United States Air and Radiation EPA420-F-96-014
Environmental Protection January 1997
Agency
Office of Mobile Sources
&EPA Environmental
Fact Sheet
EPA Task Group on Environmentally
and Economically Beneficial
Landscaping
Because landscaping choices play an important role in preventing
pollution and because so many different offices across the U. S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) work on these issues, a
multi-media task group is working to coordinate efforts and to
promote natural landscaping practices.
A Holistic Approach
Landscaping choice plays an important role in preventing pollution and
encouraging ecological diversity. The EPA Task Group on Environmen-
tally and Economically Beneficial Landscaping seeks to address this
issue on a Agency-wide basis which promotes natural landscaping
practices. The following recommendations developed by a national
interagency task force in response to the Executive Memorandum for
Federal Lands provides guidance for these practices:
To incorporate native plants whenever practical into landscape projects.
Native plants are considered all species indigenous to the region at the
time of European settlement.
To minimize construction's adverse effects on the natural habitat.
To seek to prevent pollution by, among other things, promoting efficient,
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environmentally sensitive lawn care chemical use, reducing emissions
from use of lawn care maintenance equipment, recycling green waste,
and reducing runoff.
To implement water-efficient practices, both in new development and in
established communities and in commercial and industrial operations.
To promote awareness of the environmental and economic benefits of
implementing this type of landscaping.
While the individuals working on some of these and related issues are in
different EPA offices, the Agency is taking a more holistic approach in
addressing these environmental problems. The objective of the EPA
Beneficial Landscaping Task Group is to look across all EPA programs to
evaluate the interrelationships of each program and to determine how
"landscaping" concepts can be applied to improve pollution problems.
EPA has long recognized that holistic, multi-office approaches are impor-
tant and efficient. The holistic approach of the Beneficial Landscaping
Task Force is striving to achieve an overall better environment through
many avenues, including:
• pesticide risk reduction
• water conservation and ground water protection
• wildlife habitat enhancement
• air pollution reduction
• solid waste reduction
• enhancement of native plant use
Cross Agency Participation
In addition to the cross-office approach of the task group, several of
EPAs regional offices have multi-media efforts. A few of the participat-
ing offices and their role or efforts regarding beneficial landscaping
include:
OPPE/Office of Sustainable Ecosystems and Communities to foster
the implementation of integrated, geographic approaches to environmen-
tal protection that emphasizes ecological integrity and the associated
improvements in economic sustainability and quality of life.
The focus of OSEC's efforts will be on significantly improved overall
environmental quality, especially as reflected by healthier ecosystems.
OSEC hopes to achieve these results through the encouragement of more
sustainable human activities, including landscape practices.
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OAR/Office of Mobile Sources to protect public health and the envi-
ronment by minimizing the harmful effects of air pollution from engines
used in lawn and landscaping maintenance. Landscaping choices deter-
mine what type of equipment will be used, the amount of equipment
needed, and the number of hours the equipment will be used. The use of
native landscaping can provide positive air quality benefits, as well as
economic benefits.
OPPTS/Office of Pesticide Programs has formed voluntary partner-
ships with pesticide users to reduce pesticide risk in the environment.
This partnership is called the Pesticide Environmental Stewardship
Program (PESP). Both agricultural and non-agricultural organizations
participate in PESP either as a Partner or Supporter. PESP landscaping
Partners include the Professional Lawn Care Association of America
(PLCAA) and the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America
(GCSAA). PESP Supporters include the US Golf Association (USGA).
For more information, call the PESP infoline: 800-972-7717.
Office of Water has established the WAVE (Water Alliance for Voluntary
Efficiency) to work with the hotel and motel industry to achieve reduced
water consumption through many options (including landscaping). In
addition, OW has publications that promote water conservation through
xeriscaping and other landscape practices. The efficient use of water is a
critical component for protecting water quality. Water conservation also
means less energy is needed to treat and transport water.
OSWER/Office of Emergency & Remedial Response to provide
support in designing landscapes that enhance remediation of waste sites
in a cost effective manner while achieving future land use goals. Ex-
amples include constructed wetlands, phytoremediation (the use of
specific plants to remove or stabilize wastes), composting technologies,
and support for site reuse, such as the Brownsfields initiative.
Region 5/Green Acres Workgroup
represents all regional offices and divisions and works to prevent pollu-
tion and encourage biodiversity and ecological practices. Efforts have
focused on developing a clearinghouse for beneficial landscaping infor-
mation and to coordinate interdisciplinary groups involved in these
issues.
A complete list of the offices involved is provided at the end. More
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information on their roles is available from the task group.
For More Information
The EPA Task Group on Environmentally and Economically Beneficial
Landscaping pulls together a number of EPA offices which work on
issues related to pollution prevention through landscape practices. For
additional information on this task group, call (313) 668-4333.
Current task group participants:
• Office of Mobile Sources (OAR)
• Federal Facilities Enforcement Office
(OECA)
• Office of Sustainable Ecosystems and Communities (OPPE)
• Office of Pesticide Programs (OPPTS)
• Office of Emergency and Remedial Response (OSWER)
• Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds (OW)
• Public Liaison Division (OCEPA)
• Regions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 10
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