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The National Environmental Performance Track ("Performance Track") is a public-private partnership that encourages continuous environmental improvement through environmental management systems, community outreach, and measurable results.

EPA’s initial proposal to develop “a performance track” was published in its July 1999 report, Aiming for Excellence (PDF) (70 pp, 1.1MB) . The Agency consulted extensively with stakeholders and state environmental agencies to develop and refine the proposal. The program was launched officially on June 26, 2000. EPA accepted 228 facilities as Charter Members during its first round of applications, welcoming them at a ceremony in Washington, DC, on December 13, 2000.

Performance Track is based on the premise that government should complement existing programs with new tools and strategies that not only protect people and the environment, but also capture opportunities for reducing cost and spurring technological innovation. EPA provides exclusive regulatory and administrative benefits to Performance Track members, places them at low priority for routine inspections, and offers public recognition, networking opportunities, and other benefits.

Among the criteria for membership in Performance Track are a commitment to challenging environmental goals and a dedication to continuous improvement. Members report annually on progress toward their goals. Details on program entry criteria and implementation are available in the Performance Track Program Guide.

Location of Performance Track Members (March 2008)

Since the program's inception in June 2000, Performance Track members report that they have collectively reduced their water use by 3.7 billion gallons. Members have conserved more than 16,800 acres of land and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 310,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. In May 2008, Performance Track released its sixth annual progress report (PDF) (4 pp, 1.39MB). Details on members' results are available in the Results section of the Performance Track website.

Any facility, large or small, public or private, in the United States and its territories may apply for membership in Performance Track. Applications are accepted twice a year: April 1 - May 31, and September 1 - October 31. The program currently has more than 500 members in 49 states and Puerto Rico. About half of these facilities (49 percent) have between 100 and 1,000 employees, 27 percent have more than 1,000 employees, and 24 percent have fewer than 100 employees. Performance Track members represent virtually every manufacturing sector, as well as public-sector facilities at the federal, state, and local levels.

In 2004, the program added a Corporate Leader designation to recognize companies that demonstrate an exceptional corporate-wide commitment to environmental stewardship and continuous improvement. Based on stakeholder feedback and its own internal reviews, the Agency has made a number of other improvements to the program, such as strengthening the membership criteria to include independent assessment of applicants' Environmental Management Systems; more comprehensive review of applicants' environmental records including Toxics Release Inventory analysis; more frequent compliance screening of members; creating Challenge Goals that encourage members to address national and regional priorities such as greenhouse gas emissions, priority chemicals, and habitat loss; and providing opportunities for stakeholder input on an ongoing basis.

Performance Track has received strong support from each of the EPA Administrators in office during the program’s history, including Carol M. Browner, Christine Todd Whitman, Michael O. Leavitt, and Stephen L. Johnson.

For a closer look at the program, and the activities and accomplishments of its members to date, please refer to the latest program progress report, available on the Publications page.

For more information about Performance Track, please view Frequently Asked Questions or visit the Performance Track Contact Us page.

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