What the Federal Government is Doing to Promote Sustainability

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What the Federal Government is Doing to
PromoteSustainability

• Presentation by
• Barbara J. Lither, Esq., USEPA Region 10
• Northwest Environmental Conference
• November 16, 2004

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A Working Definition of Sustainability from EPA

• Sustainability is the ability to achieve
  economic prosperity while protecting the natural
  systems of the planet, and providing a higher
  quality of life for its people.

www.epa.gov/sustainability
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Sustainability and NEPA

• It is the continuing policy of the Federal
  Government, in cooperation with State and local
  governments, and other concerned public and
  private organizations to create and maintain
  conditions under which man and nature can exist
  in productive harmony, and fulfill the social,
  economic, and other requirements of present and
  future generations of Americans.

National Environmental Policy Act, 1969
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Multiple Executive Orders

• Executive Order 13101 Greening the Government
  Through Waste Prevention, Recycling, and Federal
  Acquisition
• Executive Order 13123 Greening the Government
  Through Efficient Energy Management
• Executive Order 13134 Developing and Promoting
  Biobased Products and Bioenergy
• Executive Order 13148 Greening the Government
  Through Leadership in Environmental Management
• Executive Order 13149 Greening the Government
  Through Federal Fleet and Transportation
  Efficiency
• Executive Order 13150 Federal Workforce
  Transportation
• Executive Order 13211 Actions Concerning
  Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy
  Supply, Distribution or Use
• Executive Order 13212 Actions to Expedite
  Energy-Related Projects
• Executive Order 13221 Energy Efficient Standby
  Power Devices
• Executive Order 13302 Amending Executive Order
  13212, Actions to Expedite Energy-Related
  Projects
• Executive Order 13327 Federal Real Property
  Asset Management

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Sustainability and Innovative Programs
Characteristics

• Voluntary
• Incentive Based
• EPA focuses on networks, collaborations
• Examples market based trading, sustainability,
  Energy Star, Performance Track, Waste Wise,
  Healthy Hospitals, Federal Electronics Challenge,
  Climate Leaders, and more
• Covered in Goal 5, EPA Strategic Planning

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Sustainability in Action A few Examples

• The Federal Network for Sustainability, FNS
• Seattle Federal Executive Board Committee
• Federal Electronics Challenge
• EPA Region 10 EMS Planning
• Federal Sustainability Summit
• US Army, Installation Sustainability Plan ISP

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The Federal Network for Sustainability in a
Nutshell

• An informal, voluntary network of over 14 west
  coast offices of federal agencies (with over 40
  signatories) who are committed to promoting
  sustainable environmental stewardship at the
  federal level
• An East Coast FNS is being modeled on the FNS

www.federalsustainability.org
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Primary Area of Focus

• Using the Power of Government as Consumer!

The U.S. Government spends approximately 250
billion each year on goods and services.
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Four Original Initiatives of FNS.

• Greener Copier Paper

• Electronics Stewardship

• Use of EMS Plans

• Purchasing Green Energy Alternative Fuels

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and new Initiatives launched in 2004

• Sustainable Buildings
• Bio Diesel fuels

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New Partnership with FEB

• Seattle Regional Federal Executive Board
  unanimously created an Interagency Environmental
  Leadership Committee in Jan. 2004
• This is a local inter-agency collaboration
  affecting 147 agencies in Puget Sound area with
  24,000 employees
• http//www.seattle.feb.gov/ielcpage.htm

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Support for the Federal Electronics Challenge

• The federal government purchases more than 38
  billion worth of electronic equipment and
  services annually
• FEC will provide leadership in the most
  environmentally sound and cost effectivemanagemen
  t of electronic assets.
• Many federal agencies are supporting the FEC

www.federalelectronicschallenge.net
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Progress in EMS Implementation at Federal Agencies

• As of December 2002, more than 180 federal
  facilities have developed and are implementing
  environmental management systems
• Almost 20 are formally registered as ISO14001
• Over 160 are either self-declared or otherwise
  actively identified as having an EMS

Leading by Example, Report to the President on
Federal Energy and Environmental Management,
December 2002
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Region 10 Environmental Management Systems (EMS)
Initiative

• On track to meet timeframes
• Fully supports Executive Orders
• Provides Education and Training on EMS principles
  to all staff
• Share information among federal agencies on
  experiences learned

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• Held September 28, 2004
• Sponsored by the Office of the Federal
  Environmental Executive (Council on Environmental
  Quality), the Environmental Protection Agency's
  Office of Research and Development, and the
  Int'l. Centre for Leadership Results, in
  collaboration with Gettysburg College.

• More than 75 federal agency leaders, "resource"
  leaders from academia, science, faith, and NGO
  communities participated in a day-long, "shared
  visioning" session.
• The focus of the day was " Sustainable
  Environmental Stewardship of Resources Across
  Government".

http//sustainability.sinapseconsulting.com/
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U.S. Army, Ft. Lewis

• In September 2000, Ft. Lewis obtainedISO 14001
  EMS registration for its Department of Public
  Works
• Benefits include improvements in efficiency and
  effectiveness
• Cost savings and avoidance of more than 1
  million
• Reduction in GHG emissions of 78 tons
• Elimination of the use of 89 tons of hazardous
  chemicals

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Ft. Lewis Installation Sustainability Program

• Objective A Sustainable Installation that
  Supports Sustainable Operations
• Approach
• Begin with Environmental Issues
• Establish Environmental Baseline
• Host Environmental Sustainability Workshop (Feb
  2002)
• Involve Stakeholders
• Establish 25-year goals
• Develop 5-year implementation plans
• Establish Installation Sustainability Board

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Government Sustainability Links

• www.epa.gov/sustainability
• www.ofee.gov
• www.federalsustainability.org
• www.gsa.gov/environmentalservices
• www.federalelectronicschallenge.net
• www.sustainable.doe.gov
• http//sustainability.sinapseconsulting.com/

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Sustainability Pass It On to Future Generations