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Rockwell Collins of Coralville, Iowa, Receives Top Honor at EPA Region 7's 2008 Performance Track Member Conference

Release Date: 11/13/2008
Contact Information: Chris Whitley, 913-551-7394, whitley.christopher@epa.gov

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Environmental News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Kansas City, Kan., Nov. 13, 2008) - A global aerospace and defense manufacturer's operations in Coralville, Iowa, has received the top honor at EPA Region 7's 2008 Performance Track Member Conference.

Rockwell Collins-Coralville Operations was recognized for the Most Significant Environmental Impact for All Projects Over a Three-Year Period (2005-2007). Specifically, the firm was cited for reducing its use of hazardous materials in manufacturing by 1.6 million pounds, reducing its carbon footprint for non-transportation energy use by 4,859 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents, reducing its water use by 2.6 million gallons, and increasing its purchasing of recycled content paper from zero to 7,900 pounds in three years.

Performance Track is a national voluntary program sponsored by EPA to recognize and reward efforts by all sizes of public and private organizations, businesses and institutions for environmental performance that consistently exceeds regulatory requirements. Representatives of the 31 Performance Track member organizations in Region 7 gathered this week at the Region's headquarters in Kansas City, Kan., for their annual conference.

In addition to top recognition for its activities in Coralville, Rockwell Collins' operations in Coralville, Decorah and Manchester, Iowa, were honored in three of 12 other Performance Track award categories announced at the conference. Recognized for Most Significant Environmental Impact for a Single Project During the Three-Year Period (2005-2007) in the following categories:

Water Use Reduction - E.I. Dupont, of Fort Madison, Iowa, for reducing its water use by 175.3 million gallons.

Land & Habitat Restoration - Rockwell Collins, of Manchester, Iowa, for partnering with Pheasants Forever to plant a mixture of natural grasses and wildflowers in a 1.3-acre plot, establishing cover for wildlife and providing a walking trail around the perimeter.

Public Outreach - Environmental Results in the Community - 3M Company, of Valley, Neb., for formal communications to local officials about Performance Track, environmental policies and progress; as well as promotion of radon testing and awareness, and the publication of a quarterly in-house newsletter about environmental issues.

Public Outreach to Community & Customers - Lake of the Ozarks Marina, of Camdenton, Mo., for responding to public reports of littered shorelines; collecting, sorting and recycling trash; adopting and maintaining a heavily-used six-mile stretch of lake shoreline; instructing houseboat renters about good environmental practices; and promoting Performance Track concepts through annual celebrations of National Marina Day.

Air Emission Reduction - Firestone Agricultural Tire Company, of Des Moines, Iowa, for reducing hazardous air pollutants from marking and striping inks, from 7.8 tons to zero in three years.

Energy Use Reduction - Non-Transportation - Rockwell Collins, of Coralville, Iowa, for reducing its carbon footprint for non-transportation energy use by 4,859 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents in three years.

Energy Use Reduction - Transportation - Monsanto Company, of Muscatine, Iowa, for reducing its use of diesel fuel by 11,744 gallons in three years.

Hazardous Material Use Reduction - Firestone Agricultural Tire Company, of Des Moines, Iowa, for reducing the use of hazardous material in its production process from 99.4 tons per year to zero in three years.

Priority Chemical Use Reduction - Vermeer Corporation, of Pella, Iowa, for reducing the use of priority chemicals in its manufacturing process by 1,292 pounds.

Environment-Friendly Material Procurement - Rockwell Collins, of Decorah, Iowa, for increasing its purchasing of recycled content paper from zero to 3,866 pounds in three years.

Hazardous Waste Reduction - 3M Company, of Nevada, Mo., for reducing its hazardous waste generation by 220 tons in three years.

Non-Hazardous Waste Reduction - Vermeer Corporation, of Pella, Iowa, for reducing its non-hazardous waste generation by 443 tons in three years.

The Performance Track Program in Region 7 began with 13 members in the year 2000, and has since expanded to include 31 members in the Region. Nationally, the program now includes 548 members.

"I am very pleased by the growth of Performance Track in Region 7," Regional Administrator John Askew said. "These members are setting a great example for others to follow in the future."