of $40 per year per pnnter.
Plans for the Future
EPA will work with large corporations and organizations across the 'U.S. to establish
Energy Star purchasing policies, implement a retail initiative to promote Energy Star
products to consumers, and look for opportunities .to expand Energy Star shipments
across the world to meet international demand. EPA has recently expanded the program
to include copiers and fax machines.
Contact
Andrew Fanara,. Energy Star Computers, (202). 233-9019.
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Climate Wise
Introduction
• ' Climate Wise is a joint EPA/Department of Energy (DOE) voluntary program that
stimulates comprehensive industrial actions to enhance energy efficiency, prevent pollution,
reduce greenhouse gases, and increase profits. Climate Wise recognizes industry's actions and
provides information and assistance on a range of emissions-reducing opportunities. Many.
companies are already reducing emissions through programs aimed at improving efficiency and
reducing energy costs. Climate Wise will help companies build on current efforts by providing
selected technical assistance and by recognizing, cumulative corporate-wide reductions.
Companies are also encouraged to adopt creative, organization-specific measures that limit or
.reduce emissions, such as: .' ' x •._..• .
• Altering production processes , ••'..-' ' '
. Switching to lower-carbon-content fuels and renewable energy supplies
• Substituting raw materials .- , ' ' •-'..''.
• Implementing employee mass transit or car pool programs
• Auditing and tracking energy use for efficiency improvements .
Thus, Climate Wise will help companies identify and implement a comprehensive set of
measures tailored to their specific needs.
Selected Accomplishments,
Eight Climate Wise companies, representing more than 3% of U:S. industrial energy use,
committed to actions which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 20
: million metric tons by the year 2000.
Program participants expect to realize total annual savings of more than $80 million by.
the year 2000. . . . .
Plans for the Future
*' EPA and DOE will conduct 10 workshops across the country to encourage participation
in the Climate Wise program, and to provide information on auditing, reporting, and
• financing options.
Contacts
-. Pam Herman, EPA Climate Wise Program, (202) 260-4407
... Gerry Kotas, DOE (303) 275-4714; Martia Quinn, DOE (202) 586-2097
• ' . • ' ' • •-..--•• . •• • —:—; Page
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Water Alliances for Voluntary Efficiency (WAVE)
Introduction
W \VE - Water Alliances for Voluntary Efficiency -- is a non-regulatory water-
efficiency partnership.' WAVE'S mission is to encourage commercial businesses and institutions
to reduce water consumption while increasing efficiency, profitability, and competitiveness. The
initial target of the WAVE program is the lodging industry. The program is part of EPA s long-
term effort to prevent pollution and reduce demands on the nation's water and energy
rJtnfcture As supplies shrink and demands rise, competition for available ^water resources
amting industrial, agricultural and domestic users is increasing. Through WAVE and other
pTgSns; EPA seeks to ensure that adequate U.S. water resources remain available to support
* both human and environmental heeds. ' •
Selected Accomplishments '•
. ' Five companies in the lodging industry signed up to be WAVE> first official partners:
. Hyatt Corporation, ITT Sheraton, Outrigger Hotels, Saunders Hotel Group, and Westm
Hotels & Resorts. These partners represent,432 U.S. hotel properties and over 166 000
guest rooms. WAVE is also supported by a number of water service companies and
equipment suppliers and manufacturers, and is endorsed by the American Hotel and
Motel Association.
WAVE'S charter members are estimating significant savings as the result of a variety of
efficiency measures, including upgrades to bathroom fixtures, kitchen and laundry
facilities, cooling towers, and outdoor irrigation. WAVE members are expecting to
reduce water usage by over 2-25 billion gallons per year, for an annual savings of nearly
, $8.5 million in water, sewer, and energy costs.
Plans for the Future ; ' • ' .
WAVE plans to expand next to commercial office buildings, and eventually to schools
• " ' and universities, hospitals, restaurants, other commercial businesses, and multi-family
housing. .'
Contact
. ' John Flowers, WAVE Program, (202) 260-7288.
Page 18
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Environmental Technology Initiative ,;
Introduction • '- - .'/ - . , • .. .
"The President's Environmental Technology Initiative (ETC) was announced by President
Clinton in his State of the Union address on February 17, 1993. ETI is rooted in the President's
commitment to the proposition that economic development and environmental protection go
hand in hand. ETI's goal is to spur the development and use of innovative environmental
technologies to protect the environment and enhance the competitiveness of the U.S.
environmental technology industry. By promoting the development and use of environmental
technologies, we can both strengthen our economy and improve environmental quality at home
and abroad. • . ' ' •' . -' -
"EPA, federal agencies, states, and tribes are in a unique position to support
environmental technology innovation because our legislative authorities and environmental.
management responsibilities often drive demand for environmental technologies, goods, and
services. Working together through ETI, we can create a regulatory atmosphere that nurtures
innovation, creates jobs, and protects the environment."
> EPA Administrator Carol ,M. Browner,
in a letter introducing the FY 1995
ETI Program Solicitation Package
Selected Accomplishments . .
• Small Business Pollution Prevention Support TheSmall Business Administration's
(SBA) national network of Small Business Development Centers provides pollution
prevention developmental assistance to. four states (Iowa, Texas, Wisconsin, and
-Virginia). This was made possible by an ETI cooperative agreement between EPA's
Office of Research1 & Development and the SBA.
• Mutual Effort to Reduce Industrial Toxics (MERIT). EPA Region K, the National
mstirute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Metal Finishing Association of
Southern California, and several defense aerospace contractorscooperated to facilitate
pollution prevention technology transfer from large to small businesses and diffuse
technology throughout the California metal finishing industry.
Page If
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Environmental Technology Initiative (continued)
Selected Accomplishments (continued)
Technology Access Program for Small and Medium Sized Manufacturers. EPA and
the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NJST) initiated a joint energy,
environmental and manufacturing technology access program for small and medium
sized manufacturers. The purpose of this multi-faceted program is to enable smaller
manufacturers to implement technologies and techniques which allow them to be
environmentally competitive.
. . Metal Plating and Finishing .
Industry. EPA provided research npubliivate partnerships (like ETI) to
• support forest separate projects ^^^p^^Lfew/^
directed toward a. single smal- ^ ^ ^^ ^
business-dominated mdustnd^sector- - mpetitivenePssofsmaiifinesses like
- the metal plating and finishing . . . „ .
industry. This industry consists of mme-
approximately 80 000 facilities more _ DavidMarsh> President> Marsh Plating
than 70% of which employ fewer than atim y ilanti M> andPresident Of
50 people The industry has • Rational Association of Metal Finishers
• substantial waste water, solid waste
and air emission problems. EPA -.^^^^^^^^^^^^••^•••^^^•^••i"
provided support to this industry in an
effort to improve the industry's • ... i
competitiveness and efficiency, and to increase its ability to comply with environmental
requirements while containing.compliance costs.
Plans for the Future
EPA will continue to promote the development and diffusion of new pollution prevention
' ' technologies, focusing particularly on the six industrysectors involved in the Common
Sense Initiative. . . v
Contact
Greg Ondich, Office of Research and Development, (202) 260-5747.
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Design and Demonstration of Innovative Pollution Prevention Options
Introduction '•••-•'-.. •"' • : ' • " ' N •, '
S .•''*'.--,.
.Since 1987 EPA's Office of Research and Development has supported pollution
prevention research programs at the Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory in Cincinnati, Ohio, '
.and the Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory in Research Triangle Park, North
Carolina. These programs are major contributors to the nation's efforts to encourage the design
and demonstration,of innovative pollution prevention options. In addition to providing .technical
support to many Agency program office activities related to pollution prevention, ORE)
' participates in a wide variety of cooperative projects with organizations in industry and academia
to advance the general state of the art of pollution prevention strategies, techniques; and
technologies. EPA's goals in these programs are: , . - - .
--To deterrm'ne how corisiimer and industrial products and services can be'designed,
manufactured, and used for minimal effects on the environment; •
—To facilitate the development and use of cleaner production processes that lead to
reduction of pollution'in all environmental media; . ,
--To provide technical data to support the integration of pollution prevention
considerations into the Agency's regulatory actions to reduce pollution;
--To provide industry with environmentally friendly options for managing environmental
risk; and .-'.'..
—To provide assistance and guidance to small businesses to encourage the adoption of
strategies and techniques that result in. reduced pollution.
Selected Accomplishments- ' " . • •
• Produced pollution prevention guidance manuals for specific industries .and operations,
including the electroplating and alternative metal finishing industries. To date 40 such
reports have been distributed.
• Expanded support of clean technology evaluations and demonstrations to include projects
, in ten major industries, covering a wide variety of manufacturing groups such as
aluminum and steer products, engine parts, tool manufacturing, and paints and laquers.
• . Carried out on-site assessments,at military bases and other federal facilities to encourage .
integration of pollution prevention into all Government activities.
Page 21
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Design and Demonstration of Innovative Pollution Prevention Options
(continued) . . ' '
. . Completed a prototype program for assisting in the selection of less polluting solvents in
the printing industries. . . '
Developed an algorithm for reducing wastes in the chemical industry.
Supported the Agency's Source Reduction Review Project by identifying and exploring
pollution prevention alternatives in the pharmaceutical, pulp and paper, and pesticides
formulation, reinforced plastics, adhesives, and printing industries.
. ' Performed a joint evaluation with the Navy to substitute CFC-1 .14 ^a^ement
•refrigerant for retrofit of Navy ships with a potential savings of up to $500 million. .
Produced a fiber .based alternative for partideboard that offers the potential of a
structurally superior building material with zero vapor phase organic chemical emissions.
Continued the development of electronic devices to enhance the energy efficiency of
electric motors for industrial and automotive applications.
Developed and demonstrated a zero VOC furniture coating system and an ultra low VOC
coating for furniture products.
Produced a "Solvents Alternative Guide" to assist industries interested in voluntarily
replacing 17 of the most toxic solvents addressed by the 33/50 Program.
Plans for the Future ". ,
The Agency will continue broad based research and demonstration activities to
. encoXL adoption of pollution prevention strategies and tecrmologKS in various
- LdS and to encouraged development and adoption of innovative approaches to
" implementing pollution prevention in all sectors of society.
Contacts
Harry Freeman, Risk Reduction Engineering Uboratory, (513) 569-7529 _ ,
Doug McKinney, Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory, (919) 541-3006.
• Page 22
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Environmentally Preferable Products
Introduction . ' : ' , •
In October 1993'President Clinton signed Executive Order 12873, entitled "Federal .
Acquisition Recycling, and Waste Prevention." This Order requires.EPA to "issue guidance that
«ends principle' that Executive Agencies should use in making determinations for the
preference and purchase of environmentally preferable products" and services The pnma^ goal
of thTs provision of the Executive Order is to bring to bear .the enormous purchasing power of the
fedlml^^ ,
"green" products. ; .•.,'...'•.' " '"• • '
Selected Accomplishments. ' \ . .
. EPA developed draft guidance for the purchase oPenvironrnentally preferable products".
by the federaTgovemment, drawing input from trade associations, individual companies,
environmental organizations/the White House Office of Environmental Policy, the
General Services Administration (GSA), and other stakeholders.
The Agency launched two pilot projects to test the principles outlined in tlw draft: -'
gufdiiceI^T^eEPA/GSAClearLg Products Pilot will gamer irrfonnationft^^
: purchasers to analyze the performance, cost, and envkormiental impact of vanous .
cleaning products In addition, the EPA/GSA Computer Pilot will further promote the
purchase of environmentally preferable computers ("Energy Star" computers).
Plans for the Future ." . . -
The primary gosd -faiJ995 is to turn me draft guidance into a program ^ will assist
federal agencies in-selecting and purchasing environmentally Prcff^le Producy.
Agency^ill reach this goal by continuing the pilot projects described above and^y
providing training and education for the federal acquisition community.
Contact
Eun-Soqk Goidei, Pollution Prevention Division, (2Q2) 260-3296.
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PEST SMART Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program
; . '
Introduction • . ; '
The ' Pesticide -Environmental Stewardship Program is the result of a commitment made
bv EPA the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) to the U.S. House of Representatives to work jointly with pesticide user groups to reduce
the use and risks of pesticides in the U.S. .
Selected Accomplishments
On December' 12,1994, EPA, USDA; and FDA announced the formation of a .partnership
between six major agricultural groups (National Potato Council, American Corn Growers
' Association, International Apple Institute, California Citrus Research Board, California
Pear Growers, California Pear Advisory Board) and 17 major utilities across the country
to design and implement environmentally-sound pesticide use practices.
• The partners developed a set of
guiding principles to direct their
, efforts (box).
Plans for the Future
• EPA and its partners will establish the
Pesticide Environmental Stewardship
Recognition Program, add
"Supporters" and more partners to the
program, and assign EPA liaisons to
each of the partners in the program.
Pesticide Environmental Stewardship
Program Guiding Principles
Pesticide users will work to reduce
risk to humans and the environment,
minimize the use of pesticides where
desirable and practical, and develop regional
environmental stewardship plans with
specific pest management strategies.
The federal government will foster,
fund, and promote the development of
alternative pest management technologies,
and integrate environmental stewardship
plans into agricultural and environmental
policies and programs.
Contact
Janet Andersen, Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention Division, (703)308-8128.
Page 24"
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WasteWiSe
Introduction " • - ' ' . ' •' ' • '
In 1994 EPA successfully launched' the WasteWiSe program, a voluntary effort to spur
municipal solid waste reduction by large businesses. Under the program,,participating
organizations=cornmitto: conduct three waste prevention actions, increase or improve their
collection of recyclable materials, and increase the purchase or manufacture of recycled
products. .-._.-• .' • • . - , ' ' '' '• •
WasteWiSe was inaugurated inJuly 1994 by EPA Admirdstrator Carol Broker, with > ; -
281 charter members.. After the initial kickoff,the program expanded to include 369
participating companies. EPA also launched the WasteWiSe Endorser program with an
LTi a Smid-December to key trade associations. WasteWiSe Endorsers commit to conduct
fcampaign to sign their business members on to WasteWiSe, and thereto provide some level of
ongoing formation on WasteWiSe or waste reduction strategies. EPA expects that Endorser
activities will greatly expand WasteWiSe membership in 1995.
f ' ' ! .'•_.,. • ;
Selected Accomplishments ' ' •
. Of the 369 initial WasteWiSe members, 142 are Fortune 1000 companies WasteWiSe
, members cover a wide range of industrial sectors (including all of the CSI sectors) and
geographic range (all EPA regions).
. Preliminary reports to 1994 achievements indicate that WasteWiSe members are
. reducing, reusing, and recycling millions of pounds of materials (e.g., paper, corrugated,
plastic, glass, metal, and wood) with substantial associated cost savings For example, in
1994 Target Stores eliminated 1.5 million pounds:of packaging waste,and saved $4.5
million in mitiating a packaging reduction program. The final data from. WasteWiSe s
first year will be available later in 1995,
. Plans for the Future . . ' •' .
'* - " " • " '
Continued expansion of WasteWiSe membership, with an emphasis on large companies.
-: V Increasing the technical assistance available to WasteWiSe partners, including on-site
waste assessments, workshops, in-depth case studies on how WasteWiSe companies Jave
successfully reduced^ waste, assistance on measuring amounts of waste prevented, and an
increase in the number of peer exchanges between companies.
Contact
. ., Lynda Wynn, Office, of Solid'Waste, (703) 308-7273.
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Reducing Municipal Solid Waste
Introduction . ••
Perhaps no other environmental issue is consistently as tangible and apparent to a citizen
as municipal solid waste (MSW), the garbage we all generate daily in our homes, offices
schools, and retail stores. In 1993, 207 million tons, or 4.4 pounds per person per day, of MSW
were generated, according to EPA's latest estimates.
The municipal solid waste hierarchy provides a three-tiered pribrity framework of source
reduction recycling, and combustion or landfill to consider when making decisions on MSW
generation^ management. Under the rubric of the MSW hierarchy, EPA's voluntary programs
strive to show the environmental and economic benefits of upstream materials management
practices, such as source reduction; reuse, and recycling. Through outreach documents,
workshops, and key initiatives, the MSW program reaches thousands of companies,-
communities, and individuals each year. ,
Selected Accomplishments . ,
EPA's programs -- with major contributions from state and local governments, business
and citizens - have helped slow the rate of waste generation so that an actual drop in per
capita waste generation is predicted to take place by the year 2000. ^
In 1994 EPA distributed over 10,000 disk copies of the "MSW Factbook," an ^ractive
computer software program to educate state and local solid waste officials on MSW
composition and management practices. The program was also made available to the
public through on-line computer services and the internet.
In 1994 EPA's unit pricing outreach program educated 700 state and local MSW planners
and managers through workshops and conferences and distributed over 6,000 guidebooks
on unit pricing - a system under which residents pay for the amount of waste they
generate rather .than through general tax revenues.
Plans for the Future
Increased emphasis," through pilot programs, case studies, and workshops, on quantifying
and communicating the technical potential and economic and environmental benefits ot
source reduction. , .
Contact • ' • . .
RCRA Hotline, 1-800-424-9346.
Page 26
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i. f • • • •
Incorporating Pollution Prevention into
Regulatory and Compliance Activities
"Our first obligation at EPA is to fulfill the statutory responsibilities we have been given by
Congress. That generally means developing environmental standards through regulation, and
ensuring compliance through a system of permits, inspections, and enforcement actions:
• '-\ [Sjtrorig environmental requirements, if designed to encourage cost-effective compliance
strategies from industry, can promote pollution prevention and improve the competitiveness of
American industry."
- EPA Pollution Prevention Policy Statement
EPA's system of developing regulations and ensuring compliance has an enormous effect
on industry's ability to meet environmental standards using the cleanest, cheapest pollution
prevention approach. This section highlights the steps EPA is taking to create regulatory and
compliance programs that encourage businesses to consider pollution prevention in developing
regulatory and compliance activities. ,
« Pollution Prevention in State Regulatory Programs
• Pollution Prevention in EPA Rules ..,.-..'..
• Pollution Prevention in Enforcement and Compliance
• Wast* Minimisation National Plan
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Pollution Prevention in State Regulatory Programs
Introduction
EP \ first recognized its responsibility to give states the flexibility in setting their
environmental priorities by encouraging them to incorporate pollution prevention principles in
their EPA media grant funded activities. In 1993 Executive Order 12875 ("Enhancing the
Intergovernmental Partnership") furthered the issue of state flexibility by requiring federal
agencies to "consider any application by a state, local or tribal government for a waiver of
statutory- or regulatory requirements...with a general view toward utilizing flexible policy at the
state, local and tribal levels...." ' . - •
Selected Accomplishments.- • .
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and EPA Region 1 agreed to allow the
' Massachusetts Waste Prevention Program flexibility to incorporate multi-media,
. pollution prevention oriented inspection goals into the Commonwealth's federal grant
obligations. .
The State of Alaska and EPA Region 10 agreed to'direct 3% of eligible federal and state
grant match dollars to support pollution prevention technical assistance.
The State of New York and EPA Region 2 incorporated multi-media pollution prevention
program priorities in Clean Air Act SectionlOS, Clean Water Act Section 106, and
. RCRA Subtitle C grant programs.
The State of Maine and EPA Region 1 agreed to use Clean Water Act grants to focus '_
pollution 'prevention activities on a single geographic area using a multi-media approach
the addresses both ^CRA and Clean Air Act concerns. . ;
. .The State of Ohio has utilized RCRA grant funds from the Great Lakes Initiative to
• " support the state Office of Pollution Prevention.
.Future Plans . - '..'.,'',.
EPA will work to give states greater flexibility in determining their environmental
" priorities, and will continue to provide information and examples of successful pollution
prevention activities and strategies. ' .
Contact
Tom McCully, Pollution Prevention Policy Staff, (202) 260-8617.
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Pollution Prevention in EPA Rules
Introduction . - . / , ' . ... .
•' • The Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 requires EPA to "review regulations ...prior .and"
subsequent to their proposal to determine their effect on source reduction." to response to this
requirement, EPA initiated the Source Reduction Review Project (SRRP) in 1992 to evaluate .
pollution prevention alternatives during the regulatory'development process. SRRP allows EPA
to focus its review on key regulations mandated by statute under the Clean Air Act (CAA),
Clean Water Act (CWA), and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). •
Selected Accomplishments . ,
EPA proposed a regulatory standard that will dramatically reduce and prevent air and
water discharges of dioxin and other toxic pollutants by U.S. pulp and paper
manufacturing mills. The combined "Pulp and Paper NESHAP(Rational Emission
Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants) and Effluent Guideline" marks the first time the
Agency has combined air and water requirements into the same regulation. The rule is
due Jo be finalized in the Fall of 1995.
V 'The Agency also proposed a regulatory standard aimed at reducing pollutant discharges •
to water by the pesticide formulating, packaging and repacking industry. This rule,
which will affect approximately 2,600 facilities, identifies approaches that facilities can
use to significantly reduce discharges^ water with minimal "pollutant shifting" to air
and land. The final rule is due in the Fall of 1995.
EPA proposed a rule designed to reduce the use of halogenated solvents, .thereby
preventing pollution due to solvent emissions. Many industries use halogenated solvent
cleaning machines for degreasing, including furniture and fixtures, fabricated metal
products, electric and electronic equipment, andtransportation equipment.
Plans for the Futitre . • .
EPAwill incorporate pollution prevention into upcoming rules for the metal products and
raachuxery industry, the pharmaceutical industry, and the wood furniture manufacturing
•' •: . -.' indtisJiy;, •-•.''.:''.- "-.''. ' • •''.•'.-••',
Page 29
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Pollution Prevention in EPA Rules (continued)
Plans for the Future (continued)
In Julv 1994 EPA created the Permits Improvement Team (PIT) to implement
recommendations on how to improve the permitting process which were identified, in the.
Agency's i 993 National Performance Review (NPR). The PIT will focus on
administrative streamlining; alternatives to individual permits;, enhancing public
participation 'in the permitting process; incorporating other incentives for pollution ..
prevention into permits; training and identifying performance measures.
.Contact
Kathy Davey, Pollution Prevention Division, (202) 260-2290.
•Page 30
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Pollution Prevention in Enforcement and Compliance
Introduction' ., • ' . . : ', . " • . s
EPA completed the reorganization of its enforcement programs in 1994 by Creating the • •
Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA). The reorganization consolidates the
Agency's enforcement programs under one roof. More importantly, the reorganization provides
the basis for a new approach to enforcement, one which promotes and supports pollution
prevention. This new approach will allow EPA to: •
Maintain an imposing enforcement presence as a means of deterrence, but also
: view traditional enforcement as one.of a number of tools for achieving the
- ': broader goal of compliance; • , j u
.. v Supplement traditional enforcement tools with compliance assistance and other
innovative approaches to compliance; • , '
. Pursue whole-facility, multi-media strategies whenever feasible; and
Organize national compliance strategies around; sectors of the economy, _
ecosystems, and other entities in order to best reflect actual manifestations of
environmental-problems.
Selected Accomplishments . :
OECA incorporated pollution prevention into enforcement settlements throughthe use.of
Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs). Data on pollution prevention SEPs m
1994 was being compiled by OECA as of the, publication of this report. In fiscal year
1993, the office finalized 40 pollution prevention SEPs (but of an overall total of 293)
which totalled approximately $30 million. ;
The Federal Facilities Enforcement Office (FFEO) published the "Federal Facility
Pollution Prevention Planning Guide," to help Federal facility environmental
coordinators strengthen their environmental programs using pollution prevention
approaches and comply with the pollution prevention planning requirements in Executive
Order 12856. , . . v .
FFEO also conducted over 30 multi-media inspections at federal facilities. FFEO
targeted facilities that had environmental compliance problems which could.be addressed
usingpoltotion prevention, and whose processes lent themselves to pollution prevention
solutions that could be used as prototypes for other federal facilities.
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Pollution Prevention in Enforcement and Compliance (continued)
Plans for the Future ,
. ' EPA recently announced its Environmental Leadership Program (ELP) designed to
recognize and reward those willing to develop and implement innovative approaches to
maintaining compliance with environmental regulations. In the Spring of 1995 EPA will
announce 12 pilot projects at industrial facilities and federal installations that have
volunteered to utilize elements of the ELP, including prevention-oriented measures such
as installation of sophisticated environmental management systems to prevent violations
and assure continuous environmental improvements, and whole-facility inspections for .
specific industries to assure compliance across environmental media. In exchange, EPA
will publicly recognize the efforts of these environmental leaders and grant them a
limited grace period to correct certain civil violations discovered during these pilot
projects. • • . • ' •
Contacts
Lynn Vendinello, Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, (202) 260-2842.
Tai-ming Chang, Environmental Leadership Program, (202) 564-5081.
•m-
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Waste Minimization National Plan
Introduction '.-•-•.."•
Pollution- prevention played a large role in the development of the final Hazardous Waste
Minimization National Plan. In this Plan, EPA reinforces the strong preference for source ;
Son over waste management in order to reduce both the long-term demand for treatment,
storage and disposal capacity-and the quantities of persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic
hazardous waste constituents that need to be managed. The plan emphasizes voluntary waste
minimization measures and provides the public with a greater opportunity to be aware of waste
minimization activities in their communities.
Selected Accomplishments • . . \ ' ., -' .
EPA released the final Waste
Minimization National Plan in
November, 1994, which states
national goals for the reduction of- •
constituents in hazardous wastes, and
identifies regulatory, non-regulatory,
and organizational tools to accomplish
these goals. The plan encourages all
states and generators of hazardous
waste containing persistent,
bioaccumulative, and toxic
constituents to define their own •
baseline years, set their own goals,
and track their own progress toward
meeting those goals. The plan was ,
based on 18 months of discussions ,
with stakeholders including industry,
environmental grpups, states, and
EPA Regions.
Plans for the Future
Goals of the Waste Minimization
National Plan: . .
To reduce, as a nation, the presence of
. _ the most persistent, bioaccumulative,
'and toxic constituents by 25% by the.
year 200ti and by 50% by 2005; ,
• To avoid transferring these
constituents across environmental -
media;
• To ensure that these constituents are
reduced at their source whenever
possible, or when not possible, that
they are recycled in an
environmentally sound manner.
Qffiee of Solid Waste will continue to work .with states and industry to .implement
*ijia£the Plan, and to integrate these goals into other pollution prevention efforts.
Contact
Donna Perla, Office of Solid Waste, (703) 308-8438.
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Communicating Pollution Prevention Progress
to the Community
"Since pollution prevention is motivated in part by public information, one bfEPA's most
important tasks' is to collect and disseminate user-friendly data that measures progress m
reducing waste at its source. [EPA] will make this information accessible and
understandable to the states and local communities that depend on timely and accurate data.
- EPA Pollution Prevention Policy Statement
' Public information and the right-to-know is a guiding principle of many Agency, _ _
activities. This section reviews the steps EPA is taking to improve the "national scorecard that
businesses use to publicly display their progress.in preventing pollution the TOXKS Release
inventory Also, this section discusses the Agency's Environmental Justice Grants, which are
designed to empower communities to learn more-about pollution prevention solutions to
environmental problems in their neighborhoods.
The Toxic Release Inventory (TRI)
Environmental Justice through Pollution Prevention
Page 34 ss
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The Toxic Release Inventory (TRI)
Introduction , ' . • .
the Toxics Release inventory (TRI) creates a "national Scorecard" which manufacturers
can use to display their progress in preventing pollution. Section 313 of the 1986 Emergency -
Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and section 6607 of the Pollution
Prevention Act of 1 990 (PPA) require certain manufacturers to report to EPA annually the
quantities of toxic chemicals they release to the environment and the amounts of waste managed
on-site or transferred off-site for management elsewhere. EPA compiles this information and
makes it available to the public annually as the TRI. The overall goal of the TRI program is to
enhance the public's ability to monitor industry's releases and transfers of toxic chemicals that
may affect human health and the environment. TRI also serves as a pollution prevention
scofecard, by tracking toxic chemicals in wastes managed through recycling, energy recovery,
treatment .and disposal, and collecting data on various source reduction practices. Finally, by
putting information about management and releases of toxic chemicals oh public display, TRI'
raises industry awareness and creates a strong incentive for companies to reduce these wastes.
Selected Accomplishments ' >
Of the 23,321 facilities that reported to TRI for 1993, 8,135 implemented source
reduction activities (approximately 35%). For the 1992 reporting year, approximately
36% of facilities reported source reduction activities (8,584 out of 24,091)
EPA nearly doubled the number of toxic chemicals required to be reported under TRI,
giving the public a more accurate picture of progress in preventing toxic waste generation
and release. " ; • .
Under the directiotLof Executive Order 12856 ("Federal Compliance with Right-to-Know
Laws and Pollution Prevention Requirements"), EPA began to collect for the first time
toxic release data from federal agencies. Data from the Department of Energy, the first
federal agency to institute TRI reporting, will bejeleased in the Spring of 1995.
Plans for the-FMtrep \. ,
"
.. ... . -
EPA's efforts will
significant releases of TRI chemicals and are engaged in
activities directly related to the support of manufacturing activities currently covered under
TRI. ' • ••"•-• . . • • ';.- ' - ; '' .""•.- •"•.'•'.'..••'•
Page 35
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EP Vs is working with stakeholders to formulate the design of the "next generation of the
voluntary 33/50 Program, in which over 1,300 companies committed to reducing releases
and transfers of 17 high-priority toxic chemicals by 33% in 1 992 and 50% ir jl 9 >£*
measured against a 1988 TRI baseline. In .the next generation of 33/50, the Agency*
wooing witii industry to include information on the extent to which source reduction and
otto poTtfon prevention practices are responsible for documented release reductions.
EPA is actively considering expanding 33/50's public recognition to
certificates acknowledging participation and achievement of emissions reductions to
awards recognizing outstanding voluntary pollution prevention activities.
Contacts
Maria Doa, TRI Branch, (202) 260-9592.
Chris Tirpak, 33/50 Program, (202) 260-7538.
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Environmental Justice through
Pollution Prevention
Introduction
The Environmental Justice through
Pollution,Prevention Grants Program is , .
designed to provide financial assistance to v
poor and minority communities for
identifying and implementing pollution .
prevention solutions for environmental •
problems in their neighborhoods'. _ ;
Selected Accomplishments
•, The Environmental Justice through
Pollution Prevention Grants Program
was funded at $4,2 million in October
1994. The Agency has distributed
over 4,000 grant application guidance
packages to community organizations
around the country.
Plans for. the Future
EPA's Pollution Prevention Division
will work in partnership with EPA
Regions to review grant applications.
Each of the 10 EPA Regional offices
will distribute roughly $400,
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"The Congress hereby declares it to be the national policy of the
United States that pollution should be prevented or reduced at the
source whenever feasible; pollution that cannot be prevented should be
recycled in an environmentally safe manner, whenever feasible;-
pollution that cannot be prevented or recycled should be treated in an.
environmentally safe manner whenever feasible; and disposal or other
release into the environment should be employed .only as a last resort
and should be conducted in an environmentally safe manner."
-Pollution Prevention Act of1990
42 USC13101
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