[E-updates] City utility again recognized by EPA for outstanding performance

[Lisa Patterson]

NEWS RELEASE


City of Lawrence

 


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


 

Monday, October 29, 2007

 

Contact: Jeanette Klamm, Utilities Programs Manager, (785) 832-7000

or Dave Ryan, Environmental Protection Agency (202) 564-4355 / ryan.dave at epa.gov

 


City utility again recognized by EPA for outstanding performance


 

The City of Lawrence joins Coca Cola, 3M and Corning as companies committing to go above and beyond environmental requirements as members of EPA's National Environmental Performance Track Program. Performance Track recognizes facilities that set three-year goals for continuous improvements in environmental performance beyond their legal requirements, have internal systems in place to manage their environmental impacts, engage in community outreach and consistently report results.

 

"We are continuously working to improve our operations and benefit the environment simultaneously.  Volunteering to take our performance to the next level is a concrete action that shows the community our commitment to the environment," said Jeanette Klamm, utilities program manager.

 

As a Performance Track member, the city's Wastewater Utility must meet all environmental regulatory requirements and has set two goals for environmental improvement. The first goal is to return approximately 10 acres to natural areas using options such as wetlands, riparian butter, native grasses, or other wildlife habitat at the site of the Wakarusa Water Reclamation Facility.  The second goal is to decrease the amount of fats, oils and grease entering the wastewater collections system.  These products contribute to sanitary sewer overflows or back-ups, which may cause environmental and public health issues. To track progress, the city will target 12,608 feet of sanitary sewer line for preventive maintenance.  

 

The latest members bring the total number of environmental leaders in Performance Track to nearly 500, with members in 49 states.  Performance Track members come from a wide range of sectors, such as automotive, paper, personal care products, pharmaceuticals, and government agencies. This 14th new membership round included first-time applications from Portland (Oregon) Veterans Administration Medical Center, City of Lawrence (Kansas) Wastewater Utility, and Corning. 3M, Coca Cola, Covanta, and Baxter Healthcare were among 13 companies already represented in Performance Track that added new facilities to the program during this latest membership cycle.

 

Through Performance Track goals that have been set since the inception of the program in 2000, members have reported reductions in water use of 5.6 billion gallons, greenhouse gas reductions of 159,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, and have conserved more than 25,000 acres of land.

Information on the National Environmental Performance Track program:
http://www.epa.gov/performancetrack <https://owa.ci.lawrence.ks.us/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.epa.gov/performancetrack> 

Information on the new Performance Track members:
http://epa.gov/performancetrack/round14PTFacilities.htm <https://owa.ci.lawrence.ks.us/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://epa.gov/performancetrack/round14PTFacilities.htm> 

Note: If a link above doesn't work, please copy and paste the URL into a browser.

 

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