U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Indian Health Service: The Federal Health Program for American Indians and Alaska Natives
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Environmental Sustainability

Sustainability Resources

This section includes an extensive summary of environmental sustainability resources available on the Internet. Click on a link below to find resources related to that sustainability topic.

General Environmental Management

  • Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Strategic Sustainability Performance Plan (SSPP) Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : A plan to achieve the environmental, economic, and energy goals called for in Executive Order (EO) 13514 Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance signed by President Obama on October 5, 2009.
  • IHS Environmental Compliance Awareness Guide: Developed by the Office of Environmental Health and Engineering (OEHE) in December 2007. Provides an introduction to environmental regulations for Facilities Managers, CEOs, and other agency staff, including their basic responsibilities under each regulation, and resources to help them achieve compliance.
  • FedCenter Sustainability Program Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Includes the latest guidance, examples, and information resources to aid federal facilities in developing and maintaining sustainable facilities and helping to develop and promote sustainable practices within their programs or activities.
  • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Environmental Stewardship Resource Guide Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Designed to help people make decisions and adopt practices that benefit the environment, especially in the workplace. "Making environmental stewardship a choice in your everyday life helps the environment, satisfies legal requirements, promotes public health, and frequently yields economic benefits."
  • EO 13423, Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy and Transportation Management Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Directs federal agencies to conduct their environmental, transportation, and energy-related activities under the law in support of their respective missions in an environmentally, economically and fiscally sound, integrated, continuously improving, efficient, and sustainable manner.
  • EO 13514, Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Directs federal agencies to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions; meet a number of energy, water, and waste reduction targets; participate in regional and local planning activities; and leverage federal purchasing power to promote environmentally-responsible products and technologies.

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Energy Management

IHS Documents

  • IHS OEHE Energy Documents [Word]: Found as a link on the IHS Division of Facilities Operations webpage. Documents include resources for electricity metering, the Energy Policy Act, and the Energy Independence and Security Act.
  • IHS Annual Energy Reports: Found as a link on the IHS Division of Facilities Operations webpage; IHS energy reports date back to fiscal year 2006.

Energy Management Resources

  • Energy Star Tools and Resources Library Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Provides links to Energy Management Guidance, ways to assess Building and Plant Energy Efficiency, ways to assess Commercial Building Designs, ways to improve building performance, and financial evaluation tools.
  • Energy Star at Work Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Provides information and tools to help employees "fight climate change" when they are at work.
  • Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Facilitates the federal government's implementation of sound, cost-effective energy management and investment practices to enhance the nation's energy security and environmental stewardship. This is delivered through project transaction services, applied technology services, and decision support services.
  • Department of Energy (DOE) Commercial Building Energy Alliance Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : The Commercial Building Energy Alliance (CBEA) is transforming the way commercial buildings use energy. CBEA invites building owners, managers, and operators to work with the Building Technologies Program (BTP) and with each other to identify and implement best practices, key decision-making tools, and advanced technologies for significant energy savings in their portfolios.
  • Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT) Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Signed into law by President George W. Bush on August 8, 2005, this law was enacted to "ensure jobs for our future with secure, affordable, and reliable energy." The Act has 12 titles, addressing such topics as energy efficiency, renewable energy, types of fuels and vehicles, and research and development.
  • Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) Overview [PDF] Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Provides a six-page overview of EISA as it applies to the FEMP.

Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Management

  • FedCenter GHG Homepage Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Website includes the latest guidance and information resources to aid federal facilities in managing GHG emissions. This encompasses current guidance, policies, and trends related to climate change/global warming, calculation of carbon footprints, greenhouse gas inventories, and the application of offsets to reduce carbon footprints.
  • FEMP GHG Program Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : EO 13514 requires federal agencies to inventory and manage GHG emissions to meet federal goals and mitigate climate change. Links on this webpage outline GHG requirements, as well as technical resources and tools.

Renewable Energy

  • Guide to Renewable Energy Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Department of Energy website provides information about how to use renewable energy, including biomass energy, geothermal energy, hydrogen, hydropower, ocean energy, solar energy, and wind energy.
  • Wind Energy Guide Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Developed by the Bureau of Land Management, the Wind Energy Guide provides an introduction to wind energy, wind resources, wind power technology, and some of the issues faced in wind power development in the United States. It also provides photos of wind turbines and wind farms, maps of wind resources in the United States, and links to wind energy resources on the Internet.
  • Wind Powering America Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : A Department of Energy website that provides high-resolution wind maps and estimates of the wind resource potential that would be possible from development of the available windy land areas after excluding areas unlikely to be developed.
  • National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) - Learning about Renewable Energy Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Describes NREL's research in renewable energy technologies, and also provides information on energy efficiency and various applications of renewable energy.
  • DOE Tribal Energy Program Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Promotes tribal energy sufficiency and fosters employment and economic development on tribal lands.
  • Wind Power for Native Americans Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : With more than 700 Native American tribes and Native Alaskan villages and corporations located on 96 million acres in the United States, many tribes and villages have excellent wind resources that could be commercially developed to meet their electricity needs or for electricity export. This website describes how the Department of Energy (DOE) Wind Energy Program helps tribes by providing anemometers to measure wind resources, conducting workshops, and providing technical assistance to tribes on the wind development process and options, supporting pilot projects that demonstrate innovative reservation applications, and promoting the development of the green tags concept to green federal facilities.

Local Green Power

  • DOE Green Energy Information Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Allows users to enter keyword queries in the DOE Green Energy portal in order to find publicly available bibliographic citations, technical reports, and patent information on different types of renewable energy resources and energy conservation, such as solar, wind, bioenergy, hydroelectric and geothermal. Subject areas include, but are not limited to, hydrogen, solar energy, tidal and wave power, energy storage, and direct energy conversion.
  • EPA Power Profiler (by ZIP Code) Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Determines your power grid region based on ZIP code and electric utility, compares the fuel mix and air emissions rates of the electricity in your region to the national average, and determines the air emissions impacts of electricity use in your home or business. Also provides a spreadsheet for estimating indirect greenhouse gas emissions from electricity purchases at many locations.
  • Energy Cost Calculators Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Allows federal agencies to enter their input values for utility rates, hours of use, etc. to estimate energy and cost savings for energy-efficient products. Estimates are specifically for lighting, commercial and industrial equipment, food service equipment, office equipment, appliances, residential equipment, and plumbing.
  • Can I Buy Green Power In My State? The Green Power Network Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Allows the user to identify organizations that offer green power in each state. Information includes utility green pricing programs, retail green power products offered in competitive electricity markets, and renewable energy certificate (REC) products sold separate from electricity.

Alternative Fuels

  • Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Provides information, data, and tools to help fleets and other transportation decision makers find ways to reduce petroleum consumption through the use of alternative and renewable fuels, advanced vehicles, and other fuel-saving measures.
  • EPA Clean Fuels Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Alternative Fuel Options: Provides links to EPA and non-EPA Web-based resources that provide additional information on transportation and fuels. Links go directly to specific websites or documents that address fuel-related trends and issues.

Miscellaneous

  • Solar Water Heaters Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Describes how solar water heaters work, types of solar collectors, types of solar water heating systems, and backup systems.
  • Consumers Guide to Saving Energy at Home Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Shows consumers how easy it is to reduce energy use at home and on the road. Includes easy, practical solutions for saving energy throughout the home-from the roof, walls, and insulation that enclose it to the appliances and lights inside.
  • DOE Project Funding Mechanisms Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : FEMP supports federal agencies in identifying, obtaining, and implementing project funding for energy projects. Funding tools include energy savings performance contracts, utility energy services contracts, power purchase agreements, and energy incentive programs. There is also a FEMP Project Funding Quick Guide that provides an overview of funding options and strategies available to federal agencies.

Training Resources

  • Federal Energy Management Program Training Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Provides training to federal agency managers on the latest energy requirements, best practices, and technologies. Allows users to search for trainings of interest based upon category and format.
  • Energy Star Training Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Free online training is offered to help users improve the energy performance of an organization. Training is offered in different formats and for specific sectors (i.e., entertainment, government and education organizations, healthcare, real estate/multifamily), and service and product providers).
  • Sustainable Federal Fleets: Helps the federal fleet community access the latest information, applications, and resources related to fleet efficiency, and provides a place for federal fleet managers to connect. FEMP is committed to helping federal agencies reduce petroleum consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by implementing and managing sustainable, energy-efficient, alternative-fuel

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Water Conservation

Water-Efficient Facilities

  • EPA WaterSense [PDF] Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : WaterSense, a partnership program by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), seeks to protect the future of our nation's water supply by offering people a simple way to use less water with water-efficient products, new homes, and services. The program seeks to help consumers make smart water choices that save money and maintain high environmental standards without compromising performance. This site also provides a searchable database for WaterSense labeled products.
  • Facility Manager's Guide to Water Management [PDF] Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : A guidebook developed by the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association Regional Water Conservation Committee as a resource for facility managers to assist them in identifying areas where commercial, industrial, and institutional facilities can improve their water use efficiency within reasonable economic parameters.

Water-Efficient Landscaping

  • EPA Technical Guidance for Implementing the Stormwater Runoff Requirements for Federal projects under Section 438 of EISA 2007 [PDF] Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Guidance developed by EPA to a help federal facilities comply with Section 438 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) which establishes strict stormwater runoff requirements for federal development and redevelopment projects.
  • Guidance on Sustainable Landscaping [PDF] Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Presents guidance developed by the interagency workgroup under the direction of the Federal Environmental Executive to assist federal agencies in the implementation of environmentally and economically beneficial landscape practices. This guidance is in response to the requirements of the Presidential Memorandum on Environmentally and Economically Beneficial Landscape Practices on Federal Landscaped Grounds.
  • Environmentally Beneficial Landscaping [PDF] Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : A two-page document that provides tips on environmentally beneficial landscaping practices regarding waste, water, energy, fertilizers, and pesticides.
  • Guidance on Native Plants Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Website for PlantNative, an organization dedicated to moving native plants and naturescaping into mainstream landscaping practices in order to promote biodiversity, preserve natural heritage, reduce pollution, and enhance livability. Includes regional plant lists, a how-to guide on creating a native plant landscape, and recommended books for each region of the country.
  • Water-Efficient Landscaping: Preventing Pollution & Using Resources Wisely [PDF] Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : A publication put out by the EPA that provides general information and resources on landscaping techniques that reduce water use.

Water-Efficient Planning

  • EPA Green Parking Lot Resource Guide [PDF] Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Presents the fundamental planning and design concepts of a green parking lot and connects readers to existing resources on the environmental benefits and cost effectiveness of green parking approaches.
  • Best Management Practice Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Water Management Planning: Guidance provided by the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) on how to develop a comprehensive water management plan for federal facilities. A comprehensive water management plan helps kick-start a successful water management program by helping a facility set water conservation goals and identify water conservation opportunities.

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Green Buildings

IHS Documents

  • Office of Environmental Health and Engineering (OEHE) Sustainability Guidelines (OEHE Technical Handbook) [PDF]: Volume 6 - Facilities Engineering, Chapter 21 Design Criteria and Standards, contains sustainability guidelines addressing new facility construction, build-to-lease, major renovation, existing facilities, and leased facilities.
  • IHS OEHE Architect/Engineer (A/E) Design Guide [PDF]: Intended to capture current federal, departmental, and IHS requirements, policies and best practices for health care construction projects that support the IHS mission. Designed to give A/Es an understanding of what is required and what must be completed before final construction documents are approved. Chapter 5 details sustainability requirements for design and construction.
  • OEHE Technical Handbook - Environmental Reviews [PDF]: Volume 3 - Health Care Facilities Design and Construction, Chapter 23, Environmental Reviews, is designed to assist IHS and tribal staff in the preparation of environmental documentation for IHS health care facilities and quarters, and tribal health care facilities. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) concerns addressed by the agency early in the planning and budgeting stages usually do not result in costly time and/or financial penalties later in the construction process.

Green Buildings

  • Federal High Performance and Sustainable Buildings Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Presents key information needed by federal personnel to meet high performance and sustainable building requirements including policy background; technical guidance to meet Executive Orders (EOs) 13514 and 13423 requirements for new construction, major renovation, and existing buildings; and other additional technical guidance.
  • EPA Green Building Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Website describing green building - the practice of creating and using healthier and more resource-efficient models of construction, renovation, operation, maintenance, and demolition. Includes green building basic information, why we should build green, components of green buildings, building types, funding opportunities, green building awards, and additional resources.
  • General Services Administration (GSA) Strategically Sustainable Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Website that covers how GSA will "eliminate its impact on the natural environment and use its government-wide influence to reduce the environmental impacts of the federal government." It includes business solutions for sustainable acquisition, facilities and operations, leasing best practices, green construction, the virtual workplace, recycling and property disposal, GSA tools for buying green, and other sustainable solutions.
  • Energy Star® Building Design Guidance Checklist Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Two-page building design guidance checklist for designing an energy-efficient building.
  • Energy Star® Portfolio Manager's High Performance Sustainable Buildings Checklist Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : A tool to assist federal agencies in assessing their existing building stock against the Guiding Principles for Sustainable Existing Buildings, and for reporting on the sustainability data element of the Federal Real Property Profile (FRPP).
  • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Green Roofs Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Website describing the purpose for green roofs, how green roofs can be applied to new construction or retrofitted for existing construction, siting and design considerations, limitations, maintenance considerations, effectiveness, and cost considerations.

LEED Certification for Green Buildings

  • U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Developed by the USGBC in March 2000, LEED certification provides building owners and operators with a framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations, and maintenance solutions. Information on LEED Rating Systems, certification tools and resources, certification programs and application guides, and LEED professional credentials are provided on the website.

    Facilities Planning
  • EPA Low Impact Development Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : A website providing fact sheets and reporting, design/guidance manuals, information resources and centers, and videos and other multi-media regarding low impact development an approach to land development (or re-development) that works with nature to manage stormwater as close to its source as possible.
  • Recommendations on Sustainable Siting for Federal Facilities Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : A document providing recommendations to improve federal agency sustainability performance by promoting more balanced decisions on new facility locations and more effective space utilization in existing locations. This document fulfills the direction of Section 10 in EO 13514 to provide the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Chair with recommendations regarding sustainable location strategies for consideration in agency Sustainability Plans.
  • Sustainable Sites Initiative Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Created to promote sustainable land development and management practices that can be applied to sites with and without (e.g., open spaces) buildings. Provides tools for those who influence land development and management practices.

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Sustainable Acquisitions

  • HHS Affirmative Procurement Plan [Word] Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : This Affirmative Procurement ("green purchasing") Plan (APP) updates and incorporates prior versions of the APP and provides guidelines for an effective green purchasing program that encompasses the purchasing and use of designated recycled content, ENERGY STAR®, Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT®)-registered, energy-efficient, biobased, and environmentally preferable products.
  • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Program Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Helps agencies across the federal government comply with green purchasing requirements. Includes federal environmental preferable purchasing efforts, policy and guidance for federal purchasers, summary information about popular environmentally preferable products and services, tools for green purchasing, and other related information.
  • EPA Green Contract Language and Specifications Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Includes contract language and policies developed by local, state, and federal governments, as well as private organizations. This language directs or requests contractors to use specific types of environmentally preferable products and services. Some contract language also includes specifications for certain work methods that minimize environmental impacts.
  • EPA Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) - List of Substitutes Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Lists, by industrial sector, substitutes for conventional ozone depleting substances. The industrial sectors include refrigeration and air conditioning, foam blowing agents, cleaning solvents, fire suppression and explosion protection, aerosols, sterilants, tobacco expansion, and adhesives, coatings and inks.
  • EPA Tips for Buying "Green" with a Government Purchase Card Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Provides tips, as of January 2000, for buying "green." Tips include buying products with recycled content, buying products with reduced packaging, looking for the ENERGY STAR® label, asking if the product contains hazardous materials or toxic chemicals, and other information.
  • Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) Purchasing Specifications for Energy-Efficient Products Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Outlines energy requirements and purchasing specifications for FEMP-designated products organized by product category. Each category provides a short summary with buyer tips, cost-effectiveness examples, and additional resources.
  • EPEAT® Product List Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Provides a list of EPEAT® registered electronics, including desktops, displays, integrated desktop computers, notebooks, tablet notebooks, thin clients, workstation desktops, and workstation notebooks.
  • ENERGY STAR® Product List Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Provides a list of ENERGY STAR® products for the home, business and government. Also includes products that are in development.
  • General Services Administration (GSA) Environmental Program aisle on GSA Advantage Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Offers easy access to the wide variety of environmental products and services offered by GSA - including those products designated as "ENERGY STAR®", "Recycled", "EPEAT®" and more.
  • GSA Green Products Compilation (GPC) Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Provides designated green products for which the EPA, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), or U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have issued designations or otherwise provided guidance for environmental or energy attributes. Products are categorized as follows: Building Construction; Traffic Control; Landscaping; Roadway Construction; Building Interior; Building Finishes; Paper Office Products; Printing; Non-Paper Office Products; Office Electronics; Refrigeration & AC; Renewable Energy; Vehicle Products; Park and Recreation; Cleaning Products; Cafeteria Services; Lubricants, Oils, Hydraulic Fluids and Greases; and Miscellaneous.
  • GreenSeal Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Website for a nonprofit group that develops lifecycle-based sustainability standards and offers third-party certifications for products, services, and companies.
  • Eco-Logo Program Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Program that compares products/services with others in the same category, develops rigorous and scientifically relevant criteria that reflect the entire lifecycle of the product, and awards the EcoLogo to those that are verified by an independent third party as complying with the criteria.
  • GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI) Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : People spend 90 percent of their time indoors, where they may be exposed to a wide variety of indoor air pollutants. GEI certifies products and materials for low chemical emissions and provides a free resource for choosing healthier products and materials for indoor environments.
  • USDA BioPreferred® Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Program that promotes the increased purchase and use of biobased products thereby promoting economic development, creating new jobs, and providing new markets for farm commodities. To the extent that the BioPreferred program achieves its purpose, the increased purchase of biobased products will also be expected to reduce petroleum consumption, increase the use of renewable resources, better manage the carbon cycle, and may contribute to reducing adverse environmental and health impacts.

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Pollution Prevention

Waste Management

  • Construction Waste Management Database Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Contains information on companies that haul, collect, and process recyclable debris from construction projects. The database is a free online service for those seeking companies that recycle construction debris in their area, and is searchable by state, zip code, or material recycled.
  • GSAXcess Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Provides a means for federal agencies to electronically report excess personal property to the General Services Administration (GSA). By using GSAXcess®, customers seeking property can avoid the cost of new procurements by acquiring the same or like items that have been reported as excess by another federal activity.
  • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) WasteWise Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : 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 members can join as partners, endorsers, or both. WasteWise helps its partners meet goals to reduce and recycle municipal solid waste and selected industrial wastes.

Hazardous Chemicals and Waste

  • IHS Guidance Document for Hazardous Materials Management [PDF]: Provides guidance on management of hazardous materials located in IHS buildings during routine operations, renovations, demolitions, and transfers. Scope is limited to the most common hazardous substances and associated regulations, such as asbestos, lead-based paint, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), underground storage tanks (USTs), and mercury.
  • Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Online Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Database designed to enable users to locate documents, including publications and other outreach materials, which cover a wide range of RCRA issues and topics.
  • State RCRA Contacts Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Provides links to state solid and hazardous waste websites.
  • Tribal Emergency Planning Committees (TEPCs) Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) is designed to improve community access to information about chemical hazards and to facilitate the development of chemical emergency response plans by tribal governments. Under EPCRA and 40 CFR Parts 350-372, tribes can establish tribal emergency response commissions (TERCs), which are responsible for coordinating certain emergency response activities, and can appoint tribal emergency planning committees (TEPCs). TEPCs work to understand chemical hazards in the community, develop emergency plans in case of an accidental release, and look for ways to prevent chemical accidents.
  • Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) Enforcement Policy and Guidance Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Lists certain important policy and guidance documents and strategies used in the enforcement of the FIFRA. Documents include those addressing the enforcement response policy, worker protection standard, and others.
  • Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Enforcement Policy and Guidance Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Lists certain important policy and guidance documents and strategies used in the enforcement of the TSCA. Documents include those addressing lead-based paint, PCBs, asbestos, and others.
  • EPA Chemical References Index Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Lists those chemical substances that match the Envirofacts Master Chemical Integrator Index chemical records. These records are pulled from several different system databases - the Aerometric Information Retrieval System, the Permit Compliance System, and the Toxics Release Inventory System. You can learn details about a chemical substance, such as chemical names, discharge limits, and reported releases.
  • Guide to Hazardous Waste Management at Tribal Health Care Clinics [PDF] Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Provides information on hazardous waste management to outpatient health care facilities operated by tribes and/or the IHS.

Reducing Solid Waste

  • Earth911 Recycling 101 Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Provides basic information on recycling for items such as electronics, hazardous materials, plastics, paper, household items, gardening materials, automotive materials, metals, glass, and construction materials.
  • EPA Business Guide for Reducing Solid Waste Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Provides an overview for developing and implementing a waste reduction program. Included are a series of worksheets designed to help the user conduct a waste assessment and devise a program tailored for a facility's specific goals. The worksheets lead the user through a set of calculations to estimate the types and amounts of waste generated , identify potential waste reduction options, and determine which options will work at their facility.
  • EPA Strategies for Waste Reduction of Construction and Demolition Debris from Buildings [PDF] Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Fact sheet packet aimed at local governments that want to encourage more building-related construction and demolition debris recovery from building owners and developers interested in green building design, and building contractors seeking a competitive edge.
  • EPA Food Waste Reduction Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Provides information about environmentally beneficial food waste management through food waste reduction. General steps to take include conducting a waste audit, reducing pre-consumer kitchen waste, reducing post-consumer food waste, and re-thinking purchasing practices.
  • Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) Paper Use and Reduction Toolkit Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Provides a toolkit to help a company conserve, recycle, and buy environmentally preferable paper.
  • U.S. Composting Council Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Provides support for generators of organic residues, compost producers, policy-makers, regulators, professionals, and product users for the purposes of advancing the industry. The Council is engaged in multiple activities including coordinating an annual conference, providing training, advocating for composting, and providing resources for composting activities.
  • Pollution Prevention in Healthcare Facilities Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Provides specific information for healthcare facilities on pollution prevention as it relates to purchasing, receiving, and inventory control; material substitution (using less toxic alternatives); raw material use and handling; and waste segregation.

Sustainable Medical Facilities

  • Sustainable Hospitals Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Provides links to environmentally preferable healthcare products. Note that this webpage is no longer being updated as the Sustainable Hospitals Program has changed the focus of its research.
  • EPA Mercury Reduction in Medical Facilities [PDF] Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Provides Environmental Best Practices for health care facilities in eliminating mercury in hospitals. Provides background information, listings of equipment with mercury, steps to take to set up a mercury reduction program, and costs for cleaning up mercury spills.
  • Practice Greenhealth Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : This member-based program provides information on environmental solutions for the healthcare sector and lends support to create better, safer, greener workplaces and communities.

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Electronics Stewardship

  • Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Policy for Electronic Stewardship Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : The purpose of this policy is to provide the framework for the implementation of sound environmental practices in the acquisition, operations and maintenance, and end-of-life management of HHS-purchased electronic products.
  • Energy Star® Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : A joint program of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE). The goal of the program is to help the nation save money and protect the environment through energy-efficient products and practices.
  • Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT®) Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : A system that assists purchasers with evaluating, comparing, and selecting electronic products based on their environmental attributes. The system currently covers desktop and laptop computers, "thin clients," workstations, and monitors.
  • Electronics Waste State Resource Locator Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Contains links to regulatory agencies and rules covering electronics waste and recycling topics.
  • Reuse of Electronic Equipment - Fact Sheet [PDF] Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Outlines different options available to federal agencies for reuse of federally-owned electronic equipment.
  • Cathode-Ray Tube (CRT) Recycling Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Provides specific EPA guidance on how to more easily manage CRTs so that they are not required to be managed as a hazardous waste.
  • E-Steward Certified Recyclers Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Searchable database of e-Stewards certified recyclers. The e-Stewards certification program for electronics recyclers is designed to provide market incentives that drive the certification of the entire recycling chain that is managing the toxic materials.
  • Earth911 Recycling 101 Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Provides basic information on recycling for items such as electronics, hazardous materials, plastics, paper, household items, gardening materials, automotive materials, metals, glass, and construction materials.
  • FedCenter Electronics Stewardship Program Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : This program addresses the life-cycle management of electronics from procurement to disposal. Links, documents, and case studies are provided.
  • Federal Electronics Challenge Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : The Federal Electronics Challenge (FEC) is a partnership program that encourages federal facilities and agencies to purchase greener electronics; reduce impacts of electronics during use; and manage used electronics in an environmentally safe way.
  • Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP), Energy-Efficient Product Procurement Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : This section outlines FEMP's energy-efficient products program. FEMP produces energy efficiency requirements and resources to help federal buyers comply with federal requirements while saving energy and costs.
  • FEMP Standby Power Data Center Exit Disclaimer – You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov : Provides resources to help federal agencies meet the requirements of the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) and Executive Order (EO) 13221 to purchase products with a standby power level of one watt or less.

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Sustainable Communities

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