55 new members sign on to EPA voluntary program

March 6 --

Fifty-five new facilities have joined the National Environmental Performance Track, bringing the total number of members to 470.

The partnership program, organized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, recognizes facilities that set three-year goals for continuous improvements in environmental performance beyond their legal requirements and publicly reported results.

Since the 2000 inception of this facility-based rather than company-based program, the Performance Track program has grown to 470 members in 46 states and Puerto Rico. Performance Track members have collectively reduced their water use by 3.5 billion gallons, reduced their greenhouse gas emissions by 88,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, and conserved more than 14,000 acres of land, while helping protect the environment, according to the EPA.

Forty-seven of the new members have committed to reduce their waste generation over the next three years, 37 facilities plan to reduce energy use, 25 facilities pledge to reduce their water use, and 17 facilities have committed to reduce their air emissions.

Performance Track members come from a range of industries, including automotive, paper, personal care products, pharmaceuticals and government agencies.

Additional information on the program is available online at www.epa.gov/performancetrack .