COMMUNITY GUIDE

TO EPA’S VOLUNTARY PROGRAMS

Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE)

www.epa.gov/CARE
The Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) program, 

sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is a 

competitive grant program that offers an innovative way for communities 

to take action to reduce toxic pollution. Through CARE, communities 

create local collaborative partnerships that implement local solutions to 

reduce releases of and minimize exposure to toxic pollutants. 

EPA helps CARE communities assess the environmental risks they 

face and provides access to voluntary programs to address local 

environmental priorities. In addition, EPA offers support for communities 

to develop their own approaches to reducing toxics. Examples of some 

of the EPA voluntary programs that reduce exposure to toxics and 

create safer communities include programs that: reduce emissions 

from diesel engines, clean abandoned industrial sites, reduce emissions 

from small business operations while reducing costs, improve the indoor 

environment in schools, and use pollution prevention to protect drinking 

water supplies.

In addition to providing CARE grant recipients with direct technical 

assistance, the CARE program serves as a gateway to help communities 

access the range of tools and resources available to develop 

community partnerships, undertake broad-based risk assessments, 

and implement actions to reduce risks. This Community Guide to EPA’s 

Voluntary Programs is designed to help communities navigate the range 

of EPA programs relevant to communities and find those programs that 

may be most useful in addressing local priorities.

Updated annually, this second edition Guide incorporates new EPA 

programs that may be of help to communities as they attempt to 

minimize risks posed by toxics.

For more information about CARE, please visit www.epa.gov/CARE.

About CARE
Community Guide to EPA’s Voluntary Programs

Adopt Your Watershed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

AgSTAR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Best Workplaces for CommutersSM (BWC). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Carpet America Recovery Effort. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Children’s Health Protection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Clean Construction USA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Clean Ports USA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Clean School Bus USA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Climate Leaders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Coalbed Methane Outreach Program (CMOP). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Community-Based Childhood Asthma Programs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Community-Based Radon Reduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Design for the Environment (DfE). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Energy Star Energy Management & Product Certification. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Environmental Tobacco Smoke/Smoke-free Homes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Green Building Programs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Green Power Partnership. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Green Suppliers Network. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

GreenScapes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

High Production Volume (HPV) Challenge Program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Hospitals for a Healthy Environment (H2E). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Indoor Air Quality “Tools for Schools”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Integrated Pest Management in Schools. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Landfill Methane Outreach Program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

National Clean Diesel Campaign. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

National Environmental Performance Track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

National Nonpoint Source Management Program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

National Partnership for Environmental Priorities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Natural Gas Star. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Plug-In To eCycling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Schools Chemical Cleanout Campaign and Prevention Program. . . . . . 36

Smart Growth Program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

SmartWay Transport. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Source Water Protection Program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Voluntary Diesel Retrofit Program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Volunteer Water Monitoring Program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

WasteWise. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Water Use Efficiency Program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Table of Contents


Purpose

This program offers a list of resources and other organizations that will 

educate and support people to have a sense of stewardship and help them 

to protect their local lakes, rivers, streams and other wetland areas and 

bodies of water.

Community Application

Any community with ties to a watershed or wetland area will benefit from this 

program through increased public involvement and participation.

Program Description

The Adopt Your Watershed campaign came under the spotlight in 2002, 

the “Year of Clean Water.” It informs people about the various volunteer 

activities in their local watershed that they may participate in to help protect 

their local environment. Activities include monitoring, garbage cleanup, 

and water snapshots. There are also various forms of financial assistance 

available.

Adopt Your Watershed

www.epa.gov/adopt

The National Zoo in Washington, DC, adopted Rock Creek through the Adopt Your 

Watershed program and is attempting to bring it back to a healthy and diverse 

ecosystem. Through monitoring and other volunteer activities, they are trying to 

bring the blueback and alewife herrings back to sustainable levels. These fish return 

from the Chesapeake Bay annually. The Zoo has also begun removing obstacles 

that are prohibiting the herring’s migration route.

Contact Information

Patty Scott

Office of Water

(202) 566-1292

scott.patty@epa.gov
Community Guide to EPA’s Voluntary Programs 

Purpose

AgSTAR is an outreach program designed to reduce methane emissions 

from livestock waste management operations by promoting the use of 

biogas recovery systems.

Community Application

Any community with confined animal feeding operations wishing to reduce 

methane emissions would benefit from this program.

Program Description

The program encourages the use of methane recovery (biogas) 

technologies at the confined animal feeding operations that manage 

manure as liquids or slurries. These technologies reduce methane emissions 

while achieving other environmental benefits. AgSTAR provides an array 

of information and tools designed to assist producers in the evaluation 

and implementation of these systems including hotlines, conferences, and 

collaborating with federal and state renewable energy, agricultural, and 

environmental programs.

AgSTAR

www.epa.gov/agstar

Contact Information

Paul Gunning

Office of Air and Radiation

(202) 343-9736

gunning.paul@epa.gov

Since the establishment of the program in 1994, the number of operational digester 

systems has doubled. This has produced significant environmental and energy 

benefits, including methane emission reductions of approximately 124,000 metric 

tons of carbon equivalent and annual energy generation of about 30 million kWh.


Purpose

BWC is a public-private sector voluntary program designed to help promote 

commuter benefits that employers provide to their employees. It offers public 

recognition and technical assistance to employers that adopt innovative 

solutions to commuting challenges.

Community Application

Best Workplaces for Commuters will help communities increase participation 

in commuting options, reduce congestion and air pollution, and highlight 

employers that promote alternatives to driving alone.

Program Description

EPA assists participating employers by offering public recognition, technical 

assistance, training, Web-based tools, and forums for exchanging information 

via peer-to-peer networking. Many of these benefits are also available to 

supporting organizations, such as metropolitan planning organizations and 

transit providers. BWC highlights the efforts of employers to help get their 

employees to work safely, economically, on time, and free of commuterelated stress. It provides the tools and guidance necessary to help U.S. 

employers of any size incorporate commuter benefits into their standard 

benefits plans, reap financial benefits, and gain recognition not only as 

providers of excellent employee benefits, but also as good environmental 

stewards.

Best Workplaces for CommutersSM (BWC)

www.bestworkplacesforcommuters.gov

Contact Information

Robin Snyder

Office of Air and Radiation

(202) 343-9288

snyder.robin@epa.gov

The Houston-Galveston Area Council illustrates the power of a local campaign 

where a coalition challenges employers to provide commuter benefits to help meet 

air quality requirements as part of the Voluntary Measure State Implementation 

Plan. In August 2005, the third annual Best Workplaces for Commuters list recognized 

nearly local 80 employers that provide superior commuter benefits to 245,000 

employees—a nearly 100% increase over 2004.

In 2005, the Houston-Galveston Area:

• Reduced CO2 by 112,000 metric tons

• Reduced NOx by 300 tons

• Saved more than 12 million gallons of gasoline

• Saved $28 million in fuel costs

• Reduced drive-alone commuting by 266 million miles
Community Guide to EPA’s Voluntary Programs 

Purpose

Carpet America Recovery Effort is a voluntary initiative of the carpet 

industry and government to prevent carpet from burdening landfills. 

The program focuses on developing carpet reclamation and recycling 

methods.

Community Application

Any community with a need to decrease the volume of waste entering 

landfills will benefit from this program.

Program Description

Carpet America Recovery Effort is a joint industry-government effort 

to increase the amount of recycling and reuse of post-consumer 

carpet and reduce the amount of waste carpet going into landfills. The 

program’s mission is to foster market-based solutions for recovering value 

from discarded carpet to meet specific goals. To accomplish its mission, 

the program facilitates, advises, provides resources, and serves as a forum 

for the many different stakeholders. Types of assistance include business 

development, recovery, and product and market development.

Carpet America Recovery Effort

www.carpetrecovery.org

Blue Ridge Recycling recently received a $23,250 grant from the Carpet America 

Recovery Effort to assist in the development of a landscaping-type stepping stone 

product manufactured from shredded post-consumer carpet using a compounder 

and compression molding technique. This is only one of the innovative ways 

communities can recycle carpet.

Contact Information

Julie Rosenbach

Office of Solid Waste and 

Emergency Response

(703) 308-6241

rosenbach.julie@epa.gov


Purpose

This mission of this program is to make the health protection of children a 

fundamental goal of public health and environmental protection in the 

United States and around the world.

Community Application

Any community hoping to address environmental health risks to children, 

who are especially vulnerable, will benefit from this program..

Program Description

The Office of Children’s Health Protection builds community capacity to 

protect children from environmental health threats by 1) providing citizens 

and communities with information and tools to take actions to protect 

children, 2) supporting community actions to protect children, 3) raising 

awareness among health care providers about the risks to children’s health, 

4) engaging youth in children’s environmental health protection, and 5) 

working with states to develop programs to address children’s environmental 

health issues.

Children’s Health Protection

www.epa.gov/children 

Contact Information

Bettina Fletcher and Liz Blackburn

Office of Children’s Health Protection and Environmental Education

(202) 564-2188

blackburn.elizabeth@epa.gov and fletcher.bettina@epa.gov

Providence, RI, the 2005 Children’s Environmental Health Award Winner, has a lead 

poisoning rate twice the national average. In 1992, the Childhood Lead Action 

project was developed to eliminate childhood lead poisoning in Rhode Island 

communities through education, parent support, and advocacy. The project has 

expanded into four effective initiatives that educate and increase awareness 

about lead hazards. The Rhode Island Lead Collaborative is a skills-building initiative 

for lead educators dedicated to increasing community capacity for organized 

prevention, and it is credited with overseeing implementation of the state-required 

three-year lead education plan. The Lead Hazard Awareness program focuses on 

vulnerable communities and conducts door-to-door outreach, public and private 

presentations, and training. The Lead Safe House Party initiative raises awareness 

in at-risk neighborhoods through a unique “Tupperware-style” approach; through 

house parties, participants learn prevention strategies and are encouraged to 

share information with family and friends. Finally, the Lead-Safe RI! training program 

seeks to train property owners and professionals about lead-safe work practices, 

community notification rules, and inspection procedures. Demonstrating the success 

of these initiatives, between 1994 and 2003, state-wide lead poisoning rates have 

dropped from 18% to just 3%.
Community Guide to EPA’s Voluntary Programs 

Purpose

The goal of Clean Construction USA is to reduce the exposure of the public 

to diesel exhaust from diesel construction equipment by encouraging the 

replacement or retrofit of in-use equipment with newer emissions control 

technologies.

Community Application

Any community wishing to reduce exposure to toxic diesel exhaust from 

construction sites and equipment would benefit from this program.

Program Description

The program has a four pronged approach to cut down on pollution 

caused by construction equipment. The program aims to do this through 

anti-idling policies, fueling equipment with cleaner fuels, retrofitting existing 

equipment, and replacing the oldest engines and equipment. There are 

grants available at both a state and federal level which will help support 

communities attempting to implement these changes. Some communities 

and construction projects have also implemented contract specifications to 

require the use of cleaner construction equipment.

Contact Information

Monica Beard-Raymond

Office of Air and Radiation

(734) 214-4047

beard-raymond.monica@epa.gov

Clean Construction USA

www.epa.gov/cleandiesel/construction

In November 2005, the EPA Administrator announced the award of more than 

$1 Million in grants for retrofitting or repowering diesel construction equipment 

and nonroad projects. Nine grants will reduce diesel emissions in construction 

equipment and improve air quality while serving as valuable models for future 

clean diesel projects in the nonroad sector. For more information about these 

grants, go to: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/diesel/awarded-grants.htm#grants-2005.

Many of the projects involve the installation of diesel oxidation catalysts (DOCs) or 

the upgrading or repowering of construction equipment to make them operate 

cleaner. Prior success from previous construction equipment in Boston’s Big Dig 

Tunnel project and the I-95 New Haven Harbor Crossing Improvement Program 

helped pave the way. 
10

Purpose

As part of EPA’s National Clean Diesel Campaign, the Clean Ports USA 

initiative’s goal is to voluntarily reduce emissions from existing diesel engines 

at ports.

Community Application

Any community wishing to reduce exposure to toxic diesel exhaust from the 

2,000 ports in the country would benefit from this program.

Program Description

The program reduces pollution caused by diesel equipment at marine 

ports. Clean Ports USA accomplishes this through a variety of cost-effective 

strategies, including encouraging ports to use cleaner fuels, retrofit 

equipment, and replace the oldest engines with cleaner ones. The program 

also promotes operational strategies such as increased reduced idling, 

enhanced use of IT to promote efficiency and reduce exhaust, and gate 

improvements to avoid truck idling. Grant opportunities and other incentives 

are available at both a state and federal level which will help support port 

communities. 

Clean Ports USA

www.epa.gov/cleandiesel/ports

Contact Information

Patricia D. Koman

Office of Transportation and Air Quality 

(734) 214-4955

koman.trish@epa.gov

A terminal operator from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey achieved 

35 percent emission reduction over a two year period while increasing operations 

by 19 percent and saving 20 percent on fuel usage. This company voluntarily 

purchased certified on-highway engines that meet tighter emissions standards and 

feature automatic idling shut-offs as the company replaced on-dock equipment. 

They have also voluntarily switched their entire operation over to 500 ppm sulfur 

on-highway fuel that these new engines require, instead of the 3,000 ppm sulfur 

nonroad diesel fuel.
Community Guide to EPA’s Voluntary Programs 11

Purpose

The goal of Clean School Bus USA is to reduce both children’s exposure to 

diesel exhaust and the amount of air pollution created by diesel school 

buses.

Community Application

Any community wishing to reduce exposure to toxic diesel exhaust from 

outdated school buses would benefit from this program.

Program Description

The program has a three-tiered approach to cut down on pollution caused 

by school buses. The program aims to do this through anti-idling policies, 

retrofitted buses, and replacement of the oldest vehicles. There are multiple 

grants and awards available at both a state and federal level which will 

help support communities attempting to implement these changes.

Clean School Bus USA

www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus

On June 14, 2004, two school districts in Michigan were awarded grants totaling 

almost $200,000 which will help retrofit the older diesel-fueled buses. The buses 

will be retrofitted with diesel oxidation catalysts that use a chemical process to 

break down pollutants in the exhaust stream into less harmful components. The 

catalysts can be installed on any new or used bus and run on regular diesel fuel. 

Over 70 grants to communities have been awarded since 2003 for clean school bus 

projects.

Contact Information

Jennifer L. Keller

Clean School Bus USA

Office of Air and Radiation

(734) 214-4780

CleanSchoolBusUSA@epa.gov
12

Purpose

Climate Leaders is a voluntary industry-government partnership that 

encourages companies to develop long-term, comprehensive climate 

change strategies and set greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction goals.

Community Application

Any community seeking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will benefit 

from this program.

Program Description

The Climate Leaders program strives to reduce industrial GHG emissions. 

By becoming a Climate Leader, companies create a record of 

accomplishments through EPA-approved GHG inventory guidance, receive 

technical assistance with inventories, are identified as an environmental 

leader, and gain a better ability to manage GHG emissions.

Climate Leaders

www.epa.gov/climateleaders

Contact Information

Jim Sullivan

Climate Leaders Program

Office of Air and Radiation

(202) 343-9241

sullivan.jamest@epa.gov

Through its aggressive focus on energy conservation, IBM has already achieved 

an estimated 27.7 percent absolute reduction in global CO2 emissions from 1990 

through 2000. IBM continues their efforts to reduce emissions of perfluorocompounds 

from semiconductor manufacturing, thanks to process innovations made by IBM 

engineers as well as capital investment.
Community Guide to EPA’s Voluntary Programs 13

Purpose

The mission of this program is to promote the profitable recovery and use of 

coal mine methane (CMM), a greenhouse gas more than 20 times as potent 

as carbon dioxide.

Community Application

Any community seeking to improve the environmental standard of their coal 

mining operations will benefit from this program.

Program Description

By working cooperatively with coal companies and related industries, CMOP

helps to identify and implement methods to use CMM instead of emitting it

into the atmosphere. In turn, these actions mitigate climate change, improve

mine safety and productivity, and generate revenues and cost savings.

Since its inception in 1994, CMOP has provided technical assistance to the

coal industry by evaluating CMM recovery technologies and use options

and the project economics for those options. Examples of such assistance 

include: providing important outreach services to keep the industry abreast 

of important developments through a quarterly newsletter and weekly email 

updates, supporting international efforts to reduce CMM emissions through 

the Methane to Markets Partnership and the Asia Pacific Partnership, and 

supporting the use of innovative technologies to harness ventilation air 

methane through a technology demonstration project.

Coalbed Methane Outreach Program 

(CMOP)

www.epa.gov/cmop

Contact Information

Paul Gunning

Office of Air and Radiation

(202) 343-9736

gunning.paul@epa.gov

Since CMOP began in 1994, the U.S. coal mining industry has captured and used 

over 279 billion cubic feet (10.7 billion cubic meters) of CMM. This is the equivalent 

of removing 153 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. In 2004, 

this provided enough energy to heat 457,000 homes and generated an estimated 

$188 million in revenue through gas and power sales.
14

Purpose

This program encourages and supports communities to unite resources and 

stakeholders to address environmental pollutants that contribute to the 

burden of asthma.

Community Application

Any community seeking to reduce exposure to indoor and outdoor asthma 

triggers, including air toxics; to reduce asthma health care costs; and to 

improve the quality of life for people with asthma and their families will 

benefit from this program.

Program Description

EPA strives to improve the health of people with asthma — in particular 

disproportionately impacted populations — by 1) increasing knowledge 

about the importance of working with a doctor, developing an asthma 

action plan, and identifying personal asthma triggers; 2) fostering acquisition 

of new skills and behavior changes to reduce exposure to environmental 

asthma triggers; and 3) impacting the type and quality of care provided 

to people with asthma. To accomplish this, EPA works directly with people 

with asthma as well as with a variety of stakeholders, including health care 

providers, commercial and public health insurers, state agencies, child care 

and school personnel, community-based organizations and coalitions.

Community-Based Childhood

Asthma Programs www.epa.gov/asthma
Community Guide to EPA’s Voluntary Programs 15

Contact Information

Dave Rowson

Office of Air and Radiation

(202) 343-9449

rowson.david@epa.gov

Examples of community asthma programs supported by EPA

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Community Asthma Prevention Program (CAPP): 

The CAPP home visit program for children with asthma and their families provides 

education and support for trigger management. Children enrolled in this program 

have fewer emergency room visits and hospitalizations for asthma (http://www.

epa.gov/iaq/asthma/pdfs/chop.pdf). EPA tools and resources, such as the booklet 

Help Your Child Gain Control Over Asthma, are designed to meet the needs of 

parents with limited reading skills (http://www.epa.gov/asthma/publications.html).

West Carrollton City OH School District: School officials improved school 

environments for all staff and students, including those with asthma, by supporting 

good indoor air quality (IAQ) management practices. District officials fostered a 

proactive approach, based on EPA’s IAQ Tools for Schools program, to address 

IAQ complaints and problems. Absenteeism rates have declined nearly 9 percent 

district-wide since the program was established, and as much as 12 percent in one 

school. The district is now a regional resource and mentor for other schools 

(http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/iaqtfsawards.html).

Richmond VA Asthma Coalition: Controlling Asthma in the Richmond 

MetropolitanArea (CARMA) used the Goldfish Media Campaign to raise awareness 

about asthma and to promote the CARMA services available to Richmond 

metropolitan area families. The Goldfish Campaign is a collaboration between 

EPA and the Ad Council, and it includes public service announcements for radio 

and TV, billboard and transit posters, and newspaper and magazine ads, in English 

and Spanish. These products are available free of charge (http://www.epa.gov/

asthma/psas.html). 

Community-Based Childhood Asthma Programs—continued
16

Purpose

This program encourages community-based testing for radon, fixing problems 

when high radon levels are found in homes and schools, and building new 

homes with radon resistant new construction.

Community Application

Communities concerned with exposure to pollutants contributing to cancer 

would benefit from this community awareness campaign.

Program Description

EPA has developed a Radon Outreach and Education Materials CD-ROM 

(Draft) for local organizations such as state and local governments, non-profit 

organizations, and educational institutions. The CD-ROM contains howto guides, customizable presentations, sample materials and more. These 

materials can be used to connect with local media, businesses, civic groups, 

and other organizations. Communities are provided with sample outreach 

materials including outreach material templates, slide presentations for 

community and special-interest audiences, publications (available through 

the national IAQ clearinghouse), and technical support (available through 

state radon programs and EPA Headquarters program office). EPA assists 

communities in obtaining low-cost radon testing devices and conducting 

laboratory analysis of the results. EPA works with communities to identify 

strategies for fixing homes with high levels of radon. Many strategies include 

the creation of public private partnerships.

Community-Based Radon Reduction

www.epa.gov/radon

Contact Information

Susie Shimek

Office of Air and Radiation

(202) 343-9054

shimek.susie@epa.gov

Counties like Erie County, N.Y. have developed materials and programs to inform 

citizens about the seriousness of radon exposure in their homes. Erie County recently 

updated its radon awareness video with the help of Buffalo State College. The video 

encourages and instructs viewers on how to use home radon test kits and mitigation 

techniques, and also explains contributing factors to the county’s radon problems 

like Erie County’s topography and geography. The VHS and DVD forms of this video 

are used at health fairs and throughout the county schools, and are available at 

all 52 county public libraries, legislative offices, and by contacting the Erie County 

Office of Indoor Air Quality.
Community Guide to EPA’s Voluntary Programs 17

Purpose

DfE provides tools and approaches that allow businesses and communities 

to integrate environmental and health considerations into business decisions.

Community Application

Any community seeking to promote the use of alternative processes, safer 

product formulations, and emerging innovative technologies in industry in an 

effort to reduce chemical emissions and exposures, cut chemical waste, and 

improve overall safety will benefit from this program.

Program Description

The DfE Program promotes pollution prevention and risk reduction activities 

in industrial sectors and surrounding communities. To accomplish this mission, 

DfE forms partnerships with industry and other interested parties to develop 

information on environmental and human health impacts, performance, 

and cost of cleaner technologies and approaches. The program also 

disseminates information to help businesses design and redesign costeffective products and processes that are cleaner and safer for workers and 

the public. It achieves this goal through technical support and advice.

Design for the Environment (DfE)

www.epa.gov/dfe

Contact Information

Clive Davies

Office of Prevention, Pesticides 

and Toxics

(202) 564-3821

davies.clive@epa.gov

DfE demonstrated that small business auto refinishing shops adopting best 

practices can reduce toxic paint emissions in the shop and community by roughly 

30 percent, or over a ton per shop annually, while saving as much as $13,000 per 

year. DfE conducts train-the-trainer workshops for vocational technical instructors, 

students, trade associations and shops to promote a best practice standard in the 

auto refinishing industry. If DfE best practices were implemented at all 50,000 auto 

refinishing shops nationwide, hazardous air emissions could be reduced by 86,000 

tons per year and shops could save $650 million.
18

Energy Star Energy Management &

Product Certification

http://energystar.gov

Purpose

ENERGY STAR is a government-backed program helping businesses and 

individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency.

Community Application

Any community seeking to improve their green purchasing power and save 

money while helping the environment will benefit from this program.

Program Description

In 1992 the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) introduced ENERGY 

STAR as a voluntary labeling program designed to identify and promote 

energy-efficient products to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Recently, 

energy prices have become a hot news topic and a major concern for 

consumers. ENERGY STAR provides a trustworthy label on over 40 product 

categories (and thousands of models) for the home and office. These 

products deliver the same or better performance as comparable models 

while using less energy and saving money. ENERGY STAR also provides easyto-use home and building assessment tools so that homeowners and building 

managers can start down the path to greater efficiency and cost savings.

Contact Information

Kathleen Hogan

Office of Air and Radiation

(202) 564-9190

hogan.kathleen@epa.gov

Multiple school districts and government offices have become Energy Star partners 

throughout the country. By purchasing energy star products, you save energy 

and dollars which go back into the community. Through its partnerships with more 

than 8,000 private and public sector organizations, ENERGY STAR delivers the 

technical information and tools that organizations and consumers need to choose 

energy-efficient solutions and best management practices. ENERGY STAR has 

successfully delivered energy and cost savings across the country, saving businesses, 

organizations, and consumers more than $9 billion a year.
Community Guide to EPA’s Voluntary Programs 19

Purpose

This program encourages parents, caregivers and others to protect children 

from secondhand smoke especially in the home and car.

Community Application

All communities seeking to improve indoor air quality, particularly for children, 

will benefit from this program through motivating parents, caregivers, and 

others not to smoke in their homes or cars.

Program Description

Making homes and cars smoke-free helps protect children from bronchitis, 

pneumonia, more frequent and more severe asthma attacks, respiratory 

illnesses, ear infections and even sudden infant death syndrome. The 

program offers health information for parents and asks them to take the 

Smoke-free Home Pledge to keep their home and car smoke-free. Smokefree Home information is available in English and Spanish.

Environmental Tobacco Smoke/

Smoke-free Homes

www.epa.gov/smokefree

Contact Information

Sheila Brown

Office of Air and Radiation

(202) 343-9439

brown.sheila@epa.gov

The National Association of Counties (NACo) and the National Association of Black 

County Officials (NOBCO) are successful participants in the Smoke-free Homes 

Program, having received approximately 20,000 pledges through their outreach 

efforts. Through advocacy of county officials, NACo and NOBCO member counties 

have participated in national challenges, worked with schools and school districts, 

and involved their communities in hands on activities that educate the public on 

the health risks of secondhand smoke to children. Parents, caregivers, and other 

adults are encouraged to take the Smoke-free Home pledge and, until they can 

quit, to smoke outside.
20

Purpose

Green building is the practice of creating healthier and more resourceefficient models of construction, renovation, operation, maintenance, 

and demolition. EPA’s Green Building Programs together strive for a built 

environment that protects and enhances the health of ecosystems and the 

public.

Community Application

EPA’s Green Building programs provide tools and resources useful to any 

community seeking to reduce the environmental impacts of building 

and development projects—from homes to shopping centers to religious 

establishments to office buildings. 

Program Description

Green Building-related programs across the Agency provide tools and 

resources covering energy efficiency and renewable energy, water 

stewardship, environmentally preferable building materials and specifications, 

waste reduction, indoor environmental quality, smart growth, and sustainable 

development.

Green Building Programs

www.epa.gov/greenbuilding

Contact Information

Ken Sandler

Office of Air and Radiation – 

Indoor Environments

(202) 343-9607

sandler.ken@epa.gov

The EPA-sponsored Federal Green Construction Guide for Specifiers 

(http://fedgreenspecs.wbdg.org) is a comprehensive guide for procuring green 

construction and renovation services. More than 60 model specification sections 

are in the Guide covering items from waste management to paint to HVAC. The 

Guide provides guide spec language for specifying environmental performance 

requirements of materials and installation methods as well as for prescribing the 

quality standards of construction procedures to be executed on the project. 

Additionally, the Guide lays out the contractors’ submittal requirements--key to the 

building owners’ efforts to measure environmental results. EPA intends the Guide 

to be a living document—expanding into new sections and raising the bar as the 

green building industry matures.

or

Alison Kinn Bennett

Office of Pollution Prevention 

and Toxics

(202) 564-8859

kinn.alison@epa.gov
Community Guide to EPA’s Voluntary Programs 21

Purpose

EPA’s Green Power Partnership (GPP) is a voluntary program helping to 

increase the demand for renewable energy as a way to reduce the 

risk of climate change and the environmental impacts associated with 

conventional electricity use. A community-wide green power purchase is 

one of the easiest and most effective ways for a community to address its 

sustainability and environmental goals.

Community Application

EPA supports communities in the development of community-wide 

green power initiatives and provides recognition to those that reach the 

Partnership’s minimum purchase requirements. Community green power 

purchases can serve as an effective way to generate goodwill and pride 

among local stakeholder groups, as well as generate local economic 

benefits.

Program Description

EPA’s Green Power Partnership includes a wide variety of leading 

organizations such as Fortune 500 companies, local, state, and federal 

governments, trade associations, and colleges and universities. Green 

power is electricity generated from environmentally preferable renewable 

resources such as solar, wind, geothermal, low-impact biomass and lowimpact hydro. By voluntarily purchasing green power, communities can 

help accelerate the development of new, domestic renewable energy 

generation facilities. Unlike conventional electricity generation, green power 

produces little to no net greenhouse gas emissions and is cleaner for the 

environment. 

Green Power Partnership

www.epa.gov/greenpower

Contact Information

Matt Clouse

Office of Air and Radiation

(202) 343-9004

clouse.matt@epa.gov

This program includes the use of green tags as one of the incentives. Green tags 

allow customers to purchase the renewable attributes of a specific quantity of 

renewable energy. Green tags are sold separately from electricity and can be 

purchased from locations throughout the U.S. In this way, a customer can choose 

green power even if the local utility or marketer does not offer a green power 

product. One green tag typically represents the renewable attributes associated 

with one megawatt hour of green power. Through the use of green tags, green 

power becomes accessible to all.
22

Purpose

The Green Suppliers Network provides technical assistance to small and 

medium-sized manufacturers to help them optimize their resources and 

improve their environmental footprint.

Community Application

Any community seeking to improve the economic vitality and environmental 

impacts of local manufacturing firms will benefit from this program.

Program Description

This program is beneficial to all communities. It aims to eliminate waste and 

other environmental impacts from small and medium-sized manufacturing 

firms by improving process efficiency and material use. By providing 

technical assistance to these manufacturers to help optimize their resources, 

larger manufacturers are able to reduce the overall environmental impact 

in all areas of their supply chains. Participating in the program can result 

in reduced waste and emissions, improved energy and water efficiency, 

and additional cost savings. The result is local manufacturers who are more 

competitive and are able to better contribute to the local economy.

Green Suppliers Network

www.epa.gov/greensuppliers

Contact Information

Kristin Pierre

Office of Prevention, Pesticides 

and Toxic Substances

(202) 564-8837

Pierre.Kristin@epa.gov

The Green Suppliers Network is working with Region 1’s New Haven CARE project 

to improve the environmental performance of small manufacturers within the local 

community. This collaborative effort between the Green Suppliers Network and 

CARE will demonstrate to local manufacturers the business case to improve their 

environmental footprint while supporting the economic vitality of the region. This 

collaboration also aims to develop a model for other CARE communities to engage 

local manufacturers through the Green Suppliers Network’s services. 
Community Guide to EPA’s Voluntary Programs 23

Purpose

The purpose of GreenScapes is to promote sustainable, environmentally 

beneficial landscape practices across the nation.

Community Application

Any organization, agency, community, or individual with green space would 

benefit from this program.

Program Description

GreenScapes is designed to provide cost-efficient and environmentally 

friendly solutions for landscape design, construction, and maintenance 

- large and small. The goal is to preserve natural resources and prevent 

waste and pollution by encouraging organizations and individuals to make 

more holistic decisions regarding their landscape practices and purchases. 

GreenScapes promotes practices and products that meet the users needs 

but have a better environmental profile than current methods.

GreenScapes

www.epa.gov/greenscapes

Contact Information

Jean Schwab

GreenScapes Program Manager 

(703) 308-8669

schwab.jean@epa.gov

Compost made from the food scraps of more than 1,500 food related businesses 

and thousands of residents in San Francisco is being used on vineyards throughout 

Northern California’s wine country to enhance the quality of the soil. More than 

300 tons of food scraps are sent to Jepson Prairie Organics composting facility 

each day, and 12 vineyards are currently using Jepson’s compost. This project 

is one example of “closing the loop” — organics are taken from San Francisco 

tables, composted, put back into the soil, and returned to San Francisco 

restaurants as wine. Chris Choate, regional manager for compost facilities, says, 

“San Francisco likes the program because it shows how restaurants can do their 

part to divert waste from the landfills.” Linda Hale, vineyard manager at Madrone 

Vineyards, thought using Jepson’s compost was a great opportunity. “Farmers 

are environmental stewards and must be careful with the soil,” she notes. Using 

compost produced with food scraps allows the vineyard to help both the soil 

and the environment. “Participating in this program is a win-win situation,” agrees 

Darek Trowbridge, vineyard manager at Everett Ridge Vineyards and Winery. The 

partnership between Jepson and local vineyards continues to thrive because it is 

beneficial to the growers and the environment. There are no additional costs for 

growers, people are seeing the farm and city connection, and the program is in line 

with U.S. trends towards sustainable and organic agriculture.
24

Purpose

The HPV Challenge Program will ensure that a baseline set of health and 

environmental effects data on approximately 2,800 high production volume 

chemicals (industrial chemicals that are manufactured or imported into the 

U.S. in volumes of 1 million pounds or more per year) is made available to EPA 

and the American public. 

Community Application

Through this program, communities will be assured of having access to 

the type of information that will allow them to actively participate in 

environmental decision-making at all levels.

Program Description

The HPV Challenge Program is beneficial to all communities because it aims 

to provide public access, via the Web, to health and environmental effects 

data for many industrial chemicals that have been used in commerce for 

the last 30 years but for which basic screening level information was not 

available to the public. In addition, to ensure that the public has access to 

baseline health and environmental data for all HPV chemicals, including 

those “orphan” chemicals not sponsored in this program, the Agency is 

taking regulatory actions to gather and make this information available 

through a series of test rules and information-gathering rules.

High Production Volume (HPV)

Challenge Program www.epa.gov/chemrtk

Contact Information

Diane Sheridan and Jim Alwood

Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances

(202) 564-8176

sheridan.diane@epa.gov and alwood.jim@epa.gov

Since it was launched, this voluntary program has brought about significant 

progress in the collection and availability of previously unpublished health and 

environmental data resulting in 2,000 chemicals becoming more widely understood 

by the public. Because the public’s access to HPV chemical information is the 

cornerstone of the HPV Challenge Program, EPA will launch the HPV Information 

System (HPVIS), which will provide the public with complete and easy access to 

critical information on HPV chemicals. HPVIS also has a comprehensive website 

that allows a wide range of users to search existing data summary information and 

new data as they are developed. This collection of hazard data will provide the 

public with basic information about the chemicals that are produced in the largest 

quantities.
Community Guide to EPA’s Voluntary Programs 25

Purpose

H2E provides tools for minimizing the volumes of waste generated and the 

use of persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic chemicals in hospitals.

Community Application

Any community seeking to reduce air toxics emissions from hospitals will 

benefit from this program.

Program Description

This program aims to minimize waste from hospitals and health care facilities 

through education and various resources. Potential outcomes include 

lower health care costs from lower waste disposal costs and benefits to the 

community and the environment through decreased emissions of mercury 

and other pollutants.

Hospitals for a Healthy Environment (H2E)

www.h2e-online.org/index.cfm

Contact Information

Chen Wen

Office of Prevention, Pesticides 

and Toxic Substances

(202) 564-8849

chen.wen@H2E-online.org

Kaiser Permanente Northwest Region received a Hospitals for a Healthy 

Environment 2002 Environmental Leadership Award. The Region instituted a resource 

conservation program which adhered to a strict, environmentally conscious 

purchasing program, including the use of only recycled carpet. Furthermore, the 

Region has made a move towards reusable items for their patients such as reusable 

cups instead of the traditional disposable cups and pitchers. They have saved large 

amounts of money which has resulted in customer savings and, in the process, 

saved communities from potential pollution. General Information Toll Free: 1-800-

727-4179 H2E@H2E-online.org Mailing Address: PO Box 53315; Washington, DC 20009
26

Purpose

This program aims to help schools improve indoor air quality through 

inexpensive methods with the aid of an extensive guidance and support kit.

Community Application

Any community seeking to improve the indoor air quality of their schools will 

benefit from this program.

Program Description

The Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Tools for Schools Kit shows schools how to carry 

out a practical plan of action to improve indoor air problems at little or 

no cost using straightforward activities and in-house staff. The voluntary 

guidance in IAQ Tools for Schools can save schools time and money so that 

attention can be directed to educating children. It contains activities for 

both staff and students.

Indoor Air Quality “Tools for Schools”

www.epa.gov/iaq/schools

Contact Information

David Rowson

Office of Air and Radiation

(202) 343-9449

rowson.david@epa.gov

Burlington School District of Burlington, Vermont, has overcome a tight budget and 

aging facilities to become a statewide leader and mentor in promoting good IAQ 

for students and staff. Burlington emphasized broad cooperation, clever, low-cost 

fixes, and good communication. The district implemented an anti-idling policy and 

employed direct communication and cooperation with vendors, which helped 

solve IAQ problems created by an air intake location near two schools’ loading 

docks. Burlington utilized multiple grants to purchase HEPA vacuum cleaners and to 

make improvements in several school HVAC systems. A new emergency response 

system enables school or community members to report IAQ concerns by writing 

a simple ticket, establishing a detailed tracking system and allowing the district to 

respond quickly to concerns. The effects have been remarkable, demonstrated by 

a drop in one school’s annual absenteeism rates among asthmatic students from 31 

days to 2 days in just one year.
Community Guide to EPA’s Voluntary Programs 27

Purpose

This program builds partnerships with universities, who are developing 

training programs, school districts doing Integrated Pest Management 

(IPM) pilot programs, and non-profit organizations developing IPM models 

and certification programs. The overall goal is to get schools to adopt IPM 

practices to control pests in their facilities.

Community Application

All communities have schools. Implementing school IPM provides a segue for 

healthier homes and an overall safer environment for us all.

Program Description

IPM in Schools is a voluntary program that forms partnerships with 

organizations that have the goal of protecting public health and providing 

a safe environment. Two virtual IPM Centers for Schools and Day Cares 

- Purdue University (1-877-668-8476) and Texas A&M University (1-877-747-

6872) - were funded by EPA to enhance adoption of IPM. These and other 

partnerships continue to leverage dollars from many different sources to 

continue their work in schools.

Integrated Pest Management in Schools

www.epa.gov/pesticides/ipm

Contact Information

Sherry Glick

Office of Prevention, Pesticides 

and Toxic Substances

(702) 784-8276

glick.sherry@epa.gov

IPM Institute of North America, Inc. is working to increase the adoption of IPM 

in schools nationwide. The Institute has created IPM Star, a school certification 

program, and helped to implement the program in several school districts, 

including: Newton, MA; Anne Arundel County, MD; New York City, NY; Kyrene, AZ; 

Auburn, AL; Buffalo, NY and Pittsburgh, PA. For more information, visit their website at: 

http://www.ipminstitute.org/school.htm

The Monroe IPM Model is a 22 step process reliant on intensive communication 

and partnership and based on sound pest management as practiced by national 

experts. For more information, visit their website at: http://www.mccsc.edu/

~mccscipm/html/reg/ipmodel/ipmodel_steps.htm
28

Purpose

This program aims to increase the reuse of the natural gases emitted from 

landfills due to the decaying process.

Community Application

Any community wishing to utilize an alternative. renewable, green energy 

source will benefit from this program.

Program Description

The U.S. EPA’s Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP) is a voluntary 

assistance program that helps to reduce methane emissions from landfills 

by encouraging the recovery and use of landfill gas as an energy resource. 

LMOP forms partnerships with communities, landfill owners, utilities, power 

marketers, states, project developers, tribes, and non-profit organizations to 

help partners overcome barriers to project development. Program assistance 

includes helping partners assess project feasibility, find financing, and market 

the benefits of project development to the community. EPA launched LMOP 

to encourage productive use of this resource as part of the United States’ 

commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the United Nations 

Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Landfill Methane Outreach Program

www.epa.gov/lmop

Contact Information

Brian Guzzone

Landfill Methane Outreach Program

(202) 343-9248

guzzone.brian@epa.gov

In the year 2005, 400 operational LFG energy projects in 40 states prevented the 

release of over 19 million metric tons of carbon equivalent. This reduction is the 

carbon equivalent of removing the emissions from 13 million vehicles on the road 

or planting over 19 million acres of forest for one year. These reductions also have 

the same environmental benefit as preventing the use of 160 million barrels of oil or 

powering over 725,000 homes and heating nearly 1,200,000.
Community Guide to EPA’s Voluntary Programs 29

Purpose

This program offers information, technical support, and assistance funding

to help communities reduce exposure to diesel exhaust from both new and

existing diesel engines.

Community Application

Any community aiming to reduce toxic emissions through diesel retrofits 

would benefit from this program.

Program Description

The National Clean Diesel Campaign promotes the reduction of emissions

through a variety of cost-effective and innovative strategies, including

switching to cleaner fuels, retrofitting, repairing, repowering, replacement

and idle reduction, among others. The program also verifies emissions

reductions of retrofit technologies. A network of Regional Collaboratives 

provides support to local efforts. The Energy Policy Act and SAFETEA-LU 

transportation legislation provide new incentives for emission reductions.

National Clean Diesel Campaign

www.epa.gov/cleandiesel

Contact Information

Jim Blubaugh

Office of Air and Radiation

(202) 343-9244

blubaugh.jim@epa.gov

There are approximately 220 cleaner diesel projects nationwide, located in 44 

States and the District of Columbia. Over 500 partners are participating in the 

projects. These partners’ contributions have leveraged federal funds by over 2:1. In 

addition, over 20 States and the District of Columbia are using ultra-low sulfur diesel 

fuel well ahead of EPA’s 2006 mandate as a result of the National Clean Diesel 

Campaign.
30

Purpose

The aim of the program is to recognize and encourage top environmental 

performance among private and public facilities, which go beyond 

compliance with regulatory requirements to achieve environmental 

excellence.

Community Application

All communities seeking to recognize the beyond compliance 

accomplishments of their facilities will benefit from this program.

Program Description

Performance Track is a public/private partnership recognizing top 

environmental performance among participating U.S. facilities of all types, 

sizes, and complexity, public and private. Program partners are providing 

leadership in many areas, including preventing pollution at its source. 

Currently, the program has 344 members and welcomes all qualifying 

facilities. Applications are accepted twice a year. Some of the benefits of the 

program include recognition and technical support.

National Environmental Performance Track

www.epa.gov/performancetrack

Contact Information

Julie Spyres

Office of Policy Economics 

and Innovation

(202) 566-2885

spyres.julie@epa.gov

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has partnered with 

Performance Track to reward Virginia facilities with top environmental performance 

and compliance beyond regulatory standards. The state of Virginia recognizes 

outstanding facilities through the Virginia Environmental Excellence Program (VEEP) 

and announced in August 2003 that Performance Track members do not need 

to follow the traditional application process for VEEP. Performance Track members 

will be admitted into the higher tier of the program through submittal of a letter of 

request to Virginia DEQ.
Community Guide to EPA’s Voluntary Programs 31

Purpose

This program aims to help communities reduce nonpoint source pollution or 

polluted runoff entering local rivers, streams, lakes and wetlands.

Community Application

Any community wanting to decrease nonpoint source pollutants will benefit 

from this program.

Program Description

Nonpoint source pollution is caused by rainfall or snowmelt moving over 

and through the ground. As the runoff moves, it picks up and carries away 

natural and human-made pollutants, finally depositing them into lakes, rivers, 

wetlands, coastal waters, and even our underground sources of drinking 

water. This program, authorized under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act, 

offers financial assistance and outreach materials to prevent and clean up 

pollution.

National Nonpoint Source Management 

Program www.epa.gov/owow/nps

Contact Information

Dov Weitman

Office of Water

(202) 566-1207

weitman.dov@epa.gov

California’s major water supply reservoirs are located on rangeland, and eight of 

the state’s major drainage basins are dominated by commonly grazed vegetation. 

Most of this rangeland is in private ownership. The water quality problems associated 

with this grazing include nutrients and pathogens, erosion, and sedimentation. Some 

of the more serious impacts have threatened the state’s drinking water supply with 

bacterial contamination and caused significant declines in the state’s cold-water 

salmon and steelhead trout fishery. With funding from EPA, the University of California 

Cooperative Extension, in cooperation with the California Cattlemen’s Association 

and others, has developed and is presenting a voluntary Ranch Water Quality 

Planning Short Course. In the course, ranchers receive information to assist them 

in making an assessment of nonpoint source pollution on their land and to help 

them determine the extent to which their operation might be contributing to water 

quality problems.
32

Purpose

The goal of the program is to encourage the elimination or minimization of 

hazardous and industrial wastes, particularly those waste streams containing 

one or more of the 31 priority chemicals.

Community Application

Any community seeking to reduce the amount of waste generated and 

lower the toxicity and persistence of those wastes that are unavoidable will 

benefit from this program.

Program Description

EPA’s National Partnership for Environmental Priorities (NPEP) focuses efforts 

on reducing 31 Priority Chemicals found in our nation’s products and wastes 

by finding solutions that eliminate or substantially reduce the use of Priority 

Chemicals in production, or on recovering or recycling these chemicals 

where they cannot easily be eliminated or reduced at the source. This is 

done through partnerships with public and private organizations. These 

partnerships offer recognition and technical support to recipients.

National Partnership for Environmental 

Priorities

www.epa.gov/minimize/partnership.htm 

Contact Information

Newman Smith

Office of Solid Waste and 

Emergency Response

(703) 308-8871

smith.newman@epa.gov

Shell developed arrangements that now enable spent lead oxide catalyst to be 

recycled to recover the lead value instead of sending it to land disposal. In the last 

year, this resulted in sending 65 tons of spent catalyst to be recycled, recovering the 

12 tons of lead that it contained. Lead recovery was chosen as a goal because 

it was the last sizeable hazardous waste stream that was routinely disposed. Since 

it contained lead, a Priority Chemical, it was a good fit for participation in the 

National Partnership for Environmental Priorities. The lead is recovered by using it 

as feedstock to secondary lead smelting, the same process that is used to recover 

lead from automobile batteries.
Community Guide to EPA’s Voluntary Programs 33

Purpose

This program aims to reduce methane emissions from natural gas operations 

by identifying and promoting the implementation of mitigation technologies 

and management practices.

Community Application

All communities with oil and natural gas production facilities within the 

community that wish to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will benefit from 

this program.

Program Description

The Natural Gas STAR Program is a flexible, voluntary partnership between 

EPA and the oil and natural gas industry. Through the Program, EPA works 

with companies that produce, process, transmit and distribute natural gas to 

identify and promote the implementation of cost-effective technologies and 

practices to reduce emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

Natural Gas Star

www.epa.gov/gasstar

Contact Information

Roger Fernandez

Office of Air and Radiation

(202) 343-9386

fernandez.roger@epa.gov

Since the Program began in 1993, Natural Gas STAR partners have eliminated more 

than 403 billion cubic feet of methane emissions through the implementation of 

the Program’s core Best Management Practices, as well other activities identified 

by partner companies. This is the equivalent of removing more than 36 million 

cars from the road for one year, planting 49 million acres of trees or the gas supply 

equivalent of heating almost 6 million homes for a year. At the same time, these 

companies have saved over $2 billion by keeping more gas in their systems for sale 

in the market.
34

Purpose

This program aims to reduce risk from the use of pesticides and to go 

beyond regulatory requirements to a higher level of environmental 

stewardship for pest management.

Community Application

All communities aiming to reduce pesticide risks within the community will 

benefit from this program.

Program Description

The Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program (PESP) is a voluntary 

program that forms partnerships with pesticide users to reduce the health 

and environmental risks associated with pesticide use and implement 

pollution prevention strategies. EPA started the program in 1994. Grants are 

available to assist with risk reduction. Each PESP Partner and Supporter is 

provided an EPA Liaison, from the Office of Pesticide Programs or an EPA 

Regional Office, who works with the member to provide information and 

assistance in developing and implementing their strategy. The EPA Liaisons 

are these organizations’ single-point customer service representatives at EPA. 

They provide information on EPA activities, assist in developing the strategy, 

and provide information on funding opportunities to support strategy 

implementation.

Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program

www.epa.gov/oppbppd1/PESP

Contact Information

Stephen Morrill

Office of Prevention, Pesticides 

and Toxic Substances

(703) 308-8319

morrill.stephen@epa.gov

To date, there are well over 150 program members and supporters throughout the 

country. Members submit a strategy outlining their plan for pesticide risk reduction 

which is posted online for public viewing.
Community Guide to EPA’s Voluntary Programs 35

Purpose

The aim of the program is to increase the number of convenient and lowcost opportunities for citizens to recycle their old electronics, and to increase 

awareness and desire to recycle these products

Community Application

All communities with a desire to recycle electronics will benefit from this 

program.

Program Description

Plug-In To eCycling is a consumer electronics campaign working to increase 

the number of electronic devices collected and safely recycled in the United 

States. Launched in January 2003, Plug-In To eCycling is one component 

of EPA’s Resource Conservation Challenge. Plug-In To eCycling focuses on 

three major areas: providing the public with information about electronics 

recycling and increasing opportunities to safely recycle old electronics; 

facilitating partnerships with communities, electronics manufacturers, and 

retailers to promote shared responsibility for safe electronics recycling; and 

establishing pilot projects to test innovative approaches to safe electronics 

recycling.

Plug-In To eCycling

www.plugintorecycling.org

Contact Information

Katharine Kaplan Osdoba

Office of Solid Waste and 

Emergency Response

(703) 308-8659

osdoba.katharine@epa.gov

Staples, Inc partnered with the Product Stewardship Institute (PSI) to conduct a sixweek pilot program to measure the success of retail-based electronics recycling. 

This pilot tested and measured the reverse distribution process as a unique strategy 

for transporting old computers and other business equipment from consumers to 

recyclers. This process uses the same channels that provide the new products to 

customers to collect and transport the old electronics to the distribution centers. 

In the summer of 2004, Plug-In partner Staples tested the two-pronged approach 

to its reverse-distribution system. Delivery trucks transported old electronics from 14 

small business customers and 27 retail stores in New England to distribution centers, 

where the electronics were gathered for recycling. Staples, the Product Stewardship 

Institute, 10 partnering manufacturers and Envirocycle, Inc. recycled over 115,000 lbs. 

of unwanted electronic equipment during the six-week pilot.
36

Purpose

The goal of the Schools Chemical Cleanout Campaign and Prevention 

Program (SC3) is to improve the learning environment in K-12 schools by 

reducing chemical exposures to staff and students and improving chemical 

management. Adopting safer chemical management practices, as 

promoted by SC3, will likely result in fewer school days lost and healthier 

students and faculty. 

Community Application

Any community with an interest in healthy school environments and 

protecting children from exposure to unnecessary, dangerous, mismanaged 

chemicals would benefit from the SC3 program.

Program Description

The Schools Chemical Cleanout Campaign provides information to 

schools and communities regarding the potential dangers of chemical 

accumulations in K–12 schools as well as steps to facilitate chemical 

cleanouts and prevent future chemical management problems. Successful 

chemical management programs are tailored to meet an individual 

school’s needs, but all share some common elements, including: on-site 

technical assistance, education and awareness training for staff, and forming 

partnerships with external organizations. EPA is working with partners (federal 

agencies, teacher associations, chemical suppliers, among others) to 

develop partnerships that work toward meeting SC3’s goals and establishing 

a national SC3 program that will make clean-out and prevention available 

to every school in the country.

Schools Chemical Cleanout Campaign and 

Prevention Program (SC3) www.epa.gov/sc3

Contact Information

Kristina Meson

Office of Solid Waste

(703) 308-8488

meson.kristina@epa.gov

Rhode Island (RI) formed the Chemical Safe Schools Committee, which includes RI 

Departments of Health, Labor, Education and Environmental Management; Brown 

University; RI Committee on Occupational Safety and Health; Community College 

of Rhode Island; and Miriam Hospital. They are working together to help schools 

minimize the health, safety and environmental risks associated with chemicals in 

schools. Through the efforts of this committee more than 800 hazardous chemicals 

are no longer allowed in schools. The committee created a handbook on 

laboratory safety, reviewed chemical inventories, conducted training, and helped 

clean out a number of schools. 
Community Guide to EPA’s Voluntary Programs 37

Purpose

The Smart Growth Program aims to help states and communities better 

understand the impacts of development patterns, and realize the 

environmental, economic, community and public health benefits of smart 

growth.

Community Application

Most development decisions are made at the local level. Communities 

wishing to make more informed decisions about growth and development 

may take advantage of the information and resources provided by EPA’s 

Smart Growth Program and by the Smart Growth Network.

Program Description

The Smart Growth Program provides information and technical assistance to 

help communities implement successful development strategies. Additional 

assistance is also available through the Smart Growth Network, a group of 

diverse organizations who work together to create and promote innovative 

smart growth tools.

Smart Growth Program

www.epa.gov/smartgrowth and 

www.smartgrowth.org

Contact Information

Development, Community and 

Environment Division

Office of Policy Economics and 

Innovation

(202) 566-2878

smartgrowth@epa.gov

Davidson, NC was a Winner of EPA’s 2004 National Award for Smart Growth 

Achievement. To preserve and enhance Davidson’s character, the town adopted 

the Davidson Land Plan in 1995 and an innovative Planning Ordinance in 2001.

The ordinance seeks significant public involvement, a critical component for 

any community that wants to plan where and how it will grow. The town requires 

pedestrian, bicycle, and street circulation plans for all new development. Streets are 

designed to discourage cars from speeding, making it easier for Davidson’s 7,800 

residents to walk and bicycle around the town. To further encourage walking, the 

town requires narrow, tree lined streets with on-street parking and sidewalks on both 

sides of the street. Recognizing that housing prices can sometimes increase when 

a community creates great places to live, the town requires that 12.5 percent of all 

new housing be affordable to families making less than the county’s median family 

income. Davidson’s plan and ordinance have allowed the town to build on its 

strengths while accommodating new growth.
38

Purpose

The goal of the SmartWay Transport program is to create low emission, high 

fuel efficient freight vehicles, and improve the environmental performance 

and fuel efficiency of the US freight sector. The program uses a voluntary 

market incentive system that encourages retailers/end users to choose 

freight companies that are environmental leaders in their respective industry 

segments.

Community Application

All communities with shipping needs will benefit from this program.

Program Description

SmartWay Transport Partners represent commercial, industrial, and public 

sector organizations that commit to improve fuel efficiency, reduce 

greenhouse gas emissions, and air pollution of their ground freight 

transportation. EPA provides Partners with benefits and services that 

include fleet management and emissions modeling tools, technical 

support, information, public recognition, and, for exceptional environmental 

performers, use of the SmartWay Transport Partner logo.

SmartWay Transport

www.epa.gov/smartway

Contact Information

Ann Kee

Office of Transportation and 

Air Quality

(202) 343-9218

kee.annie@epa.gov

Since the program’s inception, SmartWay projects that its program activities will 

eliminate more than 3.2 million tons of CO2 and reduce diesel fuel consumption by 

nearly 300 million gallons annually. There are currently over 430 companies signed 

on as partners. These companies have all committed to improve the environmental 

performance of their freight operations and go beyond compliance in their 

environmental planning. The list of participating companies is available online at 

www.epa.gov/smartway/partners.htm.
Community Guide to EPA’s Voluntary Programs 39

Purpose

This program aims to prevent the contamination of source water -- the 

untreated water from streams, rivers, lakes or underground aquifers which is 

the supply of private wells and public drinking water.

Community Application

Protecting source water makes sense for any community. It makes good 

public health sense, good economic sense, and good environmental sense.

Program Description

Preventing contamination of drinking water supplies is an important 

mission within EPA’s Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water. The Source 

Water Protection Program provides basic information about the water 

used for drinking water and the federal, state and local programs that 

assess and manage potential public health risks, including a Web Guide 

— an annotated guide to EPA source water resources. Resources include 

assessement information, training resources, information about funding 

sources, and local case studies.

Source Water Protection Program

www.epa.gov/safewater/protect.html

Contact Information

Roy Simon

Office of Water

(202) 564-3867

simon.roy@epa.gov

In remote parts of Alaska, native villagers continue to choose traditional water 

supplies — snow melt, roof catchments, surface waters and natural springs — over 

available treated supplies. To assess and communicate the health impacts of 

traditional water use, a steering committee of local community and tribal members 

as well as university and government professionals, developed a statewide survey 

of water sources and distribution sites. The steering committee used traditional 

communication methods — including dances and skits — at popular potluck 

celebrations in three pilot communities. Similarly, the committee combined videos 

and traditional storytelling to share test results at operator workshops throughout 

Alaska. Next steps include recommendations for improved access and water use 

options for families and continued research on treatment alternatives that meet 

local needs.
40

Purpose

This program, which is a part of EPA’s National Clean Diesel Campaign, offers 

information and technical support on retrofitting diesel engines to cut down 

toxic emissions.

Community Application

Any community aiming to reduce toxic emissions through diesel retrofits 

would benefit from this program.

Program Description

The program helps fleet owners and operators, state and local government 

air quality planners, and retrofit and engine manufacturers to understand 

diesel retrofits and obtain information they need to create effective retrofit 

projects. There is technical support as well as grants and other tools to 

expedite the retrofit process. In addition, the program works with industry to 

introduce verified technologies to the market as cost effectively as possible, 

while providing customers with confidence that verified technologies will 

provide emissions reductions as advertised.

Voluntary Diesel Retrofit Program

www.epa.gov/cleandiesel

Contact Information

Dennis Johnson

Office of Air and Radiation

(202) 343-9278

Johnson.dennis@epa.gov

On February 23, 2005, EPA announced the award of $1.6 million to grantees for 

projects designed to demonstrate effective emissions reduction stratgies for diesel 

fleets. The grantees are state and local governmental organizations, including 

air agencies and port authorities, and non-governmental organizations. Each 

demonstration project reduces the impacts of pollution on a population that is 

especially susceptible to the effects of diesel exhaust, including children, the elderly 

and the chronically ill. The 18 recipients will utilize funding to retrofit a variety of 

diesel vehicles, including construction, agricultural and port equipment, refuse 

haulers, fire trucks, ambulances and locomotives. Criteria for selection included 

evaluation of each proposal’s implementation plan, air quality benefits, diversity of 

technology application, vehicle type and geographic location, originality, and the 

likelihood of success of the project.
Community Guide to EPA’s Voluntary Programs 41

Purpose

To encourage support of volunteers throughout the country who are trained 

to monitor water quality conditions (physical, chemical, and biological). 

Volunteer monitoring programs may share their data with local and state 

governments, and often become involved in watershed stewardship and 

education.

Community Application

Any community with concerns about the quality of water in their rivers and 

streams will benefit from this program.

Program Description

The program offers tools and assistance for volunteers interested in 

monitoring their local water quality. EPA offers guidelines and instructions for 

monitoring various bodies of water. They also provide lists of local monitoring 

groups and suggestions on how to start a new group. Many of the volunteer 

groups work closely with staffers from local and state environmental 

agencies. They offer advice and disseminate the data collected.

Volunteer Water Monitoring Program

www.epa.gov/owow/monitoring/volunteer 

Contact Information

Alice Mayio

Office of Water

(202) 566-1184

mayio.alice@epa.gov

Alabama Water Watch is a citizen volunteer monitoring program that is 

coordinated from Auburn University. Our goal is to educate citizens of Alabama, 

and shared watersheds of neighboring states, about water issues, train them to 

measure water quality, and work with citizens to improve environmental quality 

and policy. Since the inception of the AWW Program in late 1992, 200 groups have 

sampled 1,400 sites on 500 water bodies and submitted 17,000 chemistry and 8,000 

bacteria data forms. All data received is analyzed, summarized, charted, graphed, 

and presented to the monitors, policy makers, media, and other interested citizens 

through a semi-annual newsletter, video presentations, and report series on 

particular water bodies monitored.
42

Purpose

This program aims to assist and challenge businesses, institutions, and 

governments to find savings and increase efficiency through innovative 

waste reduction activities.

Community Application

All communities seeking to reduce solid waste will benefit from this program.

Program Description

WasteWise is a free, voluntary, EPA program through which organizations 

eliminate costly municipal solid waste and select industrial wastes, benefiting 

their bottom line and the environment. WasteWise is a flexible program 

that allows partners to design their own waste reduction programs tailored 

to their needs. The benefits, apart from the immediate financial savings, 

include technical support, public recognition and access to forums and 

conferences.

WasteWise

www.epa.gov/wastewise

Contact Information

Terry Grist

Office of Solid Waste and 

Emergency Response

(703) 308-7257

grist.terry@epa.gov

Following a competitive selection process, WasteWise named 12 “Partners of the 

Year” in 2004. WasteWise Partners of the Year are those partners who achieved 

and reported the most impressive waste reduction results for 2003. WasteWise 

also recognized 15 Program Champions and 16 Honorable Mentions who made 

noteworthy accomplishments in waste prevention, recycling collection, and buying 

or manufacturing recycled-content products in 2003. WasteWise also inducted 

two new members into its Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame recognizes partners 

that continually excel in waste reduction efforts, provide ongoing support to the 

WasteWise program, and serve as role models for other partners. Awards are given 

annually.
Community Guide to EPA’s Voluntary Programs 43

Purpose

This program is designed to help states, municipalities and homeowners 

make informed decisions about efficient water use.

Community Application

Efficient water use can help communities reduce the need for costly water 

supply and wastewater treatment facilities, maintain local stream flows and 

healthy aquatic habitats, and reduce the energy used to pump, heat and 

treat water.

Program Description

To promote efficient water use, EPA’s primary role is to provide technical 

assistance and information concentrating on 1) improved management 

practices, 2) better science, 3) effective planning and coordination, 4) 

market incentives, and 5) public education.

Contact Information

John Flowers

Office of Water

(202) 564-0624

water_efficiency@epa.gov

Water Use Efficiency Program

www.epa.gov/owm/water-efficiency

United States CARE Program EPA 400-B-06-001

Environmental Protection (8001A) October 2006

Agency www.epa.gov/CARE

For more information call toll free at 1-877-CARE 909

or visit the CARE web site at www.epa.gov/CARE.