Newport, Oregon

This facility features the following green attributes:
Green Power
Water Management Plan

Pacific Coastal Ecology Branch

Total Facility Area: 38,851 gross square feet (GSF)
Estimated Personnel: 50 persons

FY 2003 Energy Consumption*: 6,866,198,304 Btu per year
FY 2003 Btu per GSF per Year: 176,732
FY 2012 Energy Consumption: 15,287,397,028 Btu per year
FY 2012 Btu per GSF per Year: 393,488; 122.6 percent increase from the baseline

FY 2007 Water Consumption**: 358,000 gallons per year
FY 2007 Gallons per GSF per Year: 9.2
FY 2012 Water Consumption: 242,000 gallons per year
FY 2012 Gallons per GSF per Year: 6.2; 32.4 percent reduction from the baseline

All energy and water data are reported as of FY 2012.
*FY 2003 is the standard baseline year used by the federal government to measure energy conservation progress.
**FY 2007 is the standard baseline year used by the federal government to measure water conservation progress.

Description

The Coastal Ecology Branch (CEB) is the marine research group for the Western Ecology Division, a part of the National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory of the Office of Research and Development (ORD). The Newport facility studies the effects of human population-induced stresses on the habitats and species of the estuarine systems of the Pacific Northwest.

Unique Environmental Features

Green Power

EPA offsets 100 percent of the electricity consumption at CEB with renewable energy certificates (RECs) purchased through the Agency's blanket green power contract. Learn more about EPA's blanket green power contracts.

Water Conservation

In June 2011, CEB revised its water management plan (PDF) (18 pp, 620K, About PDF).

Stormwater Management

Two polyethylene tanks at CEB are being reused for stormwater capture. Roof drains have been routed to the tanks, and a small electric pump provides pressure for the rinsing of sampling boats and hovercraft.

Other Features

The Pollution Abatement Facility (PAF) is a unique feature of the CEB research facility. Drain lines from any laboratory in the wing can be routed into the PAF. Unaltered seawater free from contact with non-indigenous species or chemical contamination can be routed to the seawater drain and returned to the estuary. Seawater contaminated in any fashion by experiments can be routed to the storage tanks, analyzed, treated as necessary to remove or detoxify contaminants, and then be released to the City of Newport wastewater treatment facility.

For More Information About This Facility

Website: www.epa.gov/wed/pages/facilities/newportfacilities.htm

Primo Knight (knight.primo@epa.gov)
Hatfield Marine Science Center
2111 SE Marine Science Drive
Newport, OR 97365
Phone: (541) 754-4418