Protecting Our Employees
and the Environment
2016 Accomplishments
Office of Administration
and Resources Management
United States
Environmental Protection

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Introduction

Introduction
Management Systems Provide a
Framework for Enhanced SHEM
Performance
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was created more than 45 years ago to
protect America's natural resources for current and future generations The EPA's mission - to
protect human health and the environment - guides every action and decision that the agency
makes. This is true not only in the way that the EPA interacts with the regulated community and
other external entities, but in how it manages its internal affairs.
The EPA operates offices, laboratories and research vessels across the country and employs more
than 15,000 people, some of whom perform potentially dangerous work on the agency's behalf.
Committed to leading by example, the EPA strives to reduce the environmental impacts of its facilities,
promote sustainability, and ensure the safety and well-being of its employees. Leading the charge,
the Office of Administration's Safety and Sustainability Division (SSD) - part of the EPA's Office of
Administration and Resources Management - provides agencywide safety, health and environmental
management (SHEM) guidance, tools and resources, which local EPA managers, supervisors, SHEM
specialists and employees use to implement responsible best practices in their workspaces.
In 2016, the EPA met (or exceeded) SHEM and sustainability goals, laws and regulations that
apply to federal facilities. This report highlights some of the agency's 2016 accomplishments and
describes best practices implemented at EPA facilities over the course of the year.1
1. Some of the goals presented in this report are tracked over a fiscal year (FY) period rather than calendar year. Thus, some areas
reference FY 2016 rather than 2016.
The EPA's Excellent Safety Record
Is No Accident	4
Encouraging Employees to Pursue
Healthier Lifestyles	7
Promoting Sustainable
Building Principles	10
Managing Energy Needs Responsibly 13
Protecting Water Resources -
Conservation and Stormwater
Management	16
Protecting Pollinators for the Future 18
Reducing Waste and Avoiding
the Landfill	20
Transportation - Reducing
Environmental Impacts and
Staying Safe on the Road	23
Acknowledgments	26
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Federal agencies are subject to a number of SHEM requirements,
and the EPA aims to meet them all, as achieving basic
compliance is a firm obligation At the EPA, however, the
motivation for excellence runs deeper - rather than just requiring
compliance, the agency encourages its offices and laboratories to
constantly seek ways to improve SHEM performance and serve as
a model for other organizations to follow. Management systems,
a set of processes and procedures, provide a framework for
achieving SHEM improvements while also improving overall agency
business practices, reducing waste, cutting costs, saving resources
and enhancing productivity. The EPA has already established
environmental management systems (EMSs) at its major offices
and laboratories, and it has begun implementing safety and health
management systems (SHMSs) as well.
EMSs Continue to Mature
EMSs establish a methodical approach for fully integrating
environmentally responsible best practices into facility operations.
Although EPA locations have been implementing EMSs for
more than a decade, the SSD examined them closely in 2016
to identify opportunities for improvement. The SSD reviewed
EMS conformance review results (collected in 2014/2015), then
held regular calls with EMS coordinators to provide training,
stimulate dialogue and discuss common challenges. The SSD
also collaborated with the Office of Research and Development to
provide internal EMS auditor training to 60 EPA employees in 2016.
Six training sessions were offered via webinar between March
and June 2016, and students completed portions of their facilities'
internal EMS audits as part of their homework.
Annually, each EMS reporting location receives a score based on
how fully it has implemented various EMS elements (e.g., identifying
environmental aspects, implementing operational controls,
establishing and achieving objectives and targets, complying with
regulatory requirements, offering EMS training). The scores range
from green to red, with green representing the highest rating,
yellow the middle and red the lowest. The scores are then rolled
up to calculate an EMS score for the EPA as a whole. As shown on
the next page, the EPA has received a yellow EMS score for two
years in a row. The agency is moving toward green, though, as the
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FY 2015 FY 2016
Distribution
of EMS
Scores:
Agency
Score:

Yellow
*
Yellow
The pie charts show what percentage
of the agency's EMS locations scored
green, yellow and red each year. At
least 80 percent of sites must score
green for the agency to receive a green
score as a whole.
Note: The scoring criteria have changed over
time. In FY 2015, scores were assigned based
on the EPA's internal EMS conformance review
data. In FY 2.016, the EPA used new criteria,
developed by an Interagency EMS Community
of Practice Workgroup, that have been simplified
to address the vital aspects of ISO 14001:2015
(i.e., the international EMS standard).
number of EPA locations that scored green jumped
from 58 percent to 73 percent between FY 2015
and FY 2016.
SHMS Implementation Is Underway
SHMSs establish procedures that enable managers
and employees to proactively and efficiently
identify, mitigate and control work-related hazards
before they cause injuries and illnesses. SHMS can
improve the EPA's safety and health performance
record, reduce workers' compensation claims and
costs, raise employee morale, and foster a strong
safety ethic. The EPA has instructed its major
offices and laboratories to implement a SHMS
that is consistent with the Occupational Health
and Safety Assessment Series 18001 standard,
and it has identified 12 milestones that must be
met to achieve that goal. Throughout 2016, EPA
locations worked toward those milestones. In 2017,
the SSD will develop a strategy to complete the
implementation process.
Areas of Notable Progress
Hazard risk assessments (HRAs):
Between 2010 and 2012, HRAs were
performed for all of the EPA's SHMS
reporting locations. The SSD has
instructed locations to update the HRAs
to capture new hazards that could have
been introduced. By the end of 2016,
most SHMS reporting locations (91
percent) had completed the update.
SHMS awareness training: As of
December 31, 2016, nearly half of the
agency's SHMS reporting locations had
provided SHMS awareness training to
80 percent or more of their employees.
Such training is critically important,
as the success of SHMS hinges on
employees' willingness to take an
active role in identifying, reporting and
mitigating hazards.
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V
The EPA's Excellent Safety
Record Is No Accident
EPA employees work in offices, laboratories, research vessels
and the field. These settings pose safety risks, which can lead
to injuries and illnesses if not managed and mitigated properly.
For example, laboratory researchers can be exposed to toxic
chemicals or get hurt using equipment. Likewise, EPA field
personnel and emergency responders, who collect samples,
perform recovery operations, and respond to spills and national
disasters under physically demanding situations, can be exposed
to contaminants, radioactive materials and biological hazards
(e.g., tick-borne diseases, snake bites).
Putting the EPA's Injury and Illness Data in Perspective

FY 2016 Data

Total Injury and Illness
Case Rate
Lost-Time Case
Rate
Federal government
3.19
1.69
Federal government
(excluding U.S. Postal Service)
2.12
1.13
EPA
0.51
0.4
Source: Department of Labor, Federal Injury and Illness Statistics for Fiscal Year 2016
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Despite the potential dangers associated with the EPA's work, the
agency consistently maintains a lower injury and illness and lost-time
case rate than the federal government as a whole as shown in the
table on this page. This strong safety record is no accident - rather, it is
a testament to the strength of the EPA's occupational safety and health
programs and strategies, which include SHMS, an injury and illness
prevention program, near miss reporting, injury and illness tracking,
a self-assessment program, a suite of safety and health programs
(e.g., respiratory protection, radiation safety, hazard communication),
and comprehensive safety and health training. Moreover, the SSD
periodically sends auditors to EPA locations to determine if there
are SHEM issues that need to be addressed. In combination, these
programs and strategies allow the EPA to proactively identify risks
and hazards, mitigate them, and equip employees with the tools and
knowledge they need to protect themselves.
Strengthening the Building Blocks - Updating Guidance
and Improving Tracking Systems
The EPA has more than three dozen safety and health guidelines
that provide strategies, procedures and management tools to help
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Listening to Employees
EPA employees are encouraged to offer input on safety, and their feedback
affects agency actions and decisions. The following provide examples
from 2016.
» In Region 2, EPA inspectors were concerned about fugitive vapor exposures
at industrial sites. They formed a workgroup to research detection meters
and procedures. Based on the workgroup's recommendations, the region
purchased four multi-gas meters. Also, when concern arose that field
workers could be harmed by sharps and Zika exposures, the region
1)	identified a vendor who sells puncture-resistant shoe insoles and
2)	obtained authorization to test for Zika through the agency's medical
monitoring program.
» When employees at the EPA's Environmental Science Center in Fort Meade,
Maryland, asked for anti-fatigue mats, managers conducted a full ergonomic
assessment. They learned that employees who use fume hoods stand for
very long periods. Therefore, the local SHEM office re-directed budgeted
resources and purchased several types of anti-fatigue mats for the facility.
local EPA managers comply with federal safety and health statutes,
executive orders (EOs) and regulatory mandates. It also maintains
manuals that address safety and health requirements for specific
EPA workers. The SSD periodically revisits these documents to
ensure that they keep pace with new requirements and industry
best practices. In 2016, the SSD worked on updating:
»	Guideline 13, Hazardous Materials Transportation
»	Guideline 23, Chemical Handling and Storage Program
»	Guideline 30, Electrical Safety
»	Guideline 42, Hazard Communication
»	Guideline 46, Respiratory Protection Program
PRStfSting Our Employees snjjthe Environmenf
The EPA provides safety and health training to employees to make
sure they know how to stay safe on the job. Local managers and
supervisors work together to determine what type of training each
employee needs and whether they have completed it. Tracking this
information can be a challenge, but the EPA has been modernizing
its approach by transitioning to a centralized online tracking system,
called the Field Readiness Module, which provides access to real-
time information about employees' safety and health training and
medical readiness status. Having this information readily available
is critical when deciding who to deploy during national response
emergencies. By the end of 2016, nine of the EPA's 10 regions,
the Office of Land and Emergency Management's Environmental
2016 Ac u>m pi laments

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Response Team, and portions of the Office of Research and
Development had transitioned to the new system.
Managing a Broad Range of Risks
Each EPA facility poses its own risks, depending on the types
of operations in place. In 2016, the EPA continued to manage
well-known risks that affect every facility, as weil as some that
only apply to a small subset. Regarding the latter, the SSD
arranged to have new nerve agent antidote kits sent to five EPA
laboratories that are authorized to process samples containing
chemical warfare agents. Also in 2016, to ensure that adequate
protective controls were in place, one of the EPA's headquarters
offices in Washington, D.C., conducted lead-dust monitoring to
determine if lead was escaping from a firing range and affecting
EPA-occupied spaces.
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CAUTION
WET FLOOR
Addressing Common Causes of Injury
The EPA sends out agencywide reminders
about common causes of injuries and illnesses.
Action is taken at the local level as well. For
example, in 2016:
» To reduce slips, trips and falls, the National
Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory
in Ann Arbor, Michigan, applied more
salt during thawing and freezing weather,
reminded employees to be careful when
walking in bad weather, removed a floor
access panel that posed a tripping hazard,
installed a fall barrier between the upper
and lower parts of its parking lot, repaired
a staircase, and repaved its parking lot
and ramp to smooth out uneven surfaces.
» To prevent exertion injuries, the National
Center for Radiation Field Operations
in Las Vegas, Nevada, reviewed its
lifting-related work procedures and
released recommendations to staff and
supervisors on ways to reduce overexertion risks (e.g., placing
heavy items on lower levels).
Though some EPA employees perform potentially dangerous
tasks, it is often the run-of-the-mill hazards that hurt workers. For
example, in 2016, slips, trips and falls caused about one-third of
the EPA's injuries, and multiple exertion injuries (muscle strains
from awkward lifting or twisting movements) also occurred. To
address these issues, the SSD conducted a slip, trip and fall
outreach campaign in 2016 and distributed tips on avoiding
muscle strains.
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The EPA's interest in employee well-being extends beyond safety
issues. Recognizing that its employees are its most important asset,
the EPA has implemented a health and wellness program, called A
Healthier EPA, that promotes fitness and weight management, health
education and awareness, health screening programs, nutrition, and
other support services (e.g., maternal wellness, smoking cessation,
flu shots). The potential benefits are plentiful: participants can reduce
their risk of disease, improve their self-esteem, share healthy practices
with their families and reduce healthcare expenditures. Also, from a
business perspective, the EPA has much to gain, as evidence suggests
that worksite wellness programs raise morale, help attract and retain
high-quality personnel, reduce absenteeism, and enhance productivity.
A Healthier EPA Meets Its Goals
In 2016, A Healthier EPA was evaluated using two different
assessment tools - one internal and the other external. In both
cases, the EPA performed well.
» The EPA's internal assessment. The SSD distributed a
questionnaire to EPA wellness reporting locations to determine
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how broadly A Healthier EPA is being implemented. The goal
for FY 2016 (documented in Version 3 of the EPA's Health and
Wellness Implementation Plan) was to ensure that 75 percent
of the agency's wellness reporting locations were implementing
at least 90 percent of the 33 components listed in A Healthier
EPA. The agency succeeded: 79 percent of its locations
crossed the 90-percent implementation threshold.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) survey.
Once every two years, the OPM distributes a survey, called
WellCheck, which asks federal facilities about their health
and wellness services. The survey was released in 2016,
and the EPA earned 201 out of 286 possible points (or 74
percent). This was higher than the government-wide average:
the federal government as a whole earned 177 points (or 62
percent). Moreover, several EPA locations were identified
as top performers in their facility size categories, including
the Edison Environmental Center in Edison, New Jersey; the
Caribbean Environmental Protection Division in Guaynabo,
Puerto Rico; the Region 4 Office in Atlanta, Georgia; the
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Region 4 Laboratory in Athens, Georgia; and Region 7
locations in Kansas City and Lenexa, Kansas.
Agencywide Efforts Pave the Way for Success
The SSD spearheads agencywide initiatives, develops outreach
and educational materials for all EPA locations to use, delivers
health and wellness tips periodically on the home page scrolling
banner of the EPA's Intranet, and keeps an online repository of
health and wellness resources. In 2016, the SSD:
» Supported the agency's Walk to Wellness (see sidebar).
» Encouraged employees to receive flu vaccines.
» Sent exercise bands to EPA locations and provided a
promotional flier encouraging employees to use the bands.
» Provided new or updated outreach materials and resources on
eating disorders, Lyme disease, high blood pressure, electronic
cigarettes, food safety and antibiotic resistance.
» Created a library of health and wellness webinars (available
via the Intranet) on multiple topics (e.g., depression, diabetes,
nutrition, heart health and weight management).
In addition, the Office of Administration revised its smoking policy
(i.e., EPA Order 1000.9B) in September 2016 to make it clear that
electronic cigarettes may not be used in EPA workspaces.
Local Wellness Coordinators Get Creative
The SSD's agencywide outreach efforts help A Healthier EPA
operate more efficiently by providing ready-to-use materials that
can be quickly distributed or customized for local staff. This frees up
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The EPA hosted its fourth annual agencywide Walk to Wellness in
spring 2016. Twenty-seven locations took part, and more than 500
employees registered to participate. EPA locations held 1- to 2-mile
walks to support the event. Several locations also held other healthy,
fun activities in conjunction with the walks (e.g., stretching and yoga
demonstrations, healthy potluck lunches, badminton, calorie bingo).
local wellness coordinators to put their time, energy and creativity
into local initiatives like the following examples from 2016:
» Exercise. The Gulf Ecology Division in Gulf Breeze, Florida, invited
a local instructor to provide monthly lunchtime yoga classes, and
one of its employees offered weekly 30-minute drumming-inspired
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POUND'classes during lunchtime. Also, the Region 10 Office in
Seattle, Washington, offered yoga and Pilates classes to employees.
» Fitness challenges and competitions Region 3 held a five-
week challenge to help employees keep their minds, bodies
and spirits in shape. Other locations (e.g., the Region 1
Laboratory in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, the Region 2 Office
in New York City) held fitness or weight loss challenges. The
Region 10 Manchester Laboratory in Port Orchard, Washington,
posted information about local runs, triathlons, and hiking and
biking events, and the National Enforcement and Investigation
Center (NEIC) in Denver, Colorado, encouraged employees to
participate in the Fed Cup 5K, the Urban Wine and Chocolate
Run, and the Great Pumpkin Haul obstacle race.
» Nutrition. The Atlantic Ecology Division in Narragansett, Rhode
Island, purchased a blender for its lunchroom and provided
recipes for healthy smoothies; the Western Ecology Division
in Corvallis, Oregon, initiated a "Vegetable/Fruit of the Month"
program; and the Region 8 Montana Operations Office in
Helena, Montana, encouraged employees to share healthy
recipes during holidays.
» Screening, The NEIC in Denver, Colorado, invited a healthcare
professional to perform onsite body scan screening. Participating
employees received one-on-one consultation and information
about their weight, body composition and body mass.
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The EPA operates offices and laboratories across the country.
In FY 2016, it occupied about 9.7 million square feet of building
space. The EPA owns some of these buildings (accounting for 3.3
million square feet) and leases space in others (accounting for
6.4 million square feet). Regardless of the ownership status, the
EPA is committed to promoting sustainable building principles
and ensuring that its facilities operate in an environmentally
responsible, resource-efficient manner. Not only is this good
for the environment, but it also makes good business sense,
as eliminating waste and ensuring smooth operations saves
resources and taxpayer dollars.
Meeting the Guiding Principles in EPA-Owned Buildings
The Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildings
present a set of criteria for the government to use to
help federal buildings reduce environmental impacts, cut
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and lower operating costs.
As required under EO 13693, the EPA has set a target to ensure
that at least 35 percent (by square feet) of the agency's owned
buildings that are larger than 5,000 square feet meet the
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GreenCheck: A Useful Assessment Tool
The EPA uses a process called GreenCheck to ensure that projects
involving new facilities, leases and significant renovation/construction
are properly assessed to determine if they adequately address
sustainable building principles.
Any project that needs funding above $150,000, affects at least 5,000
gross square feet or could add more than 5,000 gross square feet of
impervious area must receive a full GreenCheck review. In FY 2016,
the EPA used the GreenCheck process to screen six construction
projects and lease actions.
Guiding Principles by FY 2025. By the end of FY 2016, 25.4
percent of the EPA's owned inventory (by square feet) met the
Guiding Principles.
Encouraging Sustainable Practices in Leased Buildings
The EPA does not exercise as much control over operational
decisions in its leased facilities as it does in the facilities it owns.
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Nevertheless, the EPA has made it clear that
landlords and leasing agents must demonstrate a
strong environmental ethic and embrace sustainable
building principles if they want the EPA as a tenant.
The EPA leases much of its space through the
U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), and
it expects the GSA to provide high-performance
sustainable buildings. In FY 2016, the EPA continued
to work with the GSA to incorporate sustainable
design and energy efficiency in lease procurements
and renovations plans.
Recognition - Green Building Certification and
the ENERGY STAR® Building Label
The U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership
in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®)
is an internationally recognized green building
certification program. In June 2016, the EPA's
Environmental Science Center in Fort Meade,
Maryland, became certified under the LEED for
Building Operations and Maintenance rating
system. With this addition, the EPA now has
17 buildings certified under LEED for Building
Operations and Maintenance, 12 buildings certified
under LEED for Building Design and Construction,
and three buildings certified under LEED for Interior
Design and Construction (see next page for details).
Additionally, three headquarters office buildings
and all 10 EPA regional offices have earned
ENERGY STAR status, which is awarded to buildings
that score in the top 25 percent of buildings for
energy performance.
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The Environmental Science Center
earned LEED for Building Operations
and Maintenance certification in June
2016. The facility has performed well
in the following areas:
» Open space and natural habitat.
The site has 4.63 acres of native
and adaptive plants and 11.85
acres of managed meadow, which
is more than double the LEED
requirement.
» Stormwater management. The
facility has a rain barrel, rain
garden, infiltration trench and
infiltration basin.
» Water conservation measures.
Estimates suggest that the facility's
water-efficient restroom fixtures
(i.e., dual-flush toilets and efficient
faucets and showerheads) save about 77,000 gallons of water annually, and a
condensate recovery system saves about 660,000 gallons of water annually.
Also, the facility's decision to reuse reverse-osmosis-deionized permeate water
as boiler make-up water saves about 140,000 gallons of water annually.
Energy conservation measures. The facility's energy intensity (amount of energy
used per square foot) has gone down by 40 percent since 1999. This is due,
in part, to lighting upgrades, a boiler burner replacement project and efforts to
optimize the building automation system.
» Solid waste management. The facility has implemented many recycling and
source reduction practices, allowing it to divert about 70 percent of its solid
waste from the landfill.
Visit https://www.epa.aov/areeningepa/environmental-science-center for more
information.
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LEED Sites Across the Country
New Haven, Connecticut
Robert N. Giaimo Federal Building
LEED O+M
Lacey, Washington
Region 10 Washington
Operations Office
LEED O+M
Boston, Massachusetts
Region 1 Office
LEED BD+C/LEED O+M
Cincinnati, Ohio
Andrew W, Breidenbach Environmental
Research Center Annex
LEED BD+C
Seattle,
Washington
Region 10 Office
LEED O+M/LEED ID+C
Chelmsford, Massachusetts
Region 1 Laboratory
LEED BD+C
Boise, Idaho
Region 10 Idaho
Operations Office
LEED BD+C
Kansas City, Kansas
Region 7 Laboratory
(Science and Technology Center)
LEED BD+C
Denver, Colorado
Region 8 Office
LEED BD+C
San Francisco,
California
Region 9 Office
LEED O+M/LEED ID+C
Lenexa, Kansas
Region 7 Office
LEED BD+C/LEED O+M
Las Vegas, Nevada
La Plaza Buildings
A, B, C. D. and E
LEED O+M
Dallas, Texas
Region 6 Office
LEED O+M
Los Angeles,
California
Southern California
Field Office
LEED O+M
Fort Meade, Maryland
Environmental Science Center
LEED O+M
Washington, DC
Headquarters - William Jefferson
Clinton Federal Building
(East, West, North, South)
LEED O+M
Arlington, Virginia
Headquarters - Potomac Yard One
LEED BD+C/LEED O+M
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
Building A Administration Wing
First Environments Early Learning Center
National Computing Center
LEED BD+C
Gulf Breeze, Florida
- Gulf Ecology Division - Laboratory Building 67
LEED BD+C
LEED BD+C: LEED for Building Design and Construction
LEED O+M: LEED for Building Operations and Maintenance
LEED ID+C: LEED for Interior Design and Construction
Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
Caribbean Environmental
Protection Division
LEED ID+C

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The Center Hill Facility installed a solar/wind-powered light as a
prototype in its parking lot. The light has performed well. In its first
year of operation, it generated 357 kWh, which exceeded the amount
of energy (267 kWh) that it used to illuminate the parking lot.
The EPA strives to manage its energy needs responsibly to eliminate unnecessary
waste, reduce energy costs and minimize air pollutants. The EPA's strategy is two fold:
reduce energy needs as much as possible, and use clean and renewable energy sources
when feasible. Progress was made on both fronts in 2016, as the EPA continued to
implement new energy-saving projects at its facilities, operate onsite renewable energy
sources and support the green power market.
Energy Conservation Projects Implemented in 2016
In 2016, EPA facilities continued to implement projects that promote energy savings or the
use of renewable energy. For example, the National Analytical Radiation Environmental
Laboratory in Montgomery, Alabama, replaced two air handler units with more energy-
efficient models as part of a multiyear infrastructure replacement project (IRP). Also, the
Western Ecology Division in Corvallis, Oregon, started implementing components of its
IRP, including a geothermal heating/cooling project. In December 2016, the EPA awarded
a contract to install a 1.5-megawatt solar photovoltaic array at the Edison Environmental
Center in Edison, New Jersey. This system, once complete, could satisfy up to 40 percent
of the facility's electricity demands.
Also in 2016, EPA facilities implemented projects that were designed to reduce the amount
of energy used to heat, cool and ventilate their workspaces. For example, the Region 5
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Office in Chicago, Illinois, installed variable frequency drives on
two condenser water pumps, which prevented the pumps from
unnecessarily running on a continuous basis. EPA facilities also
focused on reducing the amount of energy used for lighting. Five
facilities completed lighting upgrades, replacing existing lights with
more energy-efficient products (e.g., light-emitting diodes), and
two facilities finished installing occupancy sensors to prevent lights
from turning on when they are not needed. Also, in February 2016,
the EPA installed a solar/wind-powered light in the parking lot of its
Center Hill Facility in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Green Power Purchases
The EPA has a long history of supporting green power markets.
Back in 2006, it became the first federal agency to cover 100
percent of its electricity use through green power purchases,
and it has continued to do so for 11 consecutive years. In FY
2016, the EPA purchased 235.6 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of
green power in the form of renewable energy certificates (RECs)
through a blanket purchase agreement arranged through the
Defense Logistics Agency, which supported the generation of
renewable energy from wind resources in North Dakota, South
Dakota and Oklahoma. Additionally, two EPA facilities purchased
green power (totaling 0.4 million kWh) directly through their
electric utility companies. Through these combined efforts,
the EPA acquired 236 million kWh in delivered green power
and RECs, enough to cover all the agency's estimated annual
electricity use for the year.
Performance Check: Is the EPA Meeting Its Obligations?
EO 13693, Planning for Federal Sustainability in the Next Decade,
and the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007 set
goals for the EPA to pursue in the following areas:
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» Energy intensity. Using 2003 as its baseline year, the EPA must
reduce its energy intensity (based on a select group of reporting
facilities) by 47.5 percent by FY 2025. The EPA is well-positioned
to meet this goal: by the end of FY 2016, it had already achieved
a 34.6 percent reduction (see next page for details).
» Advanced metering EISA requires federal agencies to install
advanced metering equipment for electricity, steam and natural gas
to the maximum extent practicable. Toward that end, seven EPA
laboratories designed or constructed advanced metering projects
in 2016. As of September 30, 2016, 81 percent of EPA laboratories'
energy use was measured by advanced metering hardware.
» Energy assessments/recommissioning evaluations.
Between July 2015 and June 2016, the EPA conducted
energy assessments and recommissioning at the Andrew W.
Breidenbach Environmental Research Center in Cincinnati, Ohio,
and at its Research Triangle Park campus in North Carolina. This
allowed the EPA to comply with EISA's requirement to assess all
of the agency's covered facilities over a four-year period.
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EPA Energy Intensity Compared to EO 13693 Target
FY 2003 to FY 2025
Year-End FY 2016 Energy Intensity: 264,908
British thermal unit per gross square foot
FY 2025 Target: 209,115
British thermal unit per gross square foot
Fiscal Year
Historical Energy Intensity (British thermal unit/gross square foot)
EO 13693 Target (British thermal unit/gross square foot):

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Protecting Water Resources -
Conservation and Stormwater Management
Water is a precious resource. The EPA works to conserve it, keep
it clean and prevent wasteful losses. In 2016, the EPA continued to
implement its Water Conservation Strategic Plan, which prioritizes
water-saving initiatives and provides a timeline for completing
projects at EPA facilities. The agency also completed several
stormwater management projects to prevent runoff.
Notable Projects Implemented in 2016
The EPA estimates that the water conservation projects that its
facilities implemented in FY 2016 will save about 1.1 million gallons
of potable water per year. Notable projects were completed at;
» The Edison Environmental Science Center in Edison, New
Jersey. To reduce roof runoff, this location added a central
collection spout to a roof gutter. The recovered rainwater is
being used in lieu of potable water for initial decontamination of
field equipment and vehicles.
» The Region 4 Laboratory in Athens, Georgia. In January and
February 2016, this location replaced six showerheads with
WaterSense-labeled models (saving about 8,000 gallons of
water per year); replaced a pre-rinse spray valve with a model
that flows at 2.2 gallons per minute (saving 600 gallons per
year); and installed 2.2 gallon-per-rninute aerators on 48
laboratory faucets (saving 8,400 gallons of water per year).
» The Region 6 Laboratory in Houston, Texas. Facility
representatives capped sprinkler heads and xeriscaped the building
exterior in an effort to reduce irrigation use by 10 to 15 percent
» The Region 7 Laboratory in Kansas City, Kansas. This location
recornmissioned its graywater system, repairing and replacing
equipment in the process. These improvements, which will
help prioritize the use of graywater over potable water, are
anticipated to save 286,000 gallons of water annually.
» The Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Center in Ada,
Oklahoma. This location shut off its landscape irrigation
system, which is expected to save more than 400,000 gallons
of water annually.
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EPA Water Intensity Compared to EO 13693 Target
FY2007 to FY2025
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Year-End FY 2016 Water Intensity: 21.3 gallons/gross square foot
FY 2025 Target: 22.8 gallons/gross square foot
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Fiscal Year
Historical Water Intensity:
EO 13693 Target (2% annual reduction):
» The Mid-Continent Ecology Division in Duluth, Minnesota.
This location installed permeable pavers to mitigate stormwater
runoff from rain and snowmelt.
The EPA Exceeds Its Goal
Compared to an FY 2007 baseline, EO 13693 requires federal
agencies to reduce potable water intensity by 36 percent by FY
2025 as shown in the figure above. The EPA is ahead of schedule:
by the end of FY 2016, its potable water intensity was 40.1 percent
lower than the baseline.
An Eye on the Future - Seeking Further Improvement
In FY 2016, the SSD conducted water assessments at six EPA
facilities to identify ideas for potential improvements. Assessments
were performed at the Western Ecology Division in Corvallis,
Oregon; the Pacific Coast Ecology Branch in Newport, Oregon; the
Region 10 Manchester Laboratory in Port Orchard, Washington;
the Edison Environmental Center in Edison, New Jersey; the Large
Lakes Research Station in Grosse lie, Michigan; and the National
Exposure Research Laboratory in Las Vegas, Nevada. Collectively,
these water assessments revealed opportunities that could save
over half a million gallons of water annually.
2016 Ac u>m pi laments
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Pollinators, including bees, butterflies, other insects, bats and birds, are critical
to our food supply chain and the overall health of the ecosystem. Unfortunately,
some important pollinator communities have declined over the years due to loss
of habitat and other factors. To curb these losses, the EPA launched a Pollinator
Protection Initiative to identify ways to restore and enhance pollinator populations
at EPA facilities.
Between 2015 and 2016, SSD representatives visited 22 EPA locations to
assess landscape features, vegetative cover, and pollinator nesting habitats,
and to inquire about landscape management practices that affect pollinator
communities. Funneling this information into a scoring system, the SSD
characterized the EPAs properties as optimal, adequate, or fragile pollinator
habitats, and offered recommendations for enhancement. Some improvements
that were made in 2016 are highlighted below. Many of the projects share a
common thread: they aim to incorporate sustainable or socially responsible
practices (e.g., using collected rainwater for irrigation, directing food to those in
need) while building stronger pollinator habitats.
» The Atlantic Ecology Division in Narragansett, Rhode Island In June 2016,
16 goats from a local microfarm were brought in to address plant overgrowth.
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Goats clear vegetation for ground-nesting pollinators in Rhode Island.

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The goats removed poison ivy and invasive species, creating
space for new pollinator-friendly species and clearing
vegetation for ground-nesting pollinators. By using goats
rather than conventional gas-powered machinery, the EPA
was able to clear the area without releasing emissions. The
goats will be invited back in 2017 to clear more area, as the
facility intends to convert more than one-third of its lawn into
native wildflowers.
» The Western Ecology Division in Corvailis, Oregon, in
2016, this location installed a honeybee hive, planted about
100 milkweed seedlings to create a meadow for monarch
butterflies, and established a native prairie with flowering
species that attract pollinators. Coupled with actions
implemented the previous year (i.e., constructing a "bee
hotel" and planting over 650 native plants in a pollinator
habitat garden), these efforts are transforming this property
into a pollinator-friendly area.
Butterflies visit NVFEL's new pollinator garden.
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» The National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory in Ann
Arbor, Michigan. In 2016, this location planted two gardens
with pollinator-attracting species, including goldenrod, Joe
Pye weed, New England aster, milkweed and spiderwort. To
promote responsible irrigation, facility representatives installed
roof gutters in 2016 to direct rainwater runoff to rain collection
barrels. In 2017, the EPA will install a solar-powered pump to
help transfer the water from the barrels to the gardens without
wasting energy. Also, two more gardens will be added in 2017 to
attract more native bees, beetles and monarch butterflies.
» The National Analytical Radiation Environmental Laboratory
in Montgomery, Alabama. In 2016, this location started
coordinating with the SSD to pilot a community garden.
The garden, which will be established in 2017, will include
vegetables and flowers. Produce from the garden will be
shared with the Montgomery Area Food Bank to ensure that it
reaches those in need.
Species in bloom at the Western Ecology Division's ne wiy established native prairie.
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The EPA strives to reduce the amount of waste it generates and,
when possible, to account for life-cycle considerations when
acquiring new products. The agency promotes source reduction
and reuse, and it employs a variety of waste diversion strategies,
including recycling and composting.
Reducing the Amount of Waste Generated
The EPA's Waste Management Hierarchy states that source
reduction and reuse should be at the top of any waste
management strategy, since preventing materials from ever
entering the waste stream is the most effective way to reduce
impacts. In 2016, EPA locations continued to focus on reducing the
following waste streams:
» Paper. The Region 9 Laboratory in Richmond, California,
stopped issuing printed data packages, switching to electronic
packages in 2016. This shift promises to eliminate a significant
percentage of the laboratory's paper use, as its data packages
(prepared for every batch of 20 samples) typically range from
50 to 3,000 pages.
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Products that meet the Electronic Product Environmental
Assessment Tool (EPEAT) criteria are designed to generate less
hazardous waste and less solid waste when they are discarded.
Throughout 2016, the EPA continued to promote the acquisition of
EPEAT-registered electronics. Overall, 96.9 percent of the monitors,
personal computers laptops, multifunction devices, printers,
copiers, scanners and televisions that the EPA acquired in FY 2016
were EPEAT-registered.
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» Food. While many EPA locations have implemented composting
programs, it is better to reduce the amount of food waste
generated in the first place. Thus, Region 5 organized food pick-
ups in 2016 to put holiday party leftovers to good use, and the
Region 4 Office's Go4Green Initiatives Team conducted a "Waste
to Food" challenge in spring 2016 to build awareness about the
EPA's Food Recovery Hierarchy.
» Water bottles. Regions 2 and 5 installed water bottle filling
stations in 2016 to reduce the number of plastic water bottles
used and then thrown into trash cans and recycling bins.
» Laboratory waste and equipment. EPA laboratories use a variety
of chemicals to analyze samples, perform research and conduct
other mission-related activities. The EPA expects its laboratories to
implement innovative analytical techniques that use less chemicals
and generate less waste. In 2016, the Gulf Ecology Division in
Gulf Breeze, Florida, had success in this area. Focusing on its
ammonium fluorescence method, it purchased new equipment
that uses 50 percent less reagent (i.e., ortho-phthalaldehyde),
which in turn generates 50 percent less reagent waste. Throughout
2016, EPA laboratories also donated unwanted equipment and
supplies rather than sending them to the landfill. For example,
the Region 8 Laboratory in Golden, Colorado, donated items to a
local high school. Likewise, the Mid-Continent Ecology Division in
Duluth, Minnesota, donated about 365 pounds of plastic laboratory
containers and supplies, 233 pounds of glassware, and about 132
pounds of metal goods. Furthermore, EPA laboratories continued
to support smart chemical management best practices that prevent
chemical overpurchase, such as requiring safety, health and
environmental management program managers to pre-approve
chemical acquisitions; ordering the smallest possible chemical
Meeting Federal Goals
EO 13693 challenges federal agencies to divert at
least 50 percent of their non-hazardous solid waste
from landfills and incinerators; the EPA's internal
EMS Agencywide Objectives, Targets and Metrics
sets the goal even higher, at 60 percent. In FY 2016,
the EPA exceeded both goals, achieving a rate of
64 percent. The EPA's solid waste diversion rate has
risen significantly over the past decade, outpacing
goals (established in EOs) for federal agencies.
The diversion rate passed the 50 percent mark in
2009, rose to 59 percent in 2011, and has ranged
between 63 and 65 percent since then (see the
Greening EPA website for historical data).
FY 2016
Solid Waste
Data
Energy recovery
(waste conversion)
0.5%
Landfill/
incinerator
Recycling
52.5%
36.4%
Compost
10.6%
Protecting Our Employees and the Environment
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The Region 9 Office in San Francisco, California,
renovated about 214,000 square feet of space
in FY 2016. In the process, about 456 tons of
construction and demolition debris and materials
were generated, 85 percent of which was recycled
or salvaged.
quantities; and checking internal inventories to determine if a
chemical is already in stock before ordering more.
Diverting Solid Waste from the Landfill
The agency's recycling and composting programs have been
well established for years, but some EPA locations made specific
improvements in 2016. For example, the Region 1 Laboratory in
Chelmsford, Massachusetts, added polystyrene to its recycling
program and started recycling non-toxic sample and chemical
containers; the agency's Cincinnati, Ohio, location added plastic
pipette boxes to the facility's recycling program; and the Atlantic
Ecology Division in Narragansett, Rhode Island, began recycling
nitrile gloves and the plastic portion of individual coffee containers.
As for composting, headquarters expanded its existing program
in 2016; the Region 1 Office in Boston, Massachusetts, conducted
composting outreach projects; the Region 3 Office in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, laid the groundwork for a worm bin composting pilot
project; and the Region 7 Laboratory in Kansas City, Kansas, initiated
a program. By the end of 2016, 78 percent of EPA locations had
active composting programs in place.
Putting Construction and Demolition Debris to Good Use
Seventeen locations generated construction and demolition debris in
FY 2016. Eleven of them were able to provide quantitative data on the
amounts generated. Collectively, these 11 locations generated 36,496
tons, and they salvaged/recycled 36,362 tons of it (or 99.63 percent).
EPA representatives (Jamar Jackson, Stephanie Sherony and Mark Seltzer) accepting the 2016 Green
Gov Presidential Award.
EPA headquarters' composting program expanded significantly in 2016. Headquarters'
William Jefferson Clinton Complex, which is owned and operated by the GSA, started
composting food waste and paper towels in April. Then, in November, the GSA and the
EPA launched a compost pilot program in EPA-occupied portions of the Ronald Reagan
Building. In recognition of their efforts, a 2016 GreenGov Presidential Award was jointly
awarded to the EPA and GSA in the "Green Dream Team" category.
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Transportation - Reducing Environmental
¦	w
Impacts and Staying Safe on the Road
When it comes to addressing transportation-related impacts, the
EPA has two main goals: 1) reduce harmful environmental emissions
and 2) prevent employees from having accidents. Several strategies
are in place to pursue these goals, as described below.
Reducing Work-Related Impacts - Travel Less, Travel Smarter
EPA employees travel on the agency's behalf, driving or flying to field
sites, meetings, conferences and training events, and they consume
fuel and emit pollutants and emissions in the process. To curtail these
impacts, the EPA is:
» Reducing travel miles. Ridesharing is one strategy that the
EPA uses to reduce the number of miles driven on its behalf,
implemented by several EPA locations, rideshare programs help
employees identify co-workers who plan to travel to the same place
within the same general timeframe so that they can travel together
in one vehicle. Videoteleconferencing (VTC) and Internet-based
communication tools (e.g., webinars, online meetings) also play
a key role in the agency's travel reduction strategy, as they allow
personnel to participate in meetings, conferences and training
Tracking Petroleum Use, Emissions and Costs
The EPA's travel and fleet management strategies are paying off, as
they have reduced petroleum use, emissions and costs.
Petroleum. The EPA's petroleum use dipped by 2.3 percent over
the past year. Cumulatively, the agency has reduced the amount
of petroleum it uses to support its fleet by 38 percent between FY
2005 and FY 2016.
Emissions. Using FY 2014 as a baseline, EO 13693 challenges
federal agencies to reduce their per-mile GHG emissions by 4
percent by the end of FY 2017,15 percent by the end of FY 2021,
and 30 percent by the end of FY 2025. The EPA is well-positioned
to meet the first goal, as it was already at the 3.8 percent reduction
mark by the end of FY 2016.
Cost. The EPA's annual fleet-related costs (e.g., maintenance costs,
depreciation, leasing fees, acquisition costs, fuel costs) decreased
by 4.7 percent over the past year. For example, fuel costs went
down by $287,278 between FY 2015 and FY 2016. Looking at a
longer period, the agency's fleet-related costs have decreased 29
percent between FY 2011 and FY 2016,
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sessions virtually rather than in person. The impacts are significant -
for example, Region 4 credited VTC with averting 127,847 business
travel miles (air and ground) in FY 2016, which translates to less
taxpayer dollars being spent on travel.
» Improving fleet efficiency. The EPA maintains a vehicle fleet that
employees use to conduct work-related business. Over the years,
the EPA has worked to reduce the size of its fleet and change its
composition to include more fuel-efficient vehicles. This effort
involves eliminating unnecessary and underused vehicles while
replacing petroleum-dedicated and inefficient vehicles with
alternative fuel vehicles (e.g., ethanol dual-fuel vehicles) and
advanced technology vehicles (e.g., zero-emission vehicles, plug-
in hybrid electric vehicles, low GHG-emitting vehicles).
Progress was made in 2016, and the EPA completed a study
to help determine the fleet inventory that would be best
for efficiency and sustainability. During the FY 2016 vehicle
replacement cycle, EPA successfully prioritized the acquisition
of fuel-efficient, low-emission models. For example, alternative
fuel vehicles accounted for 77 percent of the total non-exempt
light-duty vehicles acquired in FY 2016, a rate exceeding the
requirement (75 percent) put forth in the Energy Policy Act of
1992. Also, the EPA turned in 11 vehicles without replacement.
In fact, the size of the agency's fleet has shrunk by 170 vehicles
between FY 2011 and FY 2016.
Promoting Environmentally Friendly Commuting Options
The EPA supports alternative commuting options. For starters,
it allows flexiplace/telework in approved situations, as well as
compressed schedules (e.g., allowing employees to work four 10-
hour days rather than five 8-hour days) to reduce the number of
trips that employees make getting to and from work. Also, about
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The EPA's Cincinnati location promotes cycling as a commuting
option, tracks cyclist activity and includes biking information in
employee orientation. During bike-to-work month (May 2016), bicycle
commuters covered 3,800 miles and burned 183,000 calories.
EPA Region 5 has won
the Chicago Bike-to-Work
Commuter Challenge for
three years in a row. Senior
managers support cycling as
a commuting option, and the
region has an active group
of cyclists. The region, which
offers a bike transit subsidy,
maintains a bike maintenance
station and has joined a local
bike-sharing program, which
offers employees discounted
memberships.
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65 percent of EPA locations promote carpools or vanpools,
and 59 percent of them offer subsidized passes for alternative
modes of transportation (e.g., subways, trains, buses). Bicycle
commuting has also garnered significant support, in fact, nearly
all (97 percent) EPA locations provide bike racks or bike storage
areas, and in 2016, 38 percent of EPA locations participated in
bike-to-work campaigns.
Two EPA locations reserve special parking places for zero-
emission vehicles or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and others
provide charging stations. For example, the Pacific Coast Ecology
Branch in Newport, Oregon, provides access to electrical
receptacles for car recharging; the Region 7 Office in Lenexa,
Kansas, has 12 electric vehicle charging stations, which EPA
employees can use free of charge; the Region 6 Office in Dallas,
Texas, has electric vehicle charging stations available (for a cost)
in its garage; and the Region 6 Laboratory in Houston, Texas,
encourages employees to use facility power plugs for personal
vehicles. Two other locations were investigating options in 2016:
the EPA's Research Triangle Park in North Carolina gathered
information about charging stations, and the National Vehicle
and Fuel Emissions Laboratory in Ann Arbor, Michigan, joined the
Department of Energy's Workplace Charging Challenge.
Promoting Roadway Safety
More than 3,000 EPA employees drove on the agency's behalf
in 2016, covering at least 7.8 million miles. Forty-three motor
vehicle accidents occurred, two of which resulted in personal
injury. The agency wants to reduce these numbers. To promote
motor vehicle safety, the EPA requires employees who drive
regularly on the agency's behalf to take initial driver safety
training and periodic refreshers. For example, in 2016, 212 EPA
employees received an online driver safety course that the GSA
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At the local level, EPA offices and laboratories use a variety of
methods (e.g., emails, Internet bulletin boards, posters, newsletters)
to remind employees to drive safely, wear seat belts and avoid
distracted driving. For example, in 2016, the agency's Environmental
Response Team in Las Vegas, Nevada, presented videos that
addressed distracted driving and provided tips to help employees
recognize and avoid distractions.
provided free of charge. More extensive driving-related courses
are required for EPA employees who need a commercial driver's
license or use trailers to tow mobile laboratories, boats or field
equipment. Aside from formal classes, the EPA raises awareness
about driver safety through other avenues. In 2016, the EPA
provided tips for staying safe on icy roads and emphasized the
importance of avoiding distracted driving in its January and April
Wellness Quarterly editions.
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Acknowledgments
The EPA acknowledges the following staff members for contributing
safety, health and environmental performance:
» Assistant and regional administrators
» Deputy assistant administrators and deputy regional
administrators
» Regional science and technology division directors
» Program directors
» Architecture, engineering, asset management and sustainable
facilities personnel
to this publication and for their commitment to improving the agency's
» Energy, water, fleet and laboratory managers
» Safety, health and environmental management program
managers and facility managers
» EMS, SHMS and wellness coordinators
» Pollution prevention and recycling coordinators
» Contract, property management, information technology and
purchasing officials
Photos in this report have been provided courtesy
of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
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