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Seattle Bulk Mail Center at Federal Way Accepted to EPA Performance Track Program

Release Date: 11/22/2006
Contact Information: Bill Glasser, EPA/Seattle, 206-553-7215, glasser.william@epa.gov, Mark MacIntyre, EPA/Seattle, 206-553-7302, macintyre.mark@epa.gov

(Seattle, Wash. - November 22, 2006) – The U.S. Postal Service Seattle Bulk Mail Center in Federal Way, Washington, has been named as one of the newest members of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Environmental Performance Track program, joining more than 400 facilities in their commitment to consistently exceed environmental requirements.

EPA’s Performance Track program rewards facilities that voluntarily exceed regulatory requirements, implement systems for improving environmental management, work with their communities, and set three-year goals for improvements in environmental performance. Only facilities with a record of sustained compliance with environmental requirements are eligible to participate in this program.

"The more organizations that are engaged in the search for continuous improvement, the more we can achieve in terms of environmental results and effective partnerships," said Performance Track Director Dan Fiorino. "We congratulate our newest round of member facilities as they chart new paths toward environmental excellence."

To date, Performance Track members have made 1,500 commitments to benefit the environment. They have collectively reduced their water use by 3.5 billion gallons, reduced their greenhouse gas emissions by 88,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents, and conserved more than 14,000 acres of land while helping to protect their local and national environment.

EPA and the Washington Department of Ecology reviewed the application and verified that the Seattle Bulk Mail Center has sustained compliance with environmental regulations. The facility qualified for the program through its past achievements, continuous commitment to environmental improvement, and implementation of a strong Environmental Management System.

Over the next three years, the Seattle Bulk Mail Center has committed to four "beyond compliance" environmental improvements, including reducing their greenhouse gas emissions by 194 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents, reducing their water use by over 200,000 gallons, and reducing hazardous waste generation and non-hazardous waste sent to landfill.

As part of Performance Track, the Seattle Bulk Mail Center is eligible for numerous program benefits including EPA recognition, national and local networking opportunities, and regulatory and administrative incentives which cut paperwork, increase flexibility, and help facilities focus on environmental improvement.

For more information about Performance Track, visit www.epa.gov/performancetrack or call 1-888-339-PTRK.

For more about environmental initiatives at the U.S. Postal Service, visit http://www.usps.com/communications/community/environmental.htm