Protecting the Environment
and Our Employees
•09 Accomplishments
United States
Environmental Protection
i Agency
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Front cover photo of field employee and photos on page 4 courtesy of Eric Vance (USEPA).
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Introduction.
EPA's Framework Fosters Continual Improvement 3
Green Building Continues to Advance 6
EPA Strengthens Its Energy Strategy 9
Electronics Stewardship Enjoys Continued Success 12
Water Savings Surpass Expectations 14
EPA Strives to Reduce Its Waste Stream . .17
EPA Promotes Safer and Greener Transportation 8 20
EPA Provides a Safe and Healthful Work Environment . .23
EPA Reaches Out to Local Communities . .26
Closing Remarks and Acknowledgements 28
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) contin-
ued to exhibit solid performance and leadership in the
areas of safety, health and environmental management
throughout 2009. EPA reduced its injury and illness and
lost-time disability case rates in 2009, surpassing reduc-
tion goals established by the Department of Labor. The
Agency also met or exceeded several environmental goals,
which allowed it to earn a green score (the highest rating)
on the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Energy
Scorecard and the Environmental Stewardship Scorecard.
Moreover, in October 2009, EPA received a Presidential Award for Leadership
in Federal Energy Management — one of only six federal agencies to receive
this honor.
As the Designated Agency Safety and Health Official and Senior Sustainability
Officer, I am pleased with the progress EPA made in 2009, and I appreciate
the external recognition the Agency received. Even more importantly, I am
encouraged by some of the less quantifiable improvements that continued to
materialize across EPA throughout the year. For example, we observed a grow-
ing commitment to safety ethics and environmental sustainability among our
more than 1 7,000 employees, as well as an enhanced commitment to serve
in a leadership role. Throughout the year, our employees took the initiative to
speak to their local communities (and other organizations) about progressive
activities that EPA facilities are implementing, demonstrating the link that ex-
ists between green choices, good health and cost savings.
EPA intends to lead by example, and it is clear that our President expects no
less from us. In October 2009, President Obama issued Executive Order
(EO) 13514, Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance, which
established several new expectations for federal agencies, including new goals
for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The EO's message is clear: the White
House expects federal agencies to set the bar in achieving sustainable solutions
to environmental challenges. I am happy to report that EPA is well positioned
to accept that responsibility and to meet the President's high expectations.
This publication describes activities undertaken in 2009 to promote green
building principles, reduce energy and water use, foster electronics steward-
ship, support waste diversion programs, advance green transportation options,
and protect the safety and health of employees. This report also explains what
EPA has done to prepare itself to meet future goals and expectations.
I hope you enjoy reading about our 2009 accomplishments.
Craig E. Hooks
Assistant Administrator
Office of Administration and Resources Management
Protecting the Environment and Our Employees — 2009 Accomplishments
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EPA's Framework Fosters
Continual Improvement
Our nation's leaders have established safety, health and environmental manage-
ment (SHEM) performance goals for federal agencies. In addition to meet-
ing these requirements, EPA has also committed to an ongoing pursuit of
continual SHEM improvement. By embracing this philosophy, the Agency
acknowledges that its work will never be done when it comes to improving
SHEM performance. No matter how many milestones are achieved, the Agency
will continue to remain alert for emerging safety and health hazards and
continue to search for new ways to reduce its environmental impact. In 2009,
EPA continued to develop the framework and tools that are needed to support
a paradigm of continual improvement. For example, EPA supported efforts
to implement Safety and Health Management Systems (SHMSs) at individual
facilities, worked on streamlining and improving EPA's existing Environmental
Management Systems (EMSs), and developed self-evaluation tools to assist in
identifying opportunities for improvement.
SHMS Moves Forward
EPA is encouraging each of its major offices and laboratories to develop a
SHMS, a management system that promotes the integration of safety and
health considerations into all levels of an organization's operational, plan-
ning and management decisions. SHMSs provide a framework for identifying,
managing, eliminating, minimizing and controlling safety and health hazards.
Fostering enhanced awareness, training is
emphasized to help managers and employees
better understand how their decisions and
day-to-day actions impact the safety and well-
being of their co-workers.
In 2009, EPA's Office of Air and Radiation
(OAR) National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions
Laboratory in Ann Arbor, Michigan, became
the first EPA facility to complete the SHMS
implementation process, demonstrating com-
pliance with guidance issued by the Occupa-
tional Health and Safety Management Systems
International Organization for Standardization
(18001 Standard). Additional EPA locations
are poised to follow this path. The Region 3
Office, the Region 5 Office and Laboratory,
the Region 7 Office and Laboratory, and the
Region 10 Laboratory all participated in a
Protecting the Environment and Our Employees — 20'
SHMS implementation prompt-
ed OAR's National Vehicle and
Fuel Emissions Laboratory in
Ann Arbor, Michigan, to reassess
its workspaces and operational
practices. In the process, safety
and health managers deter-
mined that "unguarded rotating
equipment" posed an unaccept-
able safety hazard to employees,
which prompted them to install
machine guarding equipment as
shown in the picture below.
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SHMS implementation pilot project in 2009, and at the end of the year, EPA
established a SHMS Workgroup to promote SHMS implementation even more
broadly across the Agency.
EPA employees perform a variety of activities. For example, personnel from the Of-
fice of Research and Development's Western Ecology Division Laboratory in Corvallis,
Oregon (pictured above), conduct field work, analyze plant samples, and work in labora-
tories. EPA ensures that employees are aware of the potential hazards associated with
their work, and the Agency implements controls to mitigate those hazards.
EMS Continues to Grow and Evolve
EMS programs are already established at all of EPA's major offices and laborato-
ries. In 2009, the Agency's EMS performance earned the highest score (green)
for the third year in a row on OMB's Environmental Stewardship Scorecard
(see figure below). An EMS applies the same principles and processes that a
SHMS does, except it focuses on mitigating environmental impacts rather than
safety and health hazards. An EMS provides a framework that allows EPA to
pursue sustainable environmental practices, comply with regulations, address
evolving goals and measure performance. Additionally, EMS awareness training
empowers EPA employees and prompts them to offer suggestions for further
reducing the Agency's environmental footprint.
EMS—On the Road to Success
These charts show how the percentage
of EMS facilities scoring green (the high-
est ranking) has increased overtime. The
scores are based on specific EMS perfor-
mance metrics supported by the Office
of the Federal Environmental Executive.
The facility-level scores are rolled up to
calculate an Agencywide EMS score,
which is reflected on OMB's Environmen-
tal Stewardship Scorecard.
56%
of EMS
facilities
score green
90%
of EMS
facilities
score green
94%
of EMS
facilities
score green
\
Translates to a yellow EMS score for Translates to a green EMS score
EPA on OMB's Environmental Steward- for EPA on OMB's Environmental
ship Scorecard Stewardship Scorecard
Protecting the Environment and Our Employees — 2009 Accomplishments
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Although EMSs are already well established across EPA, the Agency worked on
making improvements in 2009. For example, the Agency invited EMS coor-
dinators to a meeting in July 2009 and asked them to recommend options for
streamlining the administrative requirements associated with EMSs. Addition-
ally, EPA made headway in developing a Higher-Tier EMS, which will serve
as an overarching EMS for all of EPA and will capture responsibilities most
effectively managed at the Headquarters level. Moreover, several EPA regions
and the Office of Research and Development (ORD) continued to pursue the
development of Multi-Site EMSs in an effort to consolidate management activi-
ties at multiple locations under one EMS umbrella.
EPA Launches the Self-Assessment Program
To support continual improvement, EPA managers must constantly ask them-
selves, "What steps can we take to make our workspaces safer, healthier and greener?" EPA
engages in a variety of self-evaluation activities to answer this question. For
example, the Office of Administration and Resources Management (OARM)
conducts comprehensive SHEM audits at EPA offices, laboratories and research
vessels on a three- to five-year cycle. Upon completing these audits, OARM
gives the audited location a report that lists audit findings and identifies areas
where actions should be taken to strengthen SHEM performance. Facilities are
also expected to perform internal SHEM audits annually, and in June 2009,
OARM launched the Self-Assessment Program to provide a standardized set
of auditing tools for them to use. OARM offered webinar training during the
summer of 2009 to explain how to use the tools. In January 2010, EPA began
implementing the Self-Assessment Program. Senior managers must certify that
each EPA location has completed an annual self-evaluation.
Elements Covered in the Self-Assessment Program
Examples (Not a Comprehensive List)
Occupational Safety a
Health Review Elements
• Occupational Safety and
Health Administration Regula
tions
• EPA's Facility Safety, Health
and Environmental Manage-
ment (FSHEM) Manual
Environmental Revi
Elements
• Clean Air Act
• Clean Water Act
• Resource Conservatio..
Recovery Act
• Toxic Substances Control Act
• Atomic Energy Act
• Emergency Planning and
Community Right-to-Kno1
Fire and Life Safety Revi
Elements
• National Fire Protection
Association's Life Safety
• International Building C<
Administrations Facihti
Standards for the Publi
Buildings Service
EPA's FSHEM Manual
Protecting the Environment and Our Employees — 2009 Accomplishments
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Green Building
Continues to Advance
EPA continued to champion green building principles and projects throughout
2009. For example, EPA supported the integration of historical preservation and
modern-day sustainability at its Region 1 Office, promoted low impact develop-
ment and stormwater management techniques, and continued to build tools
that will help the Agency meet — and exceed — future sustainability goals.
Introducing Modern Technologies into an Old Building
In December 2009, EPA Region 1 employees in Boston, Massachusetts, moved
into the newly renovated John W McCormack Building, a 2 2-story structure
built in the early 1930s and considered one of the region's finest historic art-
deco buildings. EPA worked with the U.S. General Services Administration to
incorporate a variety of sustainable features, including energy-efficient heating
and cooling systems; daylighting; double-pane, low-emissivity windows; and
recycled-content building materials. New water-efficient plumbing fixtures,
including dual-flush toilets and high-efficiency urinals, faucets and showers,
were also installed. Additionally a green roof with native plant species was es-
tablished on the 4th and 5th floors to provide habitat for urban wildlife, miti-
gate stormwater runoff, reduce heating and cooling needs, and provide space
for employees to enjoy fresh air. Following initial establishment, the plants
on the roof will not require irrigation unless drought conditions occur, in
which case, captured rainfall (stored in cisterns) will be used to support them.
The building is expected to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design (LEED®) for New Construction version 2.2 Gold certification in 2010
and ENERGY STAR® certification in 2011. Planners and designers juggled
diverse objectives to renovate this building; in the process, they demonstrated
that green concepts can be implemented without compromising a building's
historical significance.
m
_
Protecting the Environment and Our Employees — 2009 Accomplishments
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Promoting Low Impact Development
Fulfilling one of EO 135 14's expectations, EPA's Office of Water collaborated
with other federal agencies to develop Technical Guidance on Implementing the Storm-
water Runoff Requirements for Federal Projects Under Section 438 of the Energy Independence and
Security Act. This document, issued in December 2009, promotes the use of low
impact development, a set of practices that retains rainwater on site, protects
receiving waters, and restores ground water resources. The document discuss-
es the merits of using porous pavement; harvesting and reusing rainwater; and
establishing rain gardens, vegetated swales and green roofs.
Leading by example, EPA installed green roofs at two EPA facilities in 2009
— the aforementioned John W. McCormack Building in Region 1 and ORD's
Atlantic Ecology Division Laboratory in Narragansett, Rhode Island (pictured
below). In addition, EPA supported an innovative project at the Region 2
Laboratory in Edison, New Jersey. At this site, EPA replaced an existing im-
pervious parking lot with a parking area that features three different types of
surfaces — porous asphalt, porous concrete and interlocking concrete pavers.
Subsurface collection piping, instrumentation and storage tanks were installed
so that EPA can perform cross-comparison testing of each material's efficacy in
achieving ground water recharge and pollutant removal. Monitoring will be
performed for up to a decade. In addition, the Edison facility installed a new,
six-cell rain garden to collect roof water drainage and runoff from a portion
In 2009, ORD's Atlantic Ecology
Division Laboratory, in Narragansett,
Rhode Island, replaced its 30-year-old
roof with a green roof to reduce heat-
ing and cooling costs and stormwater
runoff. The new roof is expected to
reduce energy use by 30 percent in
the space immediately below the roof.
Excess rainwater, collected in cisterns,
will be used to water the roof's plants
during drought conditions.
Protecting the Environment and Our Employees — 2009 Accomplishments
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Rain gardens and porous pavement have been established in the
. parking lot at the Region 2 Laboratory in Edison, New Jersey.
Construction was completed in October 2009; monitoring will be
conducted for up to a decade.
of the parking lot that is still covered with impervious material. Each cell is
extensively monitored with subsurface instrumentation and is being used to
research different types of rain garden materials and enhancements. The data
generated from Edison's porous pavement and rain garden studies will provide
much-needed real-world data, which will help designers across the country
maximize the efficacy of future projects by giving them information they need
to make better informed choices about material selection, sizing and siting.
Paving the Path for Future Success
Over the past several years, EPA has developed a variety of tools and processes
to ensure that green building principles are incorporated into all of its new
construction, renovation, major repair projects and leasing agreements. EPA
updated many of these tools in 2009, including its Best Practices Lease Provisions and
its GreenCheck process. EPA also performed sustainability assessments at sever-
al of its facilities in 2009 to assess each one's current performance and identify
possibilities for improvement. Implementing these improvements will help
EPA meet EO 135 14's goal of ensuring that at least 15 percent of its existing
building inventory meets the Guiding Principles for Federal Leadership in High Performance
and Sustainable Buildings by FY 2015. EPA is positioned to meet that goal. In fact,
more than 5 percent of the buildings in EPA's current Federal Real Property
Profile inventory already meet the Guiding Principles.
Protecting the Environment and Our Employees — 2009 Accomplishments
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EPA Strengthens Its Energy
Strategy
EPA continued to implement and expand its energy reduction strategy in 2009.
The Agency upgraded equipment at EPA facilities, promoted advanced metering
and supported renewable energy markets. EPA also completed energy assess-
ments and re-commissioning evaluations at six facilities, and in the process,
identified a list of potential new energy conservation projects for the Agency
to consider for the future. Additionally, the Agency continued to demonstrate
leadership in tracking its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions — placing it in good
position to address the GHG-related goals issued in EO 135 14.
Energy Conservation - - EPA Remains Ahead of the Curve
In 2009, EPA continued to exceed federal energy conservation requirements
(see figure below). The Agency's overall energy intensity (a measure of total
energy use per gross square foot) reported in FY 2009 was 318,050 British
thermal units per gross square foot (Btu/GSF), 18.1 percent lower than its FY
2003 baseline intensity. This exceeds the 12 percent reduction goal established
for this time period by EO 13423, Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and
Transportation Management, and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 200 7
(EISA). When green power purchases and source energy savings credits are
taken into account, the Agency reduced its energy intensity 24.4 percent from
the FY 2003 baseline.
450,000
§ 400,000-
V)
350,000-
300,000-
250,000-
200,000-1-,
EPA's Energy Use
—EO 13423/EISA Target —EPA's Actual Btu/GSF
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Fiscal Year
Protecting the Environment and Our Employees — 2009 Accomplishments
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What Is Advanced
Metering?
Advanced Metering Strategy
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the Energy Independence
and Security Act of 2007 require federal agencies to insti-
tute advanced metering for electricity steam and natural gas
utilities where it is cost effective to do so. EPA is well on its
way to meeting that goal and has volunteered to implement
advanced metering for all energy and water utilities where
cost effective. Advanced metering hardware has already
been installed at many of EPA's major facilities. By the end
of 2009, EPA had already captured more than 45 percent of
its energy consumption through advanced metering hardware. New instal-
lation opportunities have been identified, and in 2009, EPA started designing
advanced metering hardware for the Region 1 Laboratory in Chelmsford, Mas-
sachusetts, and the Environmental Science Center in Fort Meade, Maryland, as
well as multiple EPA buildings in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Research Triangle Park
(RTF) in North Carolina.
EPA has also developed a national advanced metering soft-
ware system, which compiles advanced metering data across
the Agency and provides a Web-based, user-friendly inter-
face for streamlined data analysis and reporting. EPA refined
its software system in 2009 and released an updated version
in July 2009. Comprehensive, third-party commissioning
was initiated on the software system in August 2009, and an
improved version was released in December 2009.
EPA's advanced metering networl
will consist of a collection of
meters that measure and record
interval data at least hourly and
transmit the data to a central
collection point. Access to such
detailed information will place
Region 3 Installs ENERGY
STAR Equipment
Leadership in Green Power and Renewable
Energy
For more than a decade, EPA has been a leader among
federal agencies in supporting the renewable energy market
through its green power purchasing program. EPA signed
two new Agencywide blanket contracts in March 2009,
which in combination with its eight existing contracts, enabled the Agency to
purchase enough green power to offset 100 percent of its electricity use via
delivered green power and renewable energy certificates (RECs) through the
The Region 3 Office in Philadel-
phia, Pennsylvania, provides hot
and cold drinking water to employ-
ees. In 2009, the facility replaced
18 of its water dispensers with
ENERGY STAR-rated units that
use significantly less energy. This
change is expected to save 6,500
kilowatt hours per year, which will
translate to $2,300 in annual sav-
ings and prevent 10 metric tons of
carbon dioxide from entering thi
atmosphere each year.
ORD's Large Lakes and Rivers Research Station in
Grosse lie, Michigan, reduced its FY 2009 energy use
by 13 percent compared to FY 2008. This energy sav-
ings is directly attributed to a heating system central
plant upgrade that was completed in February 2009.
Protecting the Environment and Our Employees — 2009 Accomplishments
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end of FY 2009. Later in the year, EPA procured three addi-
tional green power contracts to further extend its support for
the renewable energy market through FY 2 011.
EPA also commissioned a feasibility study in 2009 to as-
sess the potential for generating onsite renewable energy at
EPA laboratories. Completed in September 2009, the study
evaluated solar, wind and ground source heat pumps and
concluded that EPA could generate 9.8 percent of its energy
needs through onsite renewables. The study confirmed that
ground source heat pumps are the most economical renew-
able technology for EPA to pursue.
Tracking and Reducing GHG Emissions
EPA's Climate Leaders Program challenges businesses and
other organizations to establish a GHG inventory, set reduc-
tion goals, and develop comprehensive climate change strate-
gies. As the program's creator, EPA demonstrated its com-
mitment to "walk the talk" in May 2009 when it became an
official Climate Leaders partner. EPA also improved the scope
and detail of its GHG emissions inventory in 2009, as well as
its comprehensive inventory management plan, which offers
a transparent and comprehensive record of the data sources
and methodology that EPA uses to quantify its GHG emis-
sions. EPA's efforts to quantify its GHG emissions will give it
a tremendous lead in implementing the GHG-related require-
ments of EO 13514.
In 2009, EPA initiated a number of
pilot projects to reduce air flow and
energy use at the New Main Campus
Laboratory at the Agency's RTP facil-
ity in North Carolina. These efforts
included retrofitting fume hoods,
replacing variable air volume box
components, and modifying tempera-
ture tracking controls, which resulted
in a 4.9-percent reduction in energy
intensity in FY 2009.
In 2009, ORD's Ecosystems Re-
search Division Laboratory in Athens,
Georgia, installed solar water heaters
to reduce the amount of energy the
facility uses to produce hot water.
GHG Emissions Are Already Decreasing
EPA has been tracking its Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions since FY 2003. (Scope 1 represents
direct GHGs from sources that EPA owns or controls, and Scope 2 represents GHGs generated to
support EPA's electricity, heat or steam purchases.) A comparison of the FY 2009 data against the FY
2003 baseline suggests that EPA's energy-efficiency projects have already led to a 10-percent decrease
in Scope 1 and 2 emissions. The reduction is even more impressive — 61 percent — if the Agency's
purchase of green power and RECs is taken into account, an approach allowed under the Climate Lead-
ers reporting methodology.
Protecting the Environment and Our Employees — 2009 Accomplishments
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Electronics Stewardship
Enjoys Continued Success
The Agency has established a firm foundation for its electronics steward-
ship program, and in 2009, the Agency demonstrated strong performance in
the areas of green electronics acquisition, energy efficiency, and end-of-life
management. The Agency's success in these areas earned it a green score (the
highest offered) in electronics stewardship on OMB's Environmental Steward-
ship Scorecard.
EPA Embraces Green Acquisition as Standard Practice
More than 99 percent of the desktops, laptops and monitors that the Agency
purchased or leased in 2009 were registered under the Electronic Products
Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT), a system used to identify environ-
mentally preferable electronics equipment. In fact, the majority of the Agen-
cy's acquisitions met the prestigious Gold standard, a designation reserved for
products that meet EPEAT's highest tier of environmental performance.
Several factors enabled the Agency to achieve success. First, EPA's green pur-
chasing plan requires all newly acquired computers to be both EPEAT registered
and ENERGY STAR qualified. Second, EPA ensures that green acquisition stipu-
lations are incorporated into contracts, such as the one implemented in 2008
to provide computers and information technology services to EPA Headquarters
and laboratories. Third, EPA conducts quarterly green purchasing training for
contracting officers to promote the purchase of EPEAT-registered products.
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Power Management Settings Enable Energy Savings
EPA continued to increase the energy efficiency of its electronics equipment
in 2009 and to ensure that employees power down their computers at the end
of the day. At the end of 2009, power management features were enabled on
more than 95 percent of EPA's computers, laptops and monitors. All of EPA's
facilities have developed plans to enable power management and other envi-
ronmentally preferable features on their equipment, as required by EO 13514.
In November 2009, EPA piloted a software solution to ensure the enforcement
of appropriate power management settings across the Agency. EPA also pro-
vided training to EMS coordinators in 2009 to promote power management.
Old Equipment Finds New Life or Gets Recycled
All of the computers that EPA removed from service in 2009 were handled in
an environmentally responsible manner. Many of the computers got a second
life, either through redistribution to other locations within EPA or through
donations made to external organizations and schools through the Comput-
ers for Learning Program. In fact, 79 percent of the computers removed from
service in 2009 were reused. The remaining 21 percent were recycled. EPA
continued to provide training to property managers on best practices for end-
of-life disposal, as well as to encourage offices to participate in the Computers
for Learning Program.
EPA Helps Organize a Multi-Organizational
Electronics Collection Drive
The Agency's RTP facility is located in a large science park in
North Carolina that provides office space to multiple companies
and organizations. Working with the broader RTP community, EPA
has joined forces with neighboring companies to organize a bian-
nual electronics drive. The drive provides science park employees
with an opportunity to dispose of their personal electronics (from
home) in an environmentally responsible manner.
During the 2009 collection events, the RTP community donated
1,402 items, amounting to 86,729 pounds of equipment. EPA em-
ployees were responsible for 10,896 pounds of that total (or about
12.5 percent). The donated equipment was given to Kramden
Institute, a local nonprofit organization that examined the donated
items to identify salvageable items that could be refurbished for
local schools. The remainder was recycled by Global Electric Elec-
tronic Processing, a company that ensures that obsolete electron-
ics are recycled in an environmentally responsible manner.
Protecting the Environment and Our Employees — 2009 Accomplishments
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Water Savings Surpass
Expectations
Based on existing federal water conservation goals, EPA was required to reduce
water intensity by 4 percent between FY 2007 and FY 2009. The Agency sur-
passed this target, achieving a reduction of 11.3 percent over the specified time
period (see figure below). Such performance validates the strength of EPA's
Water Conservation Strategic Plan, a document that prioritizes EPA's water con-
servation initiatives and outlines a timetable for completing projects at specific
facilities. Some of the projects that were conducted in 2009 are described in
the pages that follow.
EPA's Water Use
1
V)
(S
CD
€
40
35-
20
EPA's Actual gal/GSF
E.0.13514 Target
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Fiscal Year
EO 13423 and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 direct
federal agencies to reduce their water consumption intensity by 2 percent
annually through FY 2015 using FY 2007 as a baseline. EO 13514 (signed
in October 2009) extends the timeframe through FY 2020. As a result,
federal agencies are now expected to reduce their water consumption by
26 percent between FY 2007 and FY 2020. EPA is already more than one-
third of the way to the finish line.
Protecting the Environment and Our Employees — 2009 Accomplishments
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EPA continued to implement condensate recovery projects in 2009. One suc-
cessful strategy involves capturing air handler condensate and using it as cool-
ing tower make-up water. The Environmental Science Center in Fort Meade,
Maryland, which houses the Region 3 Laboratory and the Office of Chemical
Safety and Pollution Prevention's microbiology laboratory branch, installed a
system in June 2009 to reduce the amount of potable water used to support
its cooling tower. Initial engineering evaluations estimate that the new system
has an annual capture capacity of 660,000 gallons. If such estimates prove to
be true, reductions in the facility's water bill would allow the facility to recoup
project installation costs in less than one year. In late 2009, the facility also
completed a project to redirect clean steam condensate from building hu-
midification, which will result in additional savings. Also in 2009, EPA started
laying the groundwork for a condensate recovery system at the New Main
Campus Laboratory at RTF. Estimates suggest that this system will capture and
recover 6 to 8 million gallons of water annually.
EPA encourages facilities to replace or retrofit their lavatory faucets with high-
efficiency models that use less water. This initiative, launched in 2008, contin-
ued to enjoy wide support throughout 2009. Seven EPA facilities completed
the replacements/retrofits in calendar year 2009, and their efforts are expected
to save EPA more than 160,000 gallons of water per year. EPA also reduced
the amount of water used in toilets and urinals. For example, OAR's National
Saving Water and Money in the Desert
ORD's National Exposure Research Laboratory leases space from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
(UNLV), which is located in a desert environment. Responding to concerns about water shortages, the
Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) has started offering rebates to organizations that convert
high-maintenance lawn turf into desert landscapes. In response, EPA worked with UNLV to convert
120,000 square feet of turf into desert landscape, a change that is estimated to save 6.6 million gallons
of water a year. The photos above show the facility before and after the conversion. Installation of the
new landscape was completed during the last few weeks of 2008, which allowed UNLV to start reaping
cost savings (in the form of lower water bills) in 2009. UNLV was also able to capitalize on the SNWA
rebate program, which reimbursed the university approximately $180,000 for its efforts.
Protecting the Environment and Our Employees — 2009 Accomplishments
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Air and Radiation Environmental Laboratory in
Montgomery, Alabama, retrofitted old toilets,
urinals and faucets — improvements that will
translate to at least 90,000 gallons of annual
water savings. As another example, restroom
renovations implemented in 2009 at OAR's
National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory
in Ann Arbor, Michigan, are expected to save
180,000 gallons of water per year.
EPA also reduced the amount of water used to
support laboratory operations in 2009. For
example, the Region 7 Laboratory in Kansas
City, Kansas, replaced its existing liquid-ring
vacuum pump with a closed-loop system,
which is expected to save 800,000 gallons of
water per year. In addition, the Environmental
Science Center in Fort Meade, Maryland, and
the Andrew W Breidenbach Environmental Re-
search Center (AWBERC) in Cincinnati, Ohio,
both retrofitted their steam sterilizers in 2009,
an improvement that is expected to save 1.4
million gallons of water per year annually.
EPA is confident that it will continue to achieve
additional water savings in future years. Several
water conservation projects are already in the
queue, and efforts to identify additional water-
saving opportunities are ongoing. With regard
to the latter, EPA conducted water assessments
at multiple facilities (see sidebar) in 2009,
evaluating them against the Federal Energy
Management Program's water efficiency best
management practices (BMPs) as well as EPA's
laboratory-specific BMPs. These assessments
support the Agency's goal of pursuing continual
improvement.
Protecting the Environment and Our Employees — 2009 Accomplishments
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EPA Strives to Reduce Its
Waste Stream
EPA improved its solid waste diversion performance in 2009, achieving an
estimated 5 1 percent waste diversion rate. Such progress came as no surprise
given the extensive work the Agency performed over the course of the year to
enhance waste diversion programs across the country.
Late in 2008, EPA developed an array of tools and resources, collectively
named Strive for 45, to help facilities revitalize their waste diversion programs
and achieve a 45 percent waste diversion goal. In 2009, Strive for 45 became
fully operational, and an intranet site was developed to support the initiative.
EPA facilities received information on recycling best practices, progressive
waste reduction strategies, and suggestions on how to improve data collec-
tion and reporting mechanisms. They were also invited to participate in an
Agencywide recycling competition called the Recycling Rally, which was held
from January to June 2009. The rally was a tremendous success. Seventeen
EPA facilities participated, each submitting monthly recycling and trash data
(if available). The cumulative waste diversion rate of the participating EPA
facilities increased from 52 to 66 percent during the competition, thanks to
the addition of new materials to recycling programs, new employee outreach
strategies and improved data measurement. Moreover, some EPA locations
(see sidebar on page 18) shattered the 45 percent waste diversion goal,
achieving diversion rates in the 70 or 80 percent range.
Protecting the Environment and Our Employees — 2009 Accomplishments
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And the Winner is.
At the conclusion of the Recycling Rally,
OAR's National Vehicle and Fuel Emis-
sions Laboratory in Ann Arbor, Michigan,
prevailed as the Waste Diversion Grand
Champion with an 82 percent waste diver-
sion rate. Awards were also given to:
• Region 1. Representatives from the re-
gional office and laboratory implemented
Strive for 75, raising the bar on the com-
petition. They met their goal and achieve!
a waste diversion rate of 76 percent.
• Region 9. Both the regional office and
laboratory exhibited excellent perfor-
mance during the rally. The former
achieved a waste diversion rate of 80
percent, and the latter received recogni-
tion for showing the most improvement
among EPA laboratories. The Region 9
Laboratory credited much of its success
to outreach.
ORD s Mid-Continent Ecology Division
Laboratory in Duluth, Minnesota. This
location achieved a 79 percent waste
diversion rate during the rally. As an
added bonus, this location's recycling
program provides an opportunity for EPA
to partner with local schools and interface
with the public. During the school year,
students participating in the school's
four to six hours a week at EPA collect-
ing and moving recycled materials from
collection points to a central holding area.
The WEP gives students with disabilities
work experience and an opportunity to be
evaluated for future training or potential
job skills.
EPA also placed emphasis on obtaining more ac-
curate and comprehensive recycling data in 2009.
Toward that end, multiple EPA facilities signed new
contracts with waste and recycling haulers in 2009
to ensure accurate data tracking. For example, the
Region 6 Laboratory in Houston, Texas, established
a contract with a recycling pick-up service capable
of providing detailed tonnage data. In addition, the
RTF facility in North Carolina began tracking landfill
waste tipping weights under its custodial contract,
which provided the data necessary to quantify the
facility's waste diversion rate.
EPA facilities also continued to expand the scope of
materials covered in their waste reduction strategies.
For example, EPA Headquarters started recycling
plastic bags, an endeavor that coincided with the
local city council's decision to tax plastic bags to pre-
vent river pollution. The Region 4 Office in Atlanta,
Georgia, launched a program to recycle old furniture and other metal office
furnishings. About 1,200 pounds of metal was collected and given to a local
EPA's National Enforcement and
Investigations Center in Denver,
Colorado, continued to strength-
en its recycling program in 2009,
adding single-stream recycling to
its repertoire of best practices.
Protecting the Environment and Our Employees — 2009 Accomplishments
-------
recycling company as part of that effort. In addition, ORD's
Gulf Ecology Division Laboratory in Gulf Breeze, Florida,
initiated efforts to collect candy wrappers and other product
packaging (e.g., tape dispensers, cereal boxes and chip bags)
and sent the collected materials toTerraCycle, a company that
converts trash into useful products, such as hair bows and
bookbags.
Composting also continued to take hold across the Agency.
ORD's Western Ecology Division Laboratory in Corvallis,
Oregon, launched a new composting program in 2009,
and the Agency's RTF facility in North Carolina expanded
its existing program by implementing vermicomposting at
an onsite daycare center. In addition to these two locations,
seven other EPA locations continued to compost organic
waste throughout the year, diverting an estimated 185 tons
of organic material across the Agency in FY 2009.
EPA attracts employees who are pas-
sionate about environmental issues.
In many cases, employees approach
management and offer to take the
lead in implementing a sustainable
practice. Such was the case in 2009
at the Office of Chemical Safety and
Pollution Prevention's Environmen-
tal Chemistry Laboratory in Bay St.
Louis, Mississippi, when Jeremy
Stewart brought a bucket to work and
asked his 10 co-workers to deposit
food waste in it. On a periodic basis,
Mr. Stewart brings the bucket home
and adds the contents to his own
personal compost pile.
Reducing Chemical Use in EPA Laboratories
EPA laboratories have implemented numerous strategies to reduce their use
of toxic chemicals. For example, the Region 4 Laboratory in Athens, Georgia,
recently upgraded its autosampler, which has reduced nitric acid waste genera-
tion by about 20 milliliters per sample. The Region 5 Laboratory in Chicago,
Illinois, started using a new discrete analyzer (in lieu of its Lachat autoanalyzer)
in 2009 to assess samples for cyanide, nitrate-nitrite, total kjeldahl nitrogen and
total phosphorus. The new equipment uses about 100 times less sample and
reagent and generates about 100 times less waste than the Lachat autoanalyzer.
In 2009, the Region 5 Laboratory installed more efficient autosamplers in front of
three inductively coupled plasma units, a change that led to reductions in sample
size and waste generation.
EPA laboratories have also strengthened their chemical management systems
by 1) establishing controls on chemical procurement, 2) tracking chemicals once
they enter the laboratory, and 3) ensuring that chemicals are used up or "adopt-
ed out" before they expire and become hazardous waste. For example, by the
end of 2009, 12 of EPA's major laboratories had implemented "chemical adop-
tion programs," including five regional laboratories (i.e., Regions 3, 4, 5, 7, and
8); OAR's Radiation and Indoor Environments National Laboratory in Las Vegas,
Nevada; and ORD laboratories located in Rhode Island, North Carolina, Florida,
Georgia, Minnesota, and Nevada. Such programs allow EPA to donate unneeded
or unwanted chemicals to local high schools, universities and other organizations,
where they can be productively and safely used.
Protecting the Environment and Our Employees — 2009 Accomplishments
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EPA Promotes Safer and Greener
Transportation
EPA employees drive thousands of miles per year, traveling to public meet-
ings and field sites, driving between EPA facilities, and supporting emergency
response activities. Such mobility poses a safety and environmental concern.
When employees get behind the wheel, they have the potential to be in serious
accidents, and they also contribute pollutants and GHGs to the environment.
For these reasons, the Agency regards transportation to be a key issue requiring
strong leadership, from both a safety and an environmental perspective.
Roadway Safety Remains a Top Priority
In 2009, EPA continued to provide access to an online driver safety training
program developed by the National Safety Council. The Agency also continued
to build awareness about driver safety by releasing a safety bulletin in April
2009 called Work-Related Motor Vehicle Safety — released as part of the Agency's
Injury and Illness Prevention Program. At the end
of the year, EPA launched an outreach campaign
to alert senior managers and EPA employees of
the President's decision (issued via EO 13513)
to prohibit employees from text messaging
when driving on the government's behalf. EPA
fully supports this ban, as text messaging is a
hazardous practice that causes drivers to take
their eyes off the road and remove at least one
hand from the steering wheel.
The White House issued EO
13513, Federal Leadership
on Reducing Text Messaging
While Driving, in October 2009.
EPA immediately launched an
outreach campaign to educate
employees about the EO, which
prohibits federal employees
from text messaging when they
are driving government-owned,
-leased, or -rented vehicles or
privately owned vehicles (POVs)
on official government business.
The EO also prohibits the use of
government-supplied electronic
devices when employees are
driving in their POVs, even during
off-duty hours.
2009 Accomplishments
-------
EPA Targets the Environmental Impacts of Job-Related Travel
and Employee Commuting
EPA maintains a fleet of vehicles that employees drive to conduct Agency busi-
ness. Both EO 13423 and EO 13514 require federal agencies to reduce petro-
leum consumption in vehicle fleets by 2 percent each year, using FY 2005 as
the baseline for tracking progress. EO 13423 requires reductions through FY
2015, which translates to a 20-percent required reduction over the specified
time period; EO 13514 extends the requirement through FY 2020, raising the
bar to a 30-percent required reduction. EPA has met EO 13423's end goal a
full six years ahead of schedule and is well positioned to meet EO 135 14's ex-
pectations. In FY 2009, the Agency's vehicle fleet petroleum consumption was
23 percent lower than the FY 2005 consumption level.
EPA's success can be attributed to several factors. When possible, the Agency
reduces the amount of driving that employees perform. Some EPA locations,
such as the Region 2 Office in New York City, are using videoconferencing
to cut down on travel. The Agency continues to decommission large vehicles
and replace them with more fuel-efficient models, including alternative fuel
vehicles (e.g., E85 models, compressed natural gas vehicles and hybrid electric
vehicles). In FY 2009, EPA acquired 125 alternative fuel vehicles, exceed-
ing the acquisition goals established under the Energy Policy Act of 1992.
The Agency increased its use of alternative fuel by nearly 3 0 percent over the
course of the year, consuming 51,133 gasoline gallon equivalents in FY 2009,
which helped offset petroleum use.
Protecting the Environment and Our Employees — 2009 Accomplishments
-------
EPA vehicle fleet managers also focused on maintenance
issues to ensure optimal performance, with some EPA lo-
cations advocating the use of solar-powered tire inflators.
The Agency is also committed to reducing the amount
of fuel that is consumed during employees' commutes
to and from work. Toward that end, EPA continued
to encourage public transportation through a Transit
Subsidy Program, which about half of the Agency's em-
ployees used. At some of the Agency's urban facilities,
such as the Region 5 Office in Chicago, Illinois, more
than 90 percent of employees participate in the Transit
Subsidy Program. Other initiatives to address com-
muting are also underway. For example, employees in
Cincinnati, Ohio, took the initiative to form a van pool
in 2009 to reduce the number of single-occupancy
vehicles on the road (see below). In addition, employ-
ees at ORD's Western Ecology Division Laboratory in
Corvallis, Oregon, continued to participate in an annual
month-long Bike Commute Challenge. In September
2009, they pedaled 2,79S miles back and forth from
work, preventing about 2,740 pounds of carbon diox-
ide from entering the environment and burning about
137,000 calories in the process.
EPA employees who live in the northern suburbs
of Cincinnati commute to work in the van pictured
above. Each morning, they meet at the Kings Island
Amusement Park and share a 25-mile commute to
work. They head home together in the van at the end
of the day. Five to seven people typically participate
in the van pool, resulting in about 6,000 fewer miles
driven per month. Such success has spurred interest
in forming additional van pools. In fact, the facility
intends to partner with employees from a nearby
hospital to start a second van pool in 2010.
EPA "Pumps Up" the Gas
Mileage
Adequate tire inflation helps improve
gas mileage, a message that EPA has
taken to heart. Taking it one "green"
step further, the Agency has identi-
fied a way to deliver compressed air
to tires using a solar-powered pump,
which allows tires to be inflated with-
out relying on fossil fuels for delivery.
Representatives from the Agency's
RTP facility took the lead with this
project and identified a company in
Texas willing to convert an under-
ground storage tank pressurization
pump into a solar-powered tire pump.
The pump was then installed in RTP's
parking lot, and signs were posted to
alert EPA employees, onsite contrac-
tors and employees from a neighbor-
ing facility of the pump's presence.
To date, user logs suggest that at
least 380 gallons of gasoline have
been saved by using RTP's solar-
powered pump. Following in RTP's
footsteps, solar-powered air pumps
are now installed at ORD's Atlantic
Ecology Division Laboratory in Narra-
gansett, Rhode Island, and its Robert
S. Kerr Environmental Research
Center in Ada, Oklahoma.
Protecting the Environment and Our Employees — 2009 Accomplishments
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EPA Provides a Safe and
Healthful Work Environment
EPA employees work in offices, laboratories and the field. While they all con-
front typical office-related hazards (e.g., tripping, slipping), some of them also
climb trees, dive into aquatic environments, handle toxic reagents, perform
chemical exposure studies, respond to chemical spills, conduct recovery opera-
tions at disaster sites and operate potentially dangerous machinery. Despite
the inherent hazards associated with these activities, EPA's injury and illness
rate and its lost-time case rate both decreased in FY 2009 — a testament to the
strength of the Agency's safety and health programs. Good health and pro-
ductivity go hand in hand. Thus, EPA's efforts to ensure employee well-being
enable the Agency to better serve the public.
Focusing on Emergency Responders
EPA's emergency response personnel encounter risks when responding to re-
leases of oil or hazardous substances, and they frequently work under physical-
ly and emotionally demanding situations. EPA continued to address the safety
and health needs of this group throughout 2009. For example, EPA:
• Developed four new chapters of EPA's Emergency Responder Health and Safety Manual
to provide additional guidance on how to work safely in confined spaces;
address chemical and biological threat agents; select appropriate personal
protective equipment; and report injuries, illnesses, and exposures.
• Analyzed respirator fit testing data to ensure that EPA's standard-issue respi-
ratory equipment provides adequate protection.
• Participated in a Medical Countermeasures Workgroup to evaluate options
for providing chemoprophylaxsis to EPA's mission-critical emergency re-
sponders in the event of a biological attack.
EPA also focused on fatigue in 2009, acknowledging the negative impact that
long hours and insufficient rest have on an employee's safety and health. EPA
helped develop Guidance for Managing Worker Fatigue During Disaster Operations, a two-
volume document that the multi-agency National Response Team released in
April 2009. Exhibiting leadership, EPA volunteered to use the document to
create a fatigue management program for the Agency. A workgroup formed to
advance this objective in September 2009.
Protecting the Environment and Our Employees — 2009 Accomplishments
-------
Preventing Injury and Illness and Promoting
Wellness
In 2009, EPA hosted special events (see adjacent photo) and
also performed the following activities to support its Injury
and Illness Prevention Program:
• Produced safety bulletins that raised awareness about mo-
tor vehicle safety provided strategies for managing work-
related stress, and offered tips on maintaining a healthy
heart.
• Posted quarterly safety and health updates on EPA's In-
tranet.
• Sponsored EPA's fourth "Clear Your Clutter Challenge" to
encourage employees to remove paper piles, extension
cords and other tripping hazards from their workspaces.
EPA also continued to support activities that promote good
physical health. For example, EPA Headquarters supported
a weight loss program in 2009 and upgraded its fitness cen-
ters. Also in 2009, EPA distributed a survey to take stock of
wellness initiatives that are in place across the entire Agency.
The information was compiled and submitted to the Office
of Personnel Management to support the President's Work-
Life Initiative. As a follow-up, EPA identified strategies for
enhancing its wellness programs, an objective that it will
pursue in the future.
In May 2009, EPA Headquarters
held its annual "Walk to Well-
ness" in conjunction with its
annual Injury and Illness Preven-
tion Awareness Day. Safety
bulletins and other informational
handouts were made available to
the 650 EPA employees who at-
tended. Those in attendance also
watched fitness demonstrations,
interacted with health and well-
ness vendors, engaged in sports
competitions and preventative
health screening, and participat-
ed in a 1.5-mile walk around the
National Mall. The Agency's se-
nior managers (including OARM's
Assistant Administrator, captured
in the picture above) put on their
sneakers to actively show sup-
port for these activities.
In 2009, EPA upgraded the fitness centers at three
of its facilities in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan
area. These facilities provide access to cardiovascular
and weight training equipment, as well as a variety of
aerobics classes.
Protecting the Environment and Our Employees — 2009 Accomplishments
-------
Local safety and health managers review, update and
improve safety and health programs regularly. For ex-
ample, in February 2009, the Region 10 Office updated its
Diving Safety Manual to ensure the safety of dive team
members who perform search and recovery operations,
biological assessments, environmental sampling and
surveying exercises.
Staying Ahead of Evolving Hazards
The type of research that EPA laboratories perform changes
over time. EPA must stay one step ahead in addressing the
safety and health implications associated with new activities,
which it did in 2009 by addressing:
• Chemical warfare agents. EPA may be called upon to
handle samples that contain chemical warfare agents. To
prepare, the Agency assessed facility design issues related
to chemical warfare agents, including laboratory exhaust
air treatment options. In addition, a workgroup started
addressing safety and health concerns related to ultra-dilute
chemical warfare agents. Workgroup members evalu-
ated chemical warfare sample receipt procedures, initiated
efforts to develop a Dilute Solution Hygiene Plan, and started
developing a training program to address relevant hazards.
• Nanomaterials. Some EPA laboratories have started performing research
on nanomaterials and nanotechnologies. In response, EPA issued an in-
terim policy memorandum in 2009 that outlines protective controls that
should be in place when working with these materials. EPA also developed
a sample job hazard analysis for EPA laboratories to use to assess hazards as-
sociated with nanomaterial research.
The H1 N1 virus made its first un-
welcome appearance in the United
States in April 2009. In response, EPA
took action to prevent the spread of
illness among employees and initiated
advance planning to ensure that the
Agency's essential operations would
be able to continue in the event of a
pandemic. Safety and health profes-
sionals at individual EPA locations
hung posters that encouraged employ-
ees to cover their coughs, while some
locations used videos and other meth-
ods to deliver this message. Many
EPA locations established additional
hand sanitizer stations throughout
their facilities and purchased alcohol
wipes to promote good hygiene and
clean surfaces. Others communicated
with their custodial service provid-
ers about ways to prevent germs
from spreading. In September 2009,
the Agency released a guidance
document to assist EPA locations in
preparing for the potentially disruptive
combined effect that pandemic HIN1
influenza and seasonal influenza could
have on its workforce.
Protecting the Environment and Our Employees — 2009 Accomplishments
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EPA Reaches Out
to Local Communities
Many EPA employees participate
in local community projects.
For example, employees from
ORD's Atlantic Ecology Divi-
sion Laboratory in Narragansett,
Rhode Island (pictured above),
participate in community coastal
cleanup events.
EPA serves as a leader in identifying sustainable so-
lutions to environmental challenges. As described
in this report, the Agency has already implemented
numerous sustainable practices at its facilities,
enabling it to meet or exceed several federal en-
vironmental goals. While strong performance is
certainly a prerequisite for credibility, the Agency
understands that leadership entails much more
than just meeting milestones or scoring points on
scorecards. It also involves finding ways to serve as
a catalyst for environmental improvement in local
communities. The following examples demon-
strate EPA's commitment in this regard.
EPA Offers the Community a Solution
for Obsolete Electronics
As technology evolves, our nation accumulates massive amounts of obsolete
electronic equipment. Regrettably, some citizens throw these items in the
trash, and others stow them away because they do not know how to dispose of
them properly. EPA's Office of Environmental Information (OEI) is committed
to showing local communities how easy it is to collect unwanted computer
equipment. For the past three years, OEI has sponsored a collection event to
help residents, organizations and small businesses in the Washington, B.C.,
metropolitan area find an environmentally responsible solution to this prob-
lem. To date, EPA and community volunteers have helped collect more than
77 tons of equipment, including more than 1,750 computers, 1,850 monitors
and 750 printers. All of this equipment is sent to an electronics recycling facil-
ity that has a "no landfill" policy. Equipment that can be used is refurbished
and given a new life. Equipment that is no longer useful is demanufactured
for all of its parts, including metals, glass and plastics, and distributed to in-
dustry for reuse. Recovered materials that cannot be recycled are crushed and
used in other manufacturing processes.
EPA Encourages Other Organizations to "Go Green"
In 2009, representatives from ORD's Mid-Continent Ecology Division Labora-
tory in Duluth, Minnesota, delivered a presentation to a local high school's
asset management committee that highlighted the cost savings associated with
green choices (e.g., recycling, faucet repair, energy conservation). The pre-
sentation helped convince the school's headmaster to explore the possibility
scting the Environment and Our Employees — 2009 Accomplishments
-------
of implementing a schoolwide EMS in 2010. EPA Region
6 representatives also participated in a "How To Go Green"
seminar in 2009 sponsored by the Dallas Hispanic Cham-
ber of Commerce. They used this opportunity to showcase
EPA's EMS efforts and identify steps that seminar participants
could take to establish their own EMS programs.
EPA Brainstorms with a Local Community
Leaders in the city of Mission, Kansas, view environmental
sustainability as a key community objective. In 2009, the
city ramped up its commitment to future generations when
it decided to develop a comprehensive master sustainability
plan. Community leaders called upon the EPA Region 7 Of-
fice for assistance and advice. EPA representatives attended
multiple community meetings, sharing information about
energy-efficiency projects and helping outline the tenets of a
master sustainability plan.
EPA Educates the Next Generation
EPA employees also impact the community through the
volunteer work they perform with students. Employees at
EPA's Region 2 Laboratory in Edison, New Jersey, assist stu-
dents with career development and serve as mentors. Staff
members from Edison have: 1) delivered lectures covering
environmental stewardship principles; 2) organized boat field
trips to allow students to participate in hands-on water moni-
toring activities and benthic macro-invertebrate assessments;
and 3) invited senior students to visit the laboratory, shadow
a staff member and learn (through direct observation) about
the work that scientists do.
The Region 8 Office in Denver, Colo-
rado, has attracted worldwide atten-
tion for its sustainable features and
has received LEED Gold certification
and the ENERGY STAR label. The
building also serves as a national re-
source for learning. Since opening in
early 2007 it has shared information
about sustainable design with more
than 9,000 individuals during facility
tours. Tour participants learn about
the building's renewable construction
materials, energy and water con-
servation features, and daylighting
strategies. Visitors also learn about
the building's atrium sails, which
were installed to help control heat
and alleviate glare. They also visit
the building's green roof, where they
learn about the facility's photovoltaic
panels, research plants and weather
station.
Steps to Reduce Yo
Ecological Footprint
5 Steps:
Food
| Housing
| Transit
1 Recreation
^ Servkes/Purcha
Through its Footsteps to Sustainability campaign, the Region
9 Office encourages employees to calculate and reduce their
personal ecological footprints and to encourage their neigh-
bors and local communities to do the same. To assist them in
this endeavor, Region 9 hosts a variety of educational forums
and invites high-profile speakers, such as Mathis Wackernagel
of the Global Footprint Network, to provide insight and inspira-
tion on how to achieve a more sustainable world.
Protecting the Environment and Our Employees — 2009 Accomplishments
-------
Closing Remarks and
Acknowledgements
The White House and Congress established EPA nearly four decades ago, task-
ing it with the mission to protect human health and the environment. EPA
has been working to provide a safer, healthier and greener environment for
Americans ever since. EPA's commitment to these objectives extends to its
offices and laboratories as well, taking the form of safety and health programs,
green building initiatives, energy reduction projects, water conservation initia-
tives and recycling programs. The Agency was pleased with its performance in
2009 and believes it is ready to answer the President's call for federal leader-
ship in environmental, energy and economic performance in 2010 and the
future. If the Agency's success inspires others to follow a similar path, the
benefits will come full circle: EPA's commitment to safety and health programs
and environmental sustainability will prompt others to become more respon-
sible employers and better environmental stewards, which in turn will support
EPA's overarching mission of protecting human health and the environment.
EPA would like to acknowledge the following staff for contributing to this
publication and for their commitment to improving the Agency's safety, health,
and environmental performance:
• Assistant and Regional Administrators.
• Regional Science and Technology Division Directors.
• Program Directors.
• Architecture, Engineering, Asset Management and Sustainable Facilities personnel.
• Energy, water, fleet and laboratory managers.
• Safety, health and environmental management program managers and
facility managers.
• EMS and SHMS coordinators.
• Pollution prevention and recycling coordinators.
• Contract, property management, information technology and purchasing
officials.
\\
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United States
Environmental Protection
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20460
www.epa.gov
Official Business
ateUse$3(
June 2010
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