[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 84 (Thursday, May 1, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23303-23304]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-10887]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7492-5]


Sector Strategies Program; Announcement of Program Launch

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing 
the selection of seven sectors to participate in the multi-media sector 
program in the Office of Policy, Economics and Innovation (OPEI). The 
following sectors will participate in the program: Agribusiness, Cement 
Manufacturing, Colleges and Universities, Construction, Forest 
Products, Iron and Steel Manufacturing, and Ports. An eighth sector may 
be added in the near future.
    On September 20, 2002, EPA announced the new program and solicited 
expressions of interest from trade organizations. Responses were 
evaluated on the basis of each sector's potential to address the 
Administration's current environmental priorities--reductions in 
greenhouse gas emissions and smog, improved water quality and 
infrastructure, increased recycling of hazardous waste, and enhanced 
environmental protection in agriculture. We also evaluated each 
sector's potential to expand the voluntary use of environmental 
management systems (EMS) among its member companies.
    The sectors chosen to participate in the program will be primarily 
represented by the following associations: (1) Agribusiness--National 
Food Processors Association; (2) Cement Manufacturing--Portland Cement 
Association; (3) Colleges and Universities--American Council on 
Education, Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers, Campus 
Consortium for Environmental Excellence, Campus Safety, Health and 
Environmental Management Association, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 
and the National Association of College and University Business 
Officers; (4) Construction--Associated General Contractors of America; 
(5) Forest Products--American Forest and Paper Association; (6) Iron 
and Steel Manufacturing--American Iron and Steel Institute and Steel 
Manufacturers Association; and (7) Ports--American Association of Port 
Authorities.
    The new program will have staff level points-of-contact within OPEI 
who are highly knowledgeable about each specific sector. These 
individuals will play a liaison function among associations, individual 
companies and other operating entities, EPA program and regional 
offices, state and local governments, technical experts, and other 
stakeholder groups. The sector points-of-contact also will focus their 
attention in three areas: addressing regulatory or other government 
barriers to improved environmental performance, helping to expand the 
use of EMS as a tool to achieve better performance, and measuring 
sector-wide performance improvements.
    EPA anticipates that participants in the program will benefit from 
coordinated, cooperative, and constructive problem-solving with 
government. The Agency will invite participating sector representatives 
to offer their own innovative ideas for reducing environmental impacts 
and

[[Page 23304]]

developing strategies to promote the use of EMS. Because sector-wide 
performance improvement is the goal, EPA will work with trade 
associations and others to find creative ways to measure environmental 
progress and burden reductions.
    OPEI will maintain points-of-contact with the Metal Finishing, 
Metal Casting, Shipbuilding & Ship Repair, and Specialty-Batch Chemical 
sectors. OPEI will follow through on EMS and other projects that are 
ongoing with these sectors. Accomplishments with the Meat Processing 
industry will support new work with the Agribusiness Sector.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Benson, Director, Sector 
Strategies Division (mail code 1808T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460. Email: [email protected]. Telephone: 202-566-
2954.

    Dated: April 28, 2003.
Jessica L. Furey,
Associate Administrator for Policy, Economics and Innovation.
[FR Doc. 03-10887 Filed 4-30-03; 8:45 am]
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