Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore - Bio Soy Products (U.S. National Park Service)

This sandy trail leads to the beach at Sand Point near Munising.

NPS photo by Brenda St. Martin

Trail leading to Sand Point beach

Green Energy Parks Program
In an effort to expand the Lakeshore’s sustainable practices program, the park has embraced the President’s Green Energy Parks program with special funded grants to use bio-soy fluids and lubricants in various park fleet operations. These soy products meet government "greening" objectives, are safer for employees to handle, and are biodegradable in case of spill or releases.

The Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) states:

Under the Green Energy Parks program, DOI and DOE will implement joint sustainable energy projects throughout the National Park System. The primary goals of the program are to:

Promote the use of energy efficient and renewable energy technologies and practices, and increase use of alternative fuels throughout National Park facilities and transportation systems;

Educate the visiting public about the impact of conventional energy use on natural and cultural resources, the capacity of current and emerging energy technologies to reduce that impact, and the things visitors can do at home to reduce their own energy use.

The Lakeshore's Auto Mechanic uses bio-soy products on vehicles.

NPS photo

Using bio soy products on vehicles

Converting to Bio-Soy Products
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore chose to use bio-soy products because they meet the above goals, are easily substituted, are safer for employees to handle, and are biodegradable in case of a spill or release.

Since June 2000, all park diesel equipment has been fueled with B-20% blend of soy diesel. fuel blend. In addition to meeting the program goals, soy-diesel results in greater lubricity, cleaner burning engines and lower emissions. In addition, hydraulic oil in the shop vehicle lift, and heavy equipment hydraulic and trans-hydraulic fluid systems were replaced with soy hydraulic fluids.

All two-cycle grounds equipment, pre-mix outboard motor patrol boats, and cross-country ski trail groomers have been using soy two-cycle oil. Soy-based penetrating fluid, parts washing fluids, and chassis grease are also being used in shop operations.

Seven of the park’s vehicles are now field testing a soy/synthetic blend of engine oil. Bio-soy lubricants and fluids have been put into service in the following equipment and vehicles.

10 ton International dump truck	soy hydraulic
5 ton International dump truck	soy hydraulic
Two Ford 555 backhoe loaders	soy hydraulic, soy transmission
John Deere crawler dozer	soy hydraulic, soy transmission
Gallion grader	soy hydraulic, soy transmission
John Deere utility tractors	soy hydraulic, soy transmission
John Deere tractor mowers	soy hydraulic, soy transmission
Snowmobiles	soy two-cycle oil
Outboard boat motors	soy two-cycle oil
Diesel/gasoline engine vehicles	soy crankcase oil
Grounds equipment	soy two-cycle oil
Chainsaws	soy two-cycle oil, bar & chain oil

For more information ...
please visit our Green Resources page.

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