The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has accepted four more Business Council members into its National Environmental Performance Track program.
The National Environmental Performance Track Program recognizes exceptional environmental performers-companies that voluntarily go beyond compliance with regulatory requirements to attain levels of environmental performance that benefit the environment, people, and communities. It currently recognizes 280 corporate and public facilities.
Newly accepted performance-track facilities include:
- Nucor Steel, a scrap steel recycler based in Auburn, New York. Between 1998 and 2000, Nucor reduced the amount of total solid waste disposed from 22.5 pounds per ton of steel produced to 2.32 pounds per ton of steel produced. In 2000, Nucor recycled over 99 percent of its solid waste. The company also received the New York State Governor's Award for Waste Reduction and Recycling in 2000.
- Dresser-Rand's Wellsville operation, which manufactures steam turbines for public and private entities. The company has reduced its annual hazardous waste generation from 100.66 tons in 1992 to 4.3 tons in 2001. Dresser-Rand has eliminated the need to store chemicals in bulk through its "just in time" material purchasing process and the facility removed all above-ground and underground storage tanks
- IBM's Thomas J. Watson Research Center, a research facility that makes scientific and technology advances that will contribute to IBM's success. This facility has committed to reduce energy use by 3.6 percent per year for a total of 45,000 MMBTU (million British Thermal Units) by enhancing energy conservation efforts, installing energy efficient equipment, and expanding employee education initiatives.
- Loctite Electronics in Olean, which manufactures electronic encapsulants. This facility won the 2001 Good Neighbor Award for the Environment, an award given by the Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce. Loctite has committed to reduce the amount of hazardous solid waste generated per unit of product by 50 percent in three years.
Facilities accepted into this performance track must have a history of sustained compliance with applicable federal and state environmental requirements. They must also have implemented an Environmental Management System (EMS), a systematic effort to meet its environmental requirements and improve its overall performance. They must demonstrate at least two past environmental achievements and commitments to four future improvements. And they must have established a public outreach program with a commitment to public performance reporting.
Other Business Council member facilities already recognized by the EPA performance track program include:
- IBM Endicott.
- IBM Hudson Valley Research Park in Hopewell Junction.
- IBM Poughkeepsie.
- Johnson and Johnson Ortho-Clinical in Rochester.