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EPA INNOVATION LISTSERVER October 27, 2004
http://www.epa.gov/innovation/listserver

1) EPA Supports International Methane to Markets Partnership
2) First Hybrid SUV Certified by EPA
3) EPA, DaimlerChryler, and UPS Deliver Zero-Emission Vehicles
4) World Wide Monitoring System Could Benefit States
5) Grants Awarded for Environmental Information Exchange Network
6) Voluntary Programs Help Reduce Greenhouse Gases
7) Eastern States Cut Air Pollution with NOx Cap-and-Trade
8) EPA and National Urban League Join Forces to Protect Children
9) EPA Recognizes Best Workplaces for Commuters in the FORTUNE 500
10) 13 Leaders Recognized for Pesticide Stewardship

1) EPA Supports International Methane to Markets Partnership

EPA Administrator Mike Leavitt recently announced that the United States will join an international partnership to promote cooperation on the recovery and use of methane. Focusing on technologies for projects such as gas-to-energy in landfills, methane recovery at coal mines, and improvements in natural gas systems, the Methane to Markets Partnership will deliver significant energy, safety, and environmental benefits.

For more information, visit http://www.epa.gov/methane/international.html

2) First Hybrid SUV Certified by EPA

Complying with strict new emission standards, the Ford Escape Hybrid is the first EPA certified hybrid SUV vehicle. Unlike conventional gasoline cars, hybrid vehicles use an electric motor that supplements or, at times, takes over as the power source. The Escape Hybrid captures the energy that would otherwise be lost during braking and stores it in a battery used to power the electric motor. When the demand for power is low, the electric motor takes over to augment or replace the gasoline motor, so that the vehicle burns less fuel. In the latest EPA Green Vehicle Guide, which assigns air pollution scores to vehicles on a scale of 1 (most polluting) to 10 (most polluting), the Escape Hybrid scored a 9, making it among the cleanest SUVs available.

For more information, visit http://www.fueleconomy.gov and http://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles

3) EPA, DaimlerChryler, and UPS Deliver Zero-Emission Vehicles

In a promising government-industry partnership, EPA, DaimlerChrysler and UPS have announced the availability of the nation's first medium-duty fuel cell delivery vehicles. Since February 2004, UPS has been using DaimlerChrysler's smaller "F-cell" vehicle to deliver packages in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Under this latest phase, UPS will place full-sized "Sprinter" fuel cell vans into commercial use in both Michigan and California. By doing so, the partners will be able to evaluate fuel cell performance and durability under real-world, year-round conditions.

For more information, visit http://www.epa.gov/otaq/fuelcell

4) World Wide Monitoring System Could Benefit States

Through international collaboration, the planned Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) will link monitoring data from satellites, ocean buoys, and ground-based air and water quality monitors around the world. This proposed worldwide network is expected to will provide U.S. states with a more complete picture of global climatic occurrences that impact their area. It will help improve drinking-water quality, protect food supply, and make transportation systems safer, and it could also help predict natural disasters and save lives.

For more information visit http://www.epa.gov/geoss

5) Grants Awarded for Environmental Information Exchange Network

EPA has announced 67 grants totaling more than $20 million for continued work on the nationwide Environmental Information Exchange Network. The recipients include 32, three U.S. territories, and 18 Native American tribes. Electronic data exchange provides federal and state governments with more timely access to environmental data from diverse sources, leading to better informed environmental decisions. When complete, the Exchange Network will transform the way states, tribes and other partners provide information to EPA.

For more information, visit http://www.epa.gov/Networkg

6) Voluntary Programs Help Reduce Greenhouse Gases

According to a 2003 annual report, ENERGY STAR®, and other voluntary programs prevented 48 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions last year, an increase from 43 million in 2002. These voluntary climate change programs have established initiatives that develop clean energy solutions, increase the capture and use of methane gas, minimize emissions of other non-carbon dioxide gases, and provide opportunities for corporate partners to develop long-term climate change strategies.

For more information, visit http://www.epa.gov/cppd

7) Eastern States Cut Air Pollution with NOx Cap-and-Trade

EPA's first annual report on the NOx Budget Trading Program shows that emissions were 30 percent below 2002 levels. The report assesses progress under a market-based cap-and- trade program that was created to reduce NOx emissions from power plants and other large combustion sources in eight northeastern States and the District of Columbia. The NOx Budget Trading Program cuts in combination with other NOx control programs have reduced ozone season NOx emissions from sources in these states 70 percent below 1990 levels.

For more information, visit http://www.epa.gov/airmarkets

8) EPA and National Urban League Join Forces to Protect Children

EPA and the National Urban League have established a new collaborative partnership to protect children in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities from environmental health risks. This agreement will facilitate better communication between the two groups and result in greater awareness of health issues that impact children.

For more information, visit http://yosemite.epa.gov/ochp/ochpweb.nsf/content/news2.htm

9) EPA Recognizes Best Workplaces for Commuters in the FORTUNE 500

Sixty-nine FORTUNE 500 companies are being recognized as Best Workplaces for Commuters for their environmental commitment to reducing air pollution and their role in easing traffic congestion. These companies offer an array of commuter benefits, such as subsidized transit or vanpool passes, telework programs, or shuttles, to more than 400,000 employees across the country. Each year Americans spend an average of 46 hours stuck in traffic while gridlock produces more than $63 billion in congestion costs. Companies that offer commuter benefits help curb these costs and make a significant contribution to the health and welfare of their employees.

For more information, visit http://www.bestworkplacesforcommuters.gov

10) 13 Leaders Recognized for Pesticide Stewardship

EPA has recognized 13 members of the Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program (PESP) for their efforts in pollution prevention and pesticide risk reduction. The 2004 "PESP Champions" used several integrated pest management (IPM) strategies to reduce the human health and environmental risks associated with pesticide use.

For more information and the list of 2004 PESP Champions, visit http://www.epa.gov/oppbppd1/PESP

ABOUT THIS LISTSERVER
http://www.epa.gov/innovation/listserver

This listserver is provided by EPA's National Center for Environmental Innovation to share information about activities and events related to environmental innovation. Many of the featured news items are taken from EPA's press releases, and most include a web link for obtaining more complete information. This listserver is part of EPA's continuing effort to improve public access to critical information.

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