| [Federal Register: April 26, 2000 (Volume 65, Number
81)] [Presidential Documents] [Page 24593-24606] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr26ap00-129] [[Page 24593]] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Part V The President ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Executive Order 13148--Greening the Government Through Leadership in Environmental Management Presidential Documents ___________________________________________________________________ Title 3-- [[Page 24595]]
Greening the Government Through Leadership in Environmental Management By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 (42 U.S.C. 11001-11050) (EPCRA), the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 13101-13109) (PPA), the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401-7671q) (CAA), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, it is hereby ordered as follows: PART 1--PREAMBLE Section 101. Federal Environmental Leadership. The head of each Federal agency is responsible for ensuring that all necessary actions are taken to integrate environmental accountability into agency day-to-day decision making and long-term planning processes, across all agency missions, activities, and functions. Consequently, environmental management considerations must be a fundamental and integral component of Federal Government policies, operations, planning, and management. The head of each Federal agency is responsible for meeting the goals and requirements of this order. PART 2--GOALS Sec. 201. Environmental Management. Through development and implementation of environmental management systems, each agency shall ensure that strategies are established to support environmental leadership programs, policies, and procedures and that agency senior level managers explicitly and actively endorse these strategies. Sec. 202. Environmental Compliance. Each agency shall comply with environmental regulations by establishing and implementing environmental compliance audit programs and policies that emphasize pollution prevention as a means to both achieve and maintain environmental compliance. Sec. 203. Right-to-Know and Pollution Prevention. Through timely planning and reporting under the EPCRA, Federal facilities shall be leaders and responsible members of their communities by informing the public and their workers of possible sources of pollution resulting from facility operations. Each agency shall strive to reduce or eliminate harm to human health and the environment from releases of pollutants to the environment. Each agency shall advance the national policy that, whenever feasible and cost-effective, pollution should be prevented or reduced at the source. Funding for regulatory compliance programs shall emphasize pollution prevention as a means to address environmental compliance. Sec. 204. Release Reduction: Toxic Chemicals. Through innovative pollution prevention, effective facility management, and sound acquisition and procurement practices, each agency shall reduce its reported Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) releases and off-site transfers of toxic chemicals for treatment and disposal by 10 percent annually, or by 40 percent overall by December 31, 2006. Sec. 205. Use Reduction: Toxic Chemicals and Hazardous Substances and Other Pollutants. Through identification of proven substitutes and established facility management practices, including pollution prevention, each agency shall reduce its use of selected toxic chemicals, hazardous substances, and pollutants, or its generation of hazardous and radioactive waste types at its facilities by 50 percent by December 31, 2006. If an agency is unable [[Page 24596]]
Sec. 206. Reductions in Ozone-Depleting Substances. Through evaluating present and future uses of ozone- depleting substances and maximizing the purchase and the use of safe, cost effective, and environmentally preferable alternatives, each agency shall develop a plan to phase out the procurement of Class I ozone- depleting substances for all nonexcepted uses by December 31, 2010. Sec. 207. Environmentally and Economically Beneficial Landscaping. Each agency shall strive to promote the sustainable management of Federal facility lands through the implementation of cost-effective, environmentally sound landscaping practices, and programs to reduce adverse impacts to the natural environment. PART 3--PLANNING AND ACCOUNTABILITY Sec. 301. Annual Budget Submission. Federal agencies shall place high priority on obtaining funding and resources needed for implementation of the Greening the Government Executive Orders, including funding to address findings and recommendations from environmental management system audits or facility compliance audits conducted under sections 401 and 402 of this order. Federal agencies shall make such requests as required in Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-11. Sec. 302. Application of Life Cycle Assessment Concepts. Each agency with facilities shall establish a pilot program to apply life cycle assessment and environmental cost accounting principles. To the maximum extent feasible and cost-effective, agencies shall apply those principles elsewhere in the agency to meet the goals and requirements of this order. Such analysis shall be considered in the process established in the OMB Capital Programming Guide and OMB Circular A-11. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in coordination with the Workgroup established in section 306 of this order, shall, to the extent feasible, assist agencies in identifying, applying, and developing tools that reflect life cycle assessment and environmental cost accounting principles and provide technical assistance to agencies in developing life cycle assessments and environmental cost accounting assessments under this Part. Sec. 303. Pollution Prevention to Address Compliance. Each agency shall ensure that its environmental regulatory compliance funding policies promote the use of pollution prevention to achieve and maintain environmental compliance at the agency's facilities. Agencies shall adopt a policy to preferentially use pollution prevention projects and activities to correct and prevent noncompliance with environmental regulatory requirements. Agency funding requests for facility compliance with Federal, State, and local environmental regulatory requirements shall emphasize pollution prevention through source reduction as the means of first choice to ensure compliance, with reuse and recycling alternatives having second priority as a means of compliance. Sec. 304. Pollution Prevention Return-on-Investment Programs. Each agency shall develop and implement a pollution prevention program at its facilities that compares the life cycle costs of treatment and/or disposal of waste and pollutant streams to the life cycle costs of alternatives that eliminate or reduce toxic chemicals or pollutants at the source. Each agency shall implement those projects that are life- cycle cost-effective, or otherwise offer substantial environmental or economic benefits. Sec. 305. Policies, Strategies, and Plans. (a) Within 12 months of the date of this order, each agency shall ensure that the goals and requirements of this order are incorporated into existing agency environmental directives, policies, and documents affected by the requirements and goals of this order. Where such directives and policies [[Page 24597]]
(b) By March 31, 2002, each agency shall ensure that its facilities develop a written plan that sets forth the facility's contribution to the goals and requirements established in this order. The plan should reflect the size and complexity of the facility. Where pollution prevention plans or other formal environmental planning instruments have been prepared for agency facilities, an agency may elect to update those plans to meet the requirements and goals of this section. (c) The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Council shall develop acquisition policies and procedures for contractors to supply agencies with all information necessary for compliance with this order. Once the appropriate FAR clauses have been published, agencies shall use them in all applicable contracts. In addition, to the extent that compliance with this order is made more difficult due to lack of information from existing contractors, or concessioners, each agency shall take practical steps to obtain the information needed to comply with this order from such contractors or concessioners. Sec. 306. Interagency Environmental Leadership Workgroup. Within 4 months of the date of this order, EPA shall convene and chair an Interagency Environmental Leadership Workgroup (the Workgroup) with senior-level representatives from all executive agencies and other interested independent Government agencies affected by this order. The Workgroup shall develop policies and guidance required by this order and member agencies shall facilitate implementation of the requirements of this order in their respective agencies. Workgroup members shall coordinate with their Agency Environmental Executive (AEE) designated under section 301(d) of Executive Order 13101 and may request the assistance of their AEE in resolving issues that may arise among members in developing policies and guidance related to this order. If the AEEs are unable to resolve the issues, they may request the assistance of the Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). Sec. 307. Annual Reports. Each agency shall submit an annual progress report to the Administrator on implementation of this order. The reports shall include a description of the progress that the agency has made in complying with all aspects of this order, including, but not limited to, progress in achieving the reduction goals in sections 502, 503, and 505 of this order. Each agency may prepare and submit the annual report in electronic format. A copy of the report shall be submitted to the Federal Environmental Executive (FEE) by EPA for use in the biennial Greening the Government Report to the President prepared in accordance with Executive Order 13101. Within 9 months of the date of this order, EPA, in coordination with the Workgroup established under section 306 of this order, shall prepare guidance regarding the information and timing for the annual report. The Workgroup shall coordinate with those agencies responsible for Federal agency reporting guidance under the Greening the Government Executive orders to streamline reporting requirements and reduce agency and facility-level reporting burdens. The first annual report shall cover calendar year 2000 activities. PART 4--PROMOTING ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP Sec. 401. Agency and Facility Environmental Management Systems. To attain the goals of section 201 of this order: (a) Within 18 months of the date of this order, each agency shall conduct an agency-level environmental management system self assessment based [[Page 24598]]
(b) Within 24 months of the date of this order, each agency shall implement environmental management systems through pilot projects at selected agency facilities based on the Code of Environmental Management Principles for Federal Agencies and/or another appropriate environmental management system framework. By December 31, 2005, each agency shall implement an environmental management system at all appropriate agency facilities based on facility size, complexity, and the environmental aspects of facility operations. The facility environmental management system shall include measurable environmental goals, objectives, and targets that are reviewed and updated annually. Once established, environmental management system performance measures shall be incorporated in agency facility audit protocols. Sec. 402. Facility Compliance Audits. To attain the goals of section 202 of this order: (a) Within 12 months of the date of this order, each agency that does
not have an established regulatory environmental compliance audit
program shall develop and implement a program to conduct facility
environmental compliance audits and begin auditing at its facilities
within 6 months of the development of that program. Sec. 403. Environmental Leadership and Agency Awards Programs. (a) Within 12 months of the date of this order, the Administrator
shall establish a Federal Government environmental leadership program to
promote and recognize outstanding environmental management performance
in agencies and facilities. Sec. 404. Management Leadership and Performance Evaluations. [[Page 24599]]
(b) To recognize and reinforce the responsibilities of facility and senior headquarters program managers, regional environmental coordinators and officers, their superiors, and, to the extent practicable and appropriate, others vital to the implementation of this order, each agency shall include successful implementation of pollution prevention, community awareness, and environmental management into its position descriptions and performance evaluations for those positions. Sec. 405. Compliance Assistance. (a) Upon request and to the extent practicable, the EPA shall provide
technical advice and assistance to agencies to foster full compliance
with environmental regulations and all aspects of this order. Sec. 406. Compliance Assurance. (a) In consultation with other agencies, the EPA may conduct such
reviews and inspections as may be necessary to monitor compliance with
sections 501 and 504 of this order. Each agency is encouraged to
cooperate fully with the efforts of the EPA to ensure compliance with
those sections. Sec. 407. Improving Environmental Management. To ensure that government-wide goals for pollution prevention are advanced, each agency is encouraged to incorporate its environmental leadership goals into its Strategic and Annual Performance Plans required by the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993, Public Law 103-62, starting with performance plans accompanying the FY 2002 budget. PART 5--EMERGENCY PLANNING, COMMUNITY RIGHT-TO-KNOW, AND POLLUTION PREVENTION Sec. 501. Toxics Release Inventory/Pollution Prevention Act Reporting. To attain the goals of section 203 of this order: (a) Each agency shall comply with the provisions set forth in section
313 of EPCRA, section 6607 of PPA, all implementing regulations, and
future amendments to these authorities, in light of applicable EPA
guidance. [[Page 24600]]
(a) of this section. (c) Each agency required to report under subsection (a) of this section shall do so using electronic reporting as provided in EPA's EPCRA section 313 guidance. (d) Within 12 months of the date of this order, the Administrator shall review the impact on reporting of existing regulatory exemptions on the application of EPCRA section 313 at Federal facilities. Where feasible, this review shall include pilot studies at Federal facilities. If the review indicates that application of existing exemptions to Federal Government reporting under this section precludes public reporting of substantial amounts of toxic chemicals under subsection 501(a), the EPA shall prepare guidance, in coordination with the Workgroup established under section 306 of this order, clarifying application of the exemptions at Federal facilities. In developing the guidance, the EPA should consider similar application of such regulatory limitations and exemptions by the private sector. To the extent feasible, the guidance developed by the EPA shall be consistent with the reasonable application of such regulatory limitations and exemptions in the private sector. The guidance shall ensure reporting consistent with the goal of public access to information under section 313 of EPCRA and section 6607 of PPA. The guidance shall be submitted to the AEEs established under section 301(d) of Executive Order 13101 for review and endorsement. Each agency shall apply any guidance to reporting at its facilities as soon as practicable but no later than for reporting for the next calendar year following release of the guidance. (e) The EPA shall coordinate with other interested Federal agencies to carry out pilot projects to collect and disseminate information about the release and other waste management of chemicals associated with the environmental response and restoration at their facilities and sites. The pilot projects will focus on releases and other waste management of chemicals associated with environmental response and restoration at facilities and sites where the activities generating wastes do not otherwise meet EPCRA section 313 thresholds for manufacture, process, or other use. Each agency is encouraged to identify applicable facilities and voluntarily report under subsection (a) of this section the releases and other waste management of toxic chemicals managed during environmental response and restoration, regardless of whether the facility otherwise would report under subsection (a). The releases and other waste management of chemicals associated with environmental response and restoration voluntarily reported under this subsection will not be included in the accounting established under sections 503(a) and (c) of this order. Sec. 502. Release Reduction: Toxic Chemicals. To attain the goals of section 204 of this order: (a) Beginning with reporting for calendar year 2001 activities, each
agency reporting under section 501 of this order shall adopt a goal of
reducing, where cost effective, the agency's total releases of toxic
chemicals to the environment and off-site transfers of such chemicals
for treatment and disposal by at least 10 percent annually, or by 40
percent overall by December 31, 2006. Beginning with activities for
calendar year 2001, the baseline for measuring progress in meeting the
reduction goal will be the aggregate of all such releases and off-site
transfers of such chemicals for treatment and disposal as reported by
all of the agency's facilities under section 501 of this order. The list
of toxic chemicals applicable to this goal is the EPCRA section 313 list
as of December 1, 2000. If an agency achieves the 40 percent reduction
goal prior to December 31, 2006, that agency shall establish a new
baseline and reduction goal based on agency priorities. [[Page 24601]]
(c) Where a specific component (e.g., bureau, service, or command) within an agency achieves a 75 percent reduction in its 1999 reporting year publicly reported total releases of toxic chemicals to the environment and off-site transfers of such chemicals for treatment and disposal, based on the 1994 baseline established in Executive Order 12856, that agency may independently elect to establish a reduction goal for that component lower than the 40 percent target established in subsection (a) of this section. The agency shall formally notify the Workgroup established in section 306 of this order of the elected reduction target. Sec. 503. Use Reduction: Toxic Chemicals, Hazardous Substances, and Other Pollutants. To attain the goals of section 205 of this order: (a) Within 18 months of the date of this order, each agency with
facilities shall develop and support goals to reduce the use at such
agencies' facilities of the priority chemicals on the list under
subsection (b) of this section for identified applications and purposes,
or alternative chemicals and pollutants the agency identifies under
subsection (c) of this section, by at least 50 percent by December 31,
2006. [[Page 24602]]
(d) In lieu of requirements under subsection (a) of this section, an agency may, upon concurrence with the Workgroup established under section 306 of this order, develop within 12 months of the date of this order, a list of not less than five priority hazardous or radioactive waste types generated by its facilities. Within 18 months of the date of this order, the agency shall develop and support goals to reduce the agency's generation of these wastes by at least 50 percent by December 31, 2006. To the maximum extent possible, such reductions shall be achieved by implementing source reduction practices. (e) The baseline for measuring reductions for purposes of achieving the 50 percent reduction goal in subsections (a) and (d) of this section for each agency is the first calendar year following the development of the list of priority chemicals under subsection (b) of this section. (f) Each agency shall undertake pilot projects at selected facilities to gather and make publicly available materials accounting data related to the toxic chemicals, hazardous substances, and/or other pollutants identified under subsections (b), (c), or (d) of this section. (g) Within 12 months of the date of this order, the Administrator shall develop guidance on implementing this section in coordination with the Workgroup. The EPA shall develop technical assistance materials to assist agencies in meeting the 50 percent reduction goal of this section. (h) Where an agency can demonstrate to the Workgroup that it has previously reduced the use of a priority chemical identified in subsection 503(b) by 50 percent, then the agency may elect to waive the 50 percent reduction goal for that chemical. Sec. 504. Emergency Planning and Reporting Responsibilities. Each agency shall comply with the provisions set forth in sections 301 through 312 of the EPCRA, all implementing regulations, and any future amendments to these authorities, in light of any applicable guidance as provided by the EPA. Sec. 505. Reductions in Ozone-Depleting Substances. To attain the goals of section 206 of this order: (a) Each agency shall ensure that its facilities: (1) maximize the
use of safe alternatives to ozone- depleting substances, as approved by
the EPA's Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program; (2)
consistent with subsection (b) of this section, evaluate the present and
future uses of ozone-depleting substances, including making assessments
of existing and future needs for such materials, and evaluate use of,
and plans for recycling, refrigerants, and halons; and (3) exercise
leadership, develop exemplary practices, and disseminate information on
successful efforts in phasing out ozone-depleting substances. [[Page 24603]]
Sec. 601. Implementation. (a) Within 12 months from the date of this order, each agency shall
incorporate the Guidance for Presidential Memorandum on Environmentally
and Economically Beneficial Landscape Practices on Federal Landscaped
Grounds (60 Fed. Reg. 40837) developed by the FEE into landscaping
programs, policies, and practices. Sec. 602. Technical Assistance and Outreach. The EPA, the General Services Administration (GSA), and the USDA shall provide technical assistance in accordance with their respective authorities on environmentally and economically beneficial landscaping practices to agencies and their facilities. PART 7--ACQUISITION AND PROCUREMENT Sec. 701. Limiting Procurement of Toxic Chemicals, Hazardous Substances, and Other Pollutants. (a) Within 12 months of the date of this order, each agency shall
implement training programs to ensure that agency procurement officials
and acquisition program managers are aware of the requirements of this
order and its applicability to those individuals. Sec. 702. Environmentally Benign Adhesives. Within 12 months after environmentally benign pressure sensitive adhesives for paper products become commercially available, each agency shall revise its specifications for paper products using adhesives and direct the purchase of paper products using those adhesives, whenever technically practicable and cost effective. Each agency should consider products using the environmentally benign pressure sensitive adhesives approved by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and listed on the USPS Qualified Products List for pressure sensitive recyclable adhesives. Sec. 703. Ozone-Depleting Substances. Each agency shall follow the policies and procedures for the acquisition of items that contain, use, or are manufactured with ozone-depleting substances in accordance with FAR section 23.8 and other applicable FAR provisions. [[Page 24604]]
(a) Within 18 months of the date of this order, each agency shall
have in place acquisition and procurement practices, including provision
of landscaping services that conform to the guidance referred to in
section 601 of this order, for the use of environmentally and
economically beneficial landscaping practices. At a minimum, such
practices shall be consistent with the policies in the guidance referred
to in section 601 of this order. PART 8--EXEMPTIONS Sec. 801. National Security Exemptions. Subject to subsection 902(c) of this order and except as otherwise required by applicable law, in the interest of national security, the head of any agency may request from the President an exemption from complying with the provisions of any or all provisions of this order for particular agency facilities, provided that the procedures set forth in section 120(j)(1) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (42 U.S.C. 9620(j)(1)), are followed, with the following exceptions: (a) an exemption issued under this section will be for a specified period of time that may exceed 1 year; (b) notice of any exemption granted under this section for provisions not otherwise required by law is only required to the Director of OMB, the Chair of the CEQ, and the Director of the National Security Council; and (c) an exemption under this section may be issued due to lack of appropriations, provided that the head of the agency requesting the exemption shows that necessary funds were requested by the agency in its budget submission and agency plan under Executive Order 12088 of October 13, 1978, and were not contained in the President's budget request or the Congress failed to make available the requested appropriation. To the maximum extent practicable, and without compromising national security, each agency shall strive to comply with the purposes, goals, and implementation steps in this order. Nothing in this order affects limitations on the dissemination of classified information pursuant to law, regulation, or Executive order. Sec. 802. Compliance. After January 1, 2002, OMB, in consultation with the Chair of the Workgroup established by section 306 of this order, may modify the compliance requirements for an agency under this order, if the agency is unable to comply with the requirements of the order. An agency requesting modification must show that it has made substantial good faith efforts to comply with the order. The cost- effectiveness of implementation of the order can be a factor in OMB's decision to modify the requirements for that agency's compliance with the order. PART 9--GENERAL PROVISIONS Sec. 901. Revocation. Executive Order 12843 of April 21, 1993, Executive Order 12856 of August 3, 1993, the Executive Memorandum on Environmentally Beneficial Landscaping of April 26, 1994, Executive Order 12969 of August 8, 1995, and section 1-4. ``Pollution Control Plan'' of Executive Order 12088 of October 13, 1978, are revoked. Sec. 902. Limitations. (a) This order is intended only to improve the internal management of
the executive branch and is not intended to create any right, benefit,
or trust responsibility, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law
by a party against the United States, its agencies, its officers, or any
other person. [[Page 24605]]
(c) Nothing in this order alters the obligations under EPCRA, PPA, and CAA independent of this order for Government-owned, contractor-operated facilities and Government corporations owning or operating facilities or subjects such facilities to EPCRA , PPA, or CAA if they are otherwise excluded. However, each agency shall include the releases and other waste management of chemicals for all such facilities to meet the agency's reporting responsibilities under section 501 of this order. (d) Nothing in this order shall be construed to make the provisions of CAA sections 304 and EPCRA sections 325 and 326 applicable to any agency or facility, except to the extent that an agency or facility would independently be subject to such provisions. Sec. 903. Community Outreach. Each agency is encouraged to establish a process for local community advice and outreach for its facilities relevant to aspects of this and other related Greening the Government Executive orders. All strategies and plans developed under this order shall be made available to the public upon request. PART 10--DEFINITIONS For purposes of this order: Sec. 1001. General. Terms that are not defined in this part but that are defined in Executive Orders 13101 and 13123 have the meaning given in those Executive orders. For the purposes of Part 5 of this order all definitions in EPCRA and PPA and implementing regulations at 40 CFR Parts 370 and 372 apply. Sec. 1002. ``Administrator'' means the Administrator of the EPA. Sec. 1003. ``Environmental cost accounting'' means the modification of cost attribution systems and financial analysis practices specifically to directly track environmental costs that are traditionally hidden in overhead accounts to the responsible products, processes, facilities or activities. Sec. 1004. ``Facility'' means any building, installation, structure, land, and other property owned or operated by, or constructed or manufactured and leased to, the Federal Government, where the Federal Government is formally accountable for compliance under environmental regulation (e.g., permits, reports/ records and/or planning requirements) with requirements pertaining to discharge, emission, release, spill, or management of any waste, contaminant, hazardous chemical, or pollutant. This term includes a group of facilities at a single location managed as an integrated operation, as well as government owned contractor operated facilities. Sec. 1005. ``Environmentally benign pressure sensitive adhesives'' means adhesives for stamps, labels, and other paper products that can be easily treated and removed during the paper recycling process. Sec. 1006. ``Ozone-depleting substance'' means any substance designated as a Class I or Class II substance by EPA in 40 CFR Part 82. Sec. 1007. ``Pollution prevention'' means ``source reduction,'' as defined in the PPA, and other practices that reduce or eliminate the creation of pollutants through: (a) increased efficiency in the use of raw materials, energy, water, or other resources; or (b) protection of natural resources by conservation. Sec. 1008. ``Greening the Government Executive orders'' means this order and the series of orders on greening the government including Executive Order 13101 of September 14, 1998, Executive Order 13123 of June 3, 1999, Executive Order 13134 of August 12, 1999, and other future orders as appropriate. [[Page 24606]]
(Presidential Sig.) THE WHITE HOUSE, April 21, 2000. [FR Doc. 00-10550 |