NEWS RELEASE
September 7, 2004
Contact:
Renette Anderson, Utah Department of Environmental Quality, 801-536-4478
(Salt Lake City, Utah) – The State of Utah and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today signed a unique Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that launched Clean Utah!, a new program that recognizes and rewards business and industry for voluntarily taking steps, beyond those required by rule or statute, to prevent and reduce pollution.
During the signing ceremony, Lt. Governor Gayle McKeachnie recognized and thanked the stakeholder group for its work in developing the program, and encouraged Utah’s businesses and industries to participate in Clean Utah!
“Today’s action is a significant step forward in protecting and enhancing Utah’s environment and quality of life,” McKeachnie said. “I commended all the individuals who have dedicated their time and effort to this program.”
The MOA between Utah and EPA is unique because it goes beyond a commitment to work together. It spells out exactly how Utah and EPA will coordinate Clean Utah! and Performance Track, which is EPA’s corresponding national program.
“This MOA will help guide our partnership in ensuring the success of the Clean Utah! program and the National Environmental Performance Track program,” said Jessica Furey, EPA associate administrator for Policy, Economics and Innovations. “Partnerships such as this play an integral role in institutionalizing performance-based programs as the next step in environmental protection.”
The MOA allows Utah to offer incentives from the EPA Performance Track program to participants in Clean Utah! Utah’s program allows participants to choose environmental projects that make sense for Utah, such as water conservation and smart growth. Although both voluntary programs are distinct, they have common objectives and goals to protect the environment and human health. Participants now have the option to participate in one program or the other, or both.
Another unique aspect of the MOA is the emphasis on meaningful stakeholder involvement in the development of Clean Utah! Since 2001, a diverse group of stakeholders from industry, trade associations, government and the environmental community have worked toward a common goal, clearly dedicated to the notion that some of the most effective environmental protection measures are proactive.
“Clean Utah! is a worthwhile approach to pollution prevention and will make a difference in Utah, just as similar programs have in other states,” said Dianne Nielson, executive director of the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, which administers the Clean Utah! program.
Clean Utah! is divided into three tiers that outline requirements, recognition and incentives for each tier. In the “Entry” level, participants develop an Environmental Management System, which is a full or continual cycle of planning, implementing, reviewing and improving the processes and actions that an organization undertakes to meet its business and environmental goals. In the “Partner” and “Leader” levels, participants complete projects aimed at improving their companies’ environmental performance, further minimizing their environmental impact, or benefiting the environment in the area. Applicants are screened at each level to verify their compliance record and are required to file an annual report documenting their progress.
Utah is the eighth state to sign a Performance Track MOA. Performance Track began in 2000. Since then, Performance Track members have cumulatively achieved the following environmental results:
More information about Clean Utah! is available online at http://www.deq.utah.gov/cleanutah/index.htm or by calling 801-536-4478 or 1-800-458-0145.