Nucor Steel Auburn Inc., Auburn, N.Y., is one of 32 facilities renewing their three-year membership in the EPA’s National Environmental Performance Track Program by continuing to meet the program's criteria and committing to new environmental goals. As part of its environmental initiatives, Nucor Auburn has committed to the use of scrap tires in its production of steel, which will help the facility reduce its use of coal by more than 500 tons.

Other examples of facilities re-committing to the program include:

• Epic Resins in Palmyra, Wis., has committed to a 10 percent overall energy reduction.
• SEH America in Vancouver, Wash., has committed to a 10 percent reduction in energy use, a 50 million gallon reduction in water use, and a 50 percent reduction in hazardous materials.

In addition to renewed memberships for 32 current Performance Track facilities, 39 facilities became new members in the Performance Track Program. The program rewards facilities that work with their communities, set three-year goals for continuous improvements in environmental performance and have internal systems in place to manage their environmental impacts. Only facilities with a record of sustained compliance with environmental requirements are eligible to participate in this program.

"Performance Track members are demonstrating new ways of achieving tangible environmental results by working collaboratively with government and demonstrating the business value of their environmental leadership," said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. "This relationship leads to greater efficiency and reduced costs for both Performance Track facilities and environmental regulators."

The automobile industry is demonstrating increased interest in Performance Track with the first U.S. auto facility member, the Ford Motor Co.’s Atlanta Assembly Plant, and six Michelin tire manufacturing facilities. The program also welcomed its first United States Army facility in the program -- Fort Lewis Public Works in Fort Lewis, Wash.

Thirty-nine new Performance Track facilities have made strong commitments to the environment in a wide range of categories. Here are some examples of what these facilities have committed to achieving in the next three years:

• The Coca-Cola North America Syrup Plant in Columbus, Ohio, plans to reduce biological oxygen demand (BOD) pollutant discharges by more than one-and-one-half million pounds and its water usage by more than 900,000 gallons.
• Federal-Mogul - Boyertown in Boyertown, Pa., plans to reduce its use of sulfuric acid by 50 percent.
• The Ford Motor Co.’s Atlanta Assembly Plant in Atlanta, Ga., has committed to reducing volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions by more than 24 tons and water usage by nearly 14 million gallons.
• The Louisiana-Pacific, Jasper OSB facility in Jasper, Texas, has committed to reducing its energy use by more than 45,000 million British thermal units (MMBtus).
• Michelin Spartanburg Manufacturing in Spartanburg, S.C., plans to reduce water usage by four million gallons and its energy use by more than 40,000 MMBtus.
• The 3M Eau Claire facility in Eau Claire, Wis., has committed to reducing its hazardous waste by more than 1,300 pounds.

Since the program's inception in June 2000, Performance Track membership has grown and produced solid environmental results. With the latest additions, the program has over 370 members in 46 states and Puerto Rico. To date, Performance Track members have collectively reduced their water use by 1.3 billion gallons and their generation of solid waste by nearly 600,000 tons, increased their use of reused or recycled materials by nearly 77,000 tons, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of 67,000 tons of carbon dioxide. Visit the EPA website to read the latest program report.

A complete list of new and renewing Performance Track members announced today, as well as a list of companies that have expanded their membership in Performance Track is available on the EPA website.

Performance Track encourages participation by all sizes of facilities. The major industries are represented, with chemical, electronic and electrical, and medical equipment manufacturers composing nearly 40 percent of the current members. The public sector is also represented by members such as national defense installations, postal facilities, and municipalities. For more information on Performance Track membership rewards and benefits, visit the EPA website.

Until 2004, Performance Track was entirely a facility-based program. However, the high participation rate of several firms led to the creation of a Corporate Leader designation for companies with a large number of facilities and with corporate policies and practices that demonstrate environmental excellence. The first three Performance Track Corporate Leaders were announced in February. They include: Baxter Healthcare Corporation, Johnson & Johnson, and Rockwell Collins.