The Office of the Federal Environmental Executive issued final
guidance to implement the April 1994 Presidential Executive Memorandum (E.M.)
on landscaping practices found on page 596. The guidance, as published
in the Federal Register on August 10, 1995, pages 40837-41, applies to
all Federal Agencies and all federally-funded or assisted projects. It
provides information and direction regarding the implementation of
environmentally and economically beneficial practices.
Native Plant
A native plant species is one that occurs naturally in a
particular region, ecosystem and/or habitat without direct or indirect
human actions.
Pesticide
A pesticide is "any substance or mixture of substances: (a)
for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest, or (b)
for use as a plant regulator, defoliant, or desiccant." [FIFRA Section
2 (u)].
Pest
A pest is "(1) any insect, rodent, nematode, fungus, weed, or
(2) any other form of terrestrial or aquatic plant or animal life or
virus, bacteria, or other micro-organism (except viruses, bacteria, or
other micro-organisms on or in living man or other living animals)
which the Administrator declares to be a pest." [FIFRA Section 2 (t)].
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) provides a mandate and a
framework for federal agencies to consider all reasonably foreseeable
environmental effects of their actions. Where Federal projects or
federally-funded activities or projects considered in the NEPA process
include landscape considerations, draft and final NEPA documentation and
Record of Decision for the proposed action and alternatives, as
applicable, shall reflect the recommendations established in this
Guidance.
1. Use of Regionally Native Plants for Landscaping
Federal agencies, Federal projects or federally-funded
projects shall incorporate regionally native plants in site design and
implementation where cost-effective and to the maximum extent
practicable. Federal agencies shall strive to avoid or minimize
adverse impacts of proposed actions or projects on existing
communities of native plants.
Federal agencies shall ensure that the appropriate site and soil
analyses are performed during pre-design stages of the project. To aid
in proper plant selection and to ensure success of the plantings,
analyses should match plant characteristics with site and soil
conditions. Site design and implementation as well as plant selection
shall incorporate such considerations as their biological needs,
minimal plant care, low water use, and minimal need for fertilizers
and pesticides. Plants selected shall be in character with the project
site plant communities. Those plants selected for Federal landscape
projects or federally-funded landscape projects shall be nursery
propagated from sources as close as practicable to the project area.
Native plants collected from existing indigenous populations shall not
be used unless they are salvaged from an area where they would
otherwise be destroyed in the near-term. Where native plant seeds are
to be used for federal projects, they should be unadulterated by other
plant species. Federal agencies should ensure that appropriate actions
are taken to support the success of native plant species used for
Federal or federally-funded landscaping projects.
2. Design, Use, or Promote Construction Practices That
Minimize Adverse Impacts on the Natural Habitat
Federal agencies, Federal projects or federally-funded
projects shall avoid or minimize adverse impacts to natural habitat.
During preliminary selection of sites for Federal or federally-funded
projects, Federal agencies shall avoid sites which are relatively
undisturbed. If such areas cannot be avoided, Federal agencies should
employ construction practices and procedures which minimize adverse
impacts to natural habitat and incorporate existing vegetation and
associated natural habitat into the project. Where new projects
require use of a relatively undisturbed site, site clearing and
preparation should be limited in order to prevent unnecessary adverse
impacts. Where adverse impacts to natural habitat occur as a result of
Federal or federally-funded projects, Federal agencies shall mitigate
impacts to natural habitat on-site where feasible. On-site and
off-site compensatory mitigation shall fully reflect lost natural
values. Federal site design and development should consider
environmental elements, human factors, context, sustainability, and
pertinent special issues. Development of the site should include
assessments of the soil and subsurface material. Project
decision-makers, including designers, contract supervisors,
contractors, field inspectors, site or facility master planners, and
maintenance personnel shall either be knowledgeable of or informed of
likely project related impacts to natural habitat. Where existing
plantings are incorporated into the site design, they shall be
adequately protected from construction activities. Project plans and
specifications shall include explicit direction regarding construction
practices to meet the goals of this guidance. On-site project managers
and contractors shall ensure that practices which minimize impacts to
natural habitat are followed during project construction. Such
practices may include site management to control soil erosion and
non-point source run-off and proper disposal of construction material
and debris. Where practicable, personnel responsible for on-site
construction practices, including contractors and construction
inspectors, shall be knowledgeable about natural habitat resources.
3. Seek to Prevent Pollution
Federal agencies, Federal projects or federally-funded
projects shall use chemical management practices which reduce or
eliminate pollution associated with the use of chemical fertilizers
and pesticides. Wherever practicable, Federal agencies shall employ
practices which avoid or minimize the need for using fertilizers and
pesticides. These practices include, but are not limited to selection
of plant materials that limit growth of "weed" species; use of
integrated pest management techniques and practices, use of chemical
pesticides which biodegrade, and use of slow release fertilizers.
Federal agencies shall recycle and/or compost leaves, grass
clippings, and landscape trimmings for further use as both soil
amendments and mulches. Woody debris such as tree trunks, stumps,
limbs, etc., resulting from federally-funded activities shall also be
recycled as appropriate.
Federal agencies shall use landscape management practices,
including plant selection and placement, which control and minimize
soil erosion, runoff of chemicals, and pollution of groundwater.
Federal agencies shall also consider energy and water conservation
benefits in the siting and selection of plants.
Federal agencies and facilities subject to the requirements of
Executive Order 12856 shall identify those chemicals used at their
facilities for landscape-management and develop alternative landscape
management practices to reduce or eliminate the use of those
chemicals.
4. Implement Water and Energy Efficient Landscape Practices
Federal agencies, Federal Projects or federally-funded
projects shall use water-efficient landscape design and management
practices. These practices (such as Xeriscape) shall include planning
and designing landscaping projects with consideration to: watering
requirements, existing vegetation, topography, climate, intended use
of the property and water-use zones. In addition, facility managers
shall conduct soil analyses and, as appropriate, amend the soil at the
project site to improve its ability to support plants and retain
water. Initial site design as well as the addition of plants in
established areas shall seek to establish water-use zones and promote
efficient irrigation practices.
Where irrigation systems have been installed, irrigation scheduling
should be adjusted seasonally to the evapotranspiration rate (ET) for
the plants in that particular climate.
Irrigation with recycled or reclaimed water, where practicable,
shall serve as a preferred alternative to the use of potable water.
Finally Federal agencies and facilities, Federal projects and
federally-funded projects, are encouraged to use water audits to
identify additional opportunities for water-efficient landscape
practices.
5. Create Outdoor Demonstration Projects
Federal agencies, Federal projects or federally-funded
projects shall create and maintain outdoor demonstration projects
exhibiting and promoting the benefits of economically and
environmentally sound landscaping practices. These exhibits may
include the selection and use of native plant species and the use of
water-efficient and energy conserving practices.
Exhibits may include small scale projects, such as interpretive or
wildlife gardens, that focus on environmentally sound landscape
management practices, site design, and development appropriate for
residential, commercial, and institutional application. Additionally,
demonstration projects may highlight larger projects, such as wetland
or grassland restoration or woodland rehabilitation, that are more
likely implemented by groups or state and local governments. Federal
agencies are encouraged to from public/private partnerships with
groups such as educational institutions, arboreta, commercial
nurseries, botanic gardens and garden clubs, to advance the goals of
the Executive Memorandum. Federal agencies are encouraged to work with
and share information with other interested nonfederal parties to
promote the use of environmentally and economically sound landscaping
practices.