Sector Strategies Program; Announcement of Program Launch
[Federal Register: May 1, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 84)]
[Notices]
[Page 23303-23304]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01my03-60]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-7492-5]
Sector Strategies Program; Announcement of Program Launch
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing
the selection of seven sectors to participate in the multi-media sector
program in the Office of Policy, Economics and Innovation (OPEI). The
following sectors will participate in the program: Agribusiness, Cement
Manufacturing, Colleges and Universities, Construction, Forest
Products, Iron and Steel Manufacturing, and Ports. An eighth sector may
be added in the near future.
On September 20, 2002, EPA announced the new program and solicited
expressions of interest from trade organizations. Responses were
evaluated on the basis of each sector's potential to address the
Administration's current environmental priorities--reductions in
greenhouse gas emissions and smog, improved water quality and
infrastructure, increased recycling of hazardous waste, and enhanced
environmental protection in agriculture. We also evaluated each
sector's potential to expand the voluntary use of environmental
management systems (EMS) among its member companies.
The sectors chosen to participate in the program will be primarily
represented by the following associations: (1) Agribusiness--National
Food Processors Association; (2) Cement Manufacturing--Portland Cement
Association; (3) Colleges and Universities--American Council on
Education, Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers, Campus
Consortium for Environmental Excellence, Campus Safety, Health and
Environmental Management Association, Howard Hughes Medical Institute,
and the National Association of College and University Business
Officers; (4) Construction--Associated General Contractors of America;
(5) Forest Products--American Forest and Paper Association; (6) Iron
and Steel Manufacturing--American Iron and Steel Institute and Steel
Manufacturers Association; and (7) Ports--American Association of Port
Authorities.
The new program will have staff level points-of-contact within OPEI
who are highly knowledgeable about each specific sector. These
individuals will play a liaison function among associations, individual
companies and other operating entities, EPA program and regional
offices, state and local governments, technical experts, and other
stakeholder groups. The sector points-of-contact also will focus their
attention in three areas: addressing regulatory or other government
barriers to improved environmental performance, helping to expand the
use of EMS as a tool to achieve better performance, and measuring
sector-wide performance improvements.
EPA anticipates that participants in the program will benefit from
coordinated, cooperative, and constructive problem-solving with
government. The Agency will invite participating sector representatives
to offer their own innovative ideas for reducing environmental impacts
and
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developing strategies to promote the use of EMS. Because sector-wide
performance improvement is the goal, EPA will work with trade
associations and others to find creative ways to measure environmental
progress and burden reductions.
OPEI will maintain points-of-contact with the Metal Finishing,
Metal Casting, Shipbuilding & Ship Repair, and Specialty-Batch Chemical
sectors. OPEI will follow through on EMS and other projects that are
ongoing with these sectors. Accomplishments with the Meat Processing
industry will support new work with the Agribusiness Sector.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Benson, Director, Sector
Strategies Division (mail code 1808T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460. Email: benson.robert@epa.gov. Telephone: 202-566-
2954.
Dated: April 28, 2003.
Jessica L. Furey,
Associate Administrator for Policy, Economics and Innovation.
[FR Doc. 03-10887 Filed 4-30-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P