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Voluntary Programs
Voluntary programs are designed to achieve environmental results without the need for regulations. These programs can reduce pollution and improve air quality by means of forming partnerships with small and large businesses, citizen groups, industry, manufacturers, trade associations, and state and local governments. Areas in Region 4 are participating in the following programs:
- Best Workplaces for Commuters
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On October 1, 2007, the University of South Florida’s Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) assumed program management responsibilities for the Best Workplaces for Commuters. - National Clean Diesel Campaign - Join EPA, other federal agencies, regional and state governments, community organizations, industry and others to reduce diesel emissions and protect human health and the environment. The campaign has developed strategies that target diesel emissions from five specific sectors, including school buses, ports, construction, freight and agriculture. The National Clean Diesel Campaign (NCDC) builds on the successes of EPA’s regulatory and non-regulatory efforts to reduce emissions from diesel engines. The Campaign works aggressively to reduce the pollution emitted from diesel engines through the implementation of varied innovative control strategies involving international, national, state, and local partners.
- The Southeast Diesel Collaborative (SEDC) - The SEDC is a partnership of leaders from federal, state and local government, the private sector and other stakeholders in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. The goal of this partnership is to improve air quality and public health by reducing emissions from existing diesel engines.
- SmartWay Transport - is a collaborative program between EPA and the freight industry that will increase the energy efficiency and energy security of our country while significantly reducing air pollution and greenhouse gases. The Partnership creates strong market-based incentives that challenge companies shipping products and the truck and rail companies delivering these products, to improve the environmental performance of their freight operations. SmartWay Transport partners improve their energy efficiency, save money, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality.
- Several companies in Region 4 are charter partners.
- Clean School Bus USA - a new national
partnership to minimize pollution from school buses.
- Voluntary Diesel Retrofit Program - works to reduce pollution resulting from existing diesel vehicles and equipment by encouraging fleet owners to install pollution-reducing devices on the vehicles and to use cleaner-burning diesel fuel.
- Sustainable Environment for Quality of Life (SEQL) SEQL is an integrated environmental initiative for the 15-county metropolitan Charlotte region in North
and South Carolina. It involves elected officials, local government staffs, business and industry groups,
economic development groups and environmental stakeholder groups working together toward viable solutions
to regional growth.
- It All Adds Up to Cleaner Air -
a unique public education and partnership-building initiative developed collaboratively by
several federal agencies to help regional, state and community efforts to reduce traffic
congestion and air pollution.
- Region 4 participants include communities in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee
For information on the contents of this page contact Amanetta Somerville.