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Environmental performance takes off at world’s third busiest airport

Release Date: 03/01/2007
Contact Information: Dave Bary or Tressa Tillman at 214-665-2200 or [email protected]

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport joins EPA Performance Track program

(Dallas, Texas – March 1, 2007) Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is the latest major DFW business to join the Environmental Protection Agency initiative that challenges public and private institutions to meet and exceed government environmental requirements.

D/FW is the first Texas airport to be admitted into EPA’s National Environmental Performance Track program. The airport earned its spot in the prestigious program by maintaining a sustained environmental compliance record and committing to reduce the amount of pollutants and waste it generates, while also cutting its energy use.

“Performance Track members are raising the bar when it comes to environmental stewardship,” said EPA Regional Administrator Richard E. Greene. “Every day, new Dallas Fort Worth-area businesses are going green as part of their corporate strategies. We are pleased to see D/FW International Airport lead the way.”

Performance Track is a partnership that recognizes superior environmental performance among participating U.S. facilities of all types, sizes, and complexity, public and private. Program members are providing leadership in many areas, including some that are not currently regulated, such as energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, and water consumption.

The program recognizes facilities that make environmental management systems part of their daily operations, set three-year goals for continuous environmental improvements beyond regulatory requirements, and work with their communities to address environmental concerns. Performance Track facilities must meet all established environmental guidelines and make additional commitments to the environment.

As part of their participation in the program, D/FW Airport has committed to do the following over the next three years:
* Reduce 66,000 pounds of pollution through improved deicing fluid recovery techniques;
* Reduce energy use by more than 46,000 kilowatt-hours by implementing energy-efficiency upgrades and retrofits. This will save the same amount of energy used by 1,500 households in one year;
* Recover and recycle 100 percent of the waste from its graphic services department; and
* Recycle 800 tons of waste through off-site recycling efforts. These reductions are equivalent to the amount of waste generated by 1,000 people in the course of a year.

“We are very honored to become part of this prestigious EPA program and contribute nationally to the dialogue of protecting our environment,” said Jeff Fegan, CEO of D/FW International Airport. “An Airport with 18,000 acres and 60 million annual passengers offers a unique environment challenge, but preserving our air, water and land is a strategic priority for every employee.”

Since the Performance Track program's inception in 2000, membership has grown to more than 470 members in 46 states and Puerto Rico, and those members have made 1,500 commitments to benefit the environment. To date, members have collectively reduced their water use by 3.5 billion gallons, cut the equivalent of 90,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, and conserved more than 14,000 acres of land.

The program was named as one of 50 top government programs in the country by the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. The recognition was for uniqueness, effectiveness, significance and potential for replication.

Performance Track members come from a wide range of industries, such as paper, personal care products, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, resorts and government agencies, among others. More information about the Performance Track program is available at https://www.epa.gov/performancetrack/.

For more details about activities in EPA Region 6, please visit www.epa.gov/region6.