Archives | Site Map | FAQ


Federal Agencies in the
Western United States

         Leading by Example



FNS Member Meeting Summary
Denver, CO - December 8th and 9th, 2003
 

Participants:

Elaine Gallagher Adams (GSA R8) Don Andreason (USAF Acad.) Mary Barber (Fort Carson)
Diana Bauer (USEPA) Tim Blume (Army WREO) Carol Campbell (USEPA)
Kerrigan Clough (USEPA R8) Shane Collins (WAPA) Jill Cooper (CO DP H&E)
Bob Fenlason (USACE HQ) Mike Flannery (Army WREO) Gary Gasparino (US Navy ESC)
Marius Gedaudas (USACE WREO) Dr. Alan Hecht (USEPA ORD) Ron Horstman (WAPA)    
John Howard (OFEE) Alan Hurt (Navy) Christopher Juniper (EcoLogic Resources)
Laura Kemp (USACE NWD) Jerry Kotas (USDOE DRO) Mark Lacy (NASA ARC)
Mary Lamb (AFCEE) Rudy Lobato (NPS) Mark Mahoney (Army WREO)
Monte McVay (HQ AFSPC/CEV) Clare Mendelsohn (USAF WREO) Cheryl O’Brien (DOE/INEEL) 
Kelly O’Neill (SAIC/Ft. Carson) Paul Orbuch (West. Governors Assoc.) Owens Owens (Army WREO)
Denise Rayborn (NREL) Tim Rehder (USEPA R8) Walt Roberts (USAF)
Steve Rumbaugh (USACE NWD) Cheri Sayer (DOE SRO) Tim Scanlon (BPA)
David Schaller (EPA R8) Chandra Shah (NREL)  Marda Stothers (USACE SPD)
Hayden Street (Navy Region NW) Richard Sumpter (USEPA R7) Dave Swanson (WAPA)
Whitney Trulove-Cranor (EPA R8) Dianne Thiel (USEPA R8) Andy Walker (NREL)
Curt Williams (Army WREO) Marie Zanowick (EPA R8)  

                                                                       

Via Conference Call:

David Van’t Hof (State of OR)    Ann Fenn (EPA R1)
Ross Gilleland (EPA R1)  Eun-Sook Goidel (PPRC)
Patricia Jatczak (WA Dept of Ecology)  Gail Suzuki-Jones (State of Hawaii)
Chris Kent (USEPA HQ) Grace Summers (State of Hawaii)
Larry Woods (USEPA R9) Michelle Wright (USEPA R10)

 

On-Site Staff: Christian May (Steven Winter Associates)
Meeting Host: EPA, Region 8; National Renewable Energy Laboratory; DOE Denver Regional Office
Total Participants: 59

Day 1
 Pre-Meeting Networking, Introductions, Welcoming Remarks, and Mini Closing the Circle Award Presentation

The Federal Network for Sustainability (FNS) Member Meeting commenced with welcoming remarks from Robbie Roberts, EPA Region 8’s Administrator. Mr. Roberts provided participants with a summary of EPA R8’s sustainable activities including: purchasing green power; purchasing green paper; Energy Star building; developing comprehensive EMS system; purchasing a hybrid car; designating a full time environmental coordinator since 1995 (D. Schaller); and, using corn based cups.


(Robbie Roberts, EPA R8 receives re-signed Statement of Unity from Chairman Alan Hurt and John Howard, Federal Environmental Executive)

 


(Gerald Owens, US Army Environmental Center WRO)

 Following Mr. Roberts welcoming remarks, Gerald Owens, Chief, US Army Environmental Center, Western Regional Office provided thanks to the FNS and it’s efforts, congratulations on winning the Closing the Circle Award, and thanks to John Howard and Manette Messenger for their ongoing work. The Army Western Regional Office has fully adopted sustainability as a guiding principle.

 


(From left to right: Cheri Sayer, DOE SRO; Gary Gasperino, Navy ESC; Marda Stothers, USCOE SPD; Alan Hurt, Navy SWD; Robbie Roberts, EPA R8; John Howard, OFEE; Clare Mendelsohn, USAF WREO; Hayden Street, Navy RNW, Mike Flannery, Army WREO; and, Tim Scanlon, BPA)

 The FNS was a recipient of the 2003 White House Closing the Circle award in the Education and Outreach category. John Howard, Federal Environmental Executive, White House Office of the Federal Environmental Executive, presented the award to several FNS members who were unable to attend the ceremony in Washington, D.C.


EPA Region 8 Accomplishments

Whitney Trulove-Cranor and Dianne Thiel, EPA Region 8, Denver, CO


(Dianne Thiel and Whitney
Trulove-Cranor, EPA R8 receive FNS Certificates of Appreciation from Robbie Roberts, John Howard, and Alan Hurt)

 Whitney Trulove-Cranor and Dianne Thiel from EPA Region 8’s P2 Program provided a detailed overview of EPA R8’s past, present, and planned sustainability activities. These activities include: surveys on employee transportation; bike-to-work challenges; activities on reducing flight pollution; meeting and conference location considerations – teleconferencing; energy efficient office equipment; green paper; reduced energy use; waste monitoring and recycling; green cleaning products; and setting objectives and targets. See their presentation here (634kb PDF). See EPA Region 8’s Environmental Management System Commitment here.



Partnership with FNS
 Dr. Alan Hecht, Director, Sustainable Development, EPA Office of Research and Development, Washington, D.C.

Dr. Alan Hecht provided an overview of the EPA Region 3 Pilot Lab Project. Their goal is to reach all 10 Regions. There will be a meeting on January 4 to discuss the national launch. Dr. Hecht also provided an overview of the ‘Next Generation – Student Design Competition.’

Dr. Hecht’s presentation can be viewed here (212kb PDF).


(Dr. Alan Hecht, EPA Office of
Research and Development)



Minimum Goals

There was general discussion on whether to establish minimum goals for FNS Members in each of the initiatives.  The consensus was to stay flexible.  We agreed to not set minimum participation levels, but to encourage active FNS member involvement.


 

Initiative Updates

1.  Greener Paper Campaign
Eun-Sook Goidel, Pollution Prevention Resource Center, Seattle, WA


Eun-Sook Goidel, Pollution Prevention Resource Center, provided a detailed overview of the Paper Campaign’s activities to date. Information provided in her presentation included: New members vs. existing; paper’s resource intensiveness; price; the campaign history; goals; participation levels; baseline data; environmental and energy foot prints numbers; current FNS member status; successes; and, the coming do-it-yourself website.

A discussion and summary was then provided by Alan Hurt followed by a question and discussion session on paper use reduction. Eun-Sook Goidel has additional information available. BPA has reduced paper use by 40% and has promoted this in two newsletters. There is a new ‘Fine Print’ software that automatically sets printer defaults to duplex. EPA R9 is testing the software. This is a significant source reduction help.

A discussion on supply location was then held. Most mills are in the mid-west and on the east coast, but there is a new supplier in the west – Gray’s Harbor ( http://www.ghplp.com/ 1-877-548-3424).

 The next Paper conference call will be in mid-February. Information will be emailed to campaign members.

*Special note: WAPA started using 100% PCW paper because of the FNS initiative conference calls.

View the Paper Campaign update presentation here (1.1MB PDF).


2.  Federal Electronics Challenge (FEC)
Chris Kent, EPA HQ, Washington, D.C.

Chris Kent, EPA HQ, provided a detailed overview of the Federal Electronic Challenge’s activities to date. Information provided in his presentation included: overview – a solution to address your electronic assets; history – Memorandum of Understanding; voluntary program to deliver a change in behavior; tiered challenge (recognition levels); Goals; the next Partners Calls call 1/8/04; How to sign up; a Timeline; and, a Tools list. See his presentation here (431kb PDF).

Bonneville Power Administration FEC Update – Tim Scanlon, Portland, OR

NASA Ames FEC Update – Mark Lacy, Moffett Field, CA

 

 3.  Renewable Power Update
Chandra Shah, NREL, Golden, CO

Chandra Shah, NREL, provided an overview of some of the renewable power activities in the Federal sector to date. Information provided in her presentation included: Executive Order 13123; Federal renewable energy goals; current status; who is buying renewables; why invest in renewable power; natural gas prices; Federal purchasing methods; Renewable Energy Certificates (REC); WAPA’s Federal Renewable Power Program; Western Program Status; Bonneville Power Administration’s participation; Federal agency support programs; Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs); and, a list of contacts as well as how to get involved. We also discussed an "Inventory" of purchases made by FNS member agencies amounting to 109.54 Gwh per year. A more detailed federal purchase inventory is available here. See her presentation here (685kb PPT). 

 4.  Environmental Management Systems
Larry Woods, EPA R9, San Francisco, CA and Michelle Wright, EPA R10, Seattle, WA

EPA Regions 9 & 10, in coordination with the Federal Network for Sustainability (FNS), will conduct the second year of the Federal Facility Environmental Management Systems (EMS) Workshops.  EPA Region 9 has set aside the funding for 4 classes in FY 2004 (San Francisco, Seattle, San Diego, and Las Vegas). The two-day courses will be held in the spring and summer of 2004.  It will cover implementation of EMS and federal facility responsibilities under executive order 13148. 

Background --Three Year Implementation Plan   (Developed Last Year)

FY 2003: EMS-101 with detailed training covering: environmental policy development, planning for aspects & impacts analysis, objectives and targets development, management programs development and compliance.

FY 2004: Continued EMS-101 with detailed EMS training covering implementation of targets, roles and responsibilities, EMS documentation, emergency preparedness and response; checking and corrective action, measurements and monitoring, records, reports, EMS audits.

FY 2005: Continued EMS-101 with detailed training focusing on management review, and self declaration process.


Results to Date
In FY 2003, 6 classes were conducted (San Francisco, Seattle, San Diego, Anchorage, Las Vegas, and Martinez, CA).  189 students participated in the workshops.  Most comments were very positive and all highlighted that the exercises were a valuable tool that helped facility managers and staff understand both the EMS process and what actions the facility needed to take to move forward with EMS development and implementation. The students said that exercises during training are most important to them.

 

Potential Changes
1)  Facility specific follow-up activities after the Training Course (phone calls and e-mail assistance)

  • this would be the most valuable use of FNS resources

2)  Measuring Results (an EPA need and potential FNS benefit)

  • how or what do we track to show environmental benefits?

  • how could we collect and process facility specific results?

  • how could we publicize results?

 
Potential Challenges
1) Getting New Students

  • Can we make it easy for new students to join the class if they missed the first workshop?

2) Additional Training Locations:

  • We had requests for additional training classes (Hawaii, Phoenix) however resources limited our ability to provide more classes. We do not have the resources to add more classes. This is possible, but we'd need funding. It may be cheaper to bring the course to a specific location (e.g. Hawaii) than to bring four or five students from a remote location (Cost = EPA Travel for one plus ~$4K in contractor funding)



 5.  Sustainable Buildings Initiative
Marda Stothers, USACE South Pacific Division, San Francisco, CA and Cheri Sayer, DOE Seattle Regional Office, Seattle, WA

Marda Stothers, USAACE SPD, provided an overview of some of the FNS Sustainable Buildings Initiative activities to date. Information provided in her presentation included: Federal Government can disclose costs of green buildings; Army will move from Bronze to Gold starting in 2004; USCOE – Billion worth of construction per year – 2500 engineers; FNS work will enhance SWG activities; Top 7 objectives of SBI; initial steps taken in last 6 months; next call on 12/17; and, related efforts in member agencies. See her presentation here (291kb PDF).

  • Will solicit comments on website

 

Navy’s Related Activities – Gary Gasperino, Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center, Port Hueneme, CA

  • Revised Navy uniform spec guides to comply with Energy Star - inventory of 75% in Navy

  • Total building commissioning

  • Recording all training on VHS or DVD

  • Updating NFESC book

 

Discussion Items:

  • Sustainable Working Group (SWG) needs Federal projects in database

  • Air Force needs metrics on cost – check and balance because it isn’t getting done; energy needs accountability

  • USCOE has new measurement starting next month to measure sustainability (green, amber, red)

  • Washington Military Sustainability Partnership is a good role model (Ft. Lewis)

  • CA has sustainable buildings working group – AH recommends we collaborate with them

  • Need a reading list (put on Website)

 

Guest Lunch Speaker
Christopher Juniper, Principal, EcoLogic Resources, Colorado Springs, CO

  • No net loss of natural and human capital

  • Making markets work in the long term

  • Use of Natural Step process in Oregon

  • Lead by Example

  • U.S. as global leaders

See his presentation here (632kb PDF).


(Christopher Juniper, EcoLogic Resources)


(lunch consisted of locally grown green and organic items)


 

What’s Next
John Howard, Office of the Federal Environmental Executive (OFEE), Washington, D.C.

The Office of the Federal Environmental Executive is pleased with the progress on its projects, but not enough people know about sustainability.

We need to do a better job connecting across issues – environment, health and safety, security, energy, and across jurisdictions and time.  Integrate principles into personal lives

5 Sustainability Priorities

  1. Integrate within environmental world
  2. Work across environmental issues with all other issues; i.e., security, energy
  3. Integrate across jurisdictions
  4. Integrate across time
  5. Integrate everything were doing into our personal lives

FNS history – connecting the dots on the West Coast; the FNS is more popular now than in past years – how do we expand?

 

Forming FNS-type partnerships in Other Regions / States

Representatives from the states of Hawaii, Washington, Colorado, and Oregon as well as from EPA Region 1 joined the meeting via conference call and provided the following updates:

 

State of Hawaii
Grace Summers and Gail Suzuki-Jones

  •  Third Buying Green Conference in Spring 2004

  • Built Green exhibit in February, 2004

  • Working on relationships with businesses

  • Working on brownfields

  • Energy and resource efficiency

  • Recycling

  • Renewables

  • Working with University of Hawaii on green projects

 

State of Washington
Patricia Jatczak (Sitting in for Lynn Helbrecht, Sustainability Program Coordinator,
(360) 902-0557, lynn.helbrecht@ofm.wa.gov, http://www.ofm.wa.gov/sustainability/links.htm)

  •  Governor Locke signed Executive Order on Sustainable Practices recently

  • First set of plans submitted Sept. 2003 (clean energy, green purchasing, institutional sustainability)

  • “New Path Forward – a Sustainable Action Plan, 4th State of WA” – investing in clean energy, new Institute, critical resources issues, Green house gasses, WA Natural Resources, Green buildings, Green procurement, tax incentives, local governmental autonomy.

  • EPP – Office of State Procurement

  • Training

  • Electronics

  • Launched new website

  • Biodiesel

  • Encouraging local food purchases

  • Has EMS program

 

State of California
update provided by Alan Hurt

  • Green buildings push (big University initiatives)

  • Alternative Fuel Vehicles (Fuel Cells)

 

State of Colorado
Jill Cooper

  • Moving to sustainability (“Sustainable Colorado”) – biggest achievement

  • Trying to get environmental benefits and detriments of all departments

  • Gov. running EMS cross media permit program

  • Partnering with Universities

  • Sustainable Planning Goal

  • Phase 1 of EMS goal in progress

 

State of Oregon
David Van’t Hof, Sustainability Senior Policy Advisor
(503) 378-6892 x21, david.vanthof@state.or.us
www.sustainableoregon.net

  • Issued Executive Order on sustainability to put together action plan

  • Across all departments

  • Reporting to Oregon Sustainability Board

  • Regional dialogue on Climate change with WA, OR, CA

  • How can the State lead statewide on sustainability issues? – benefits

  • Working on strategy to reduce green house gasses – 3 step process

  • Incorporating sustainability into higher education system

 

EPA Region 1
Ross Gilleland and Ann Fenn, Boston, MA

  • Held green conference earlier this year in Philadelphia (action oriented – focused on Feds from Maine to Virginia)

  • The FNS East Coast was discussed – just had conference call to scope out how to do it and are forming a Steering Committee

  • 1/6/04 next conference call – solidify S contractor and set up spring meeting – RTP will host

  

Western Governor’s Association
Paul Orbuch, Denver, CO

  • En Libra principles

  • Best management practices on coal bed methane

  • Energy Summit in April

  • Very involved in energy

  • Biomass conference

  • Native American energy conference, summit

  • Green Tags

  • Fire proofing by building industry on thinning trees

  • Oquirth.com; www.westgov.org

   

It was recommended to solicit ideas from the states.  Use a listserve to build a network of Feds and State employees. Washington would like to coordinate with the FNS on green purchasing and alternative vehicles.

There will be the National Pollution Prevention conference (informal networks) in MD in April. It was recommended to use FNS initiatives as collaboration with states – use FNS initiative models.

Recommendation – use ECOS to reach all states. Touch base with existing groups first (P2, EMS, etc.).

Alan Hecht has a series of questions for the states – survey (he could use help from the FNS to finalize survey).

WA, HI, OR, and CO want to participate further with the FNS. AK is interested, but they’re in budget trouble.

 

Lessons Learned and Successes from Sustainability Education Day at Army, Ft. Lewis

Clare Mendelsohn, Air Force Western Regional Environmental Office, San Francisco, CA
 


(Clare Mendelsohn, AF WREO)

 Clare Mendelsohn, Air Force Western Regional Environmental Office, provided a detailed overview of the Washington Military Sustainability Partnership activities to date. Information provided in her presentation included: the team; the original proposal; proposed 4-phase action plan; Sustainability Education Day and its accomplishments; what’s next; and, benefits of associating with the FNS. View her presentation here (769kb PDF)


 

Biodiesel National Test Site Project
 Gary Gasperino, Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center, Port Hueneme, CA
 


(Gary Gasperino, NFESC)

 Gary Gasperino, Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center, provided a detailed overview of the National Biodiesel Test Site Project. Information provided in his presentation included: an outline; goal (B20 no approved for use); definition; Benefits, etc.; NFESC Efforts; Equipment Delivery, etc.; Ribbon Cutting and Banner; and, Beyond Fuel. View his presentation here (446kb PDF).


 

FNS Strategic Planning Document
Hayden Street, Navy Region NW, Silverdale, WA
 

Hayden Street, Navy Region Northwest, provided a detailed overview the progress made at the Yosemite meeting and the tasks ahead. Information provided in his presentation included: lessons learned; Mini-GAP analysis; and, a passions, skills & projects inventory.  Hayden led an exercise that had participants teamed up to help further the process.

 

View his presentation here (159kb PDF).


(Hayden Street, Navy RNW)


 

Day 2
 (Participants were shuttled to and from the hotel to NREL in a Natural Gas powered bus.)

Welcoming Remarks and Signing of the FNS Statement of Unity

Day 2 of the FNS Member Meeting commenced at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Visitors Center. Participants were able to learn from the numerous sustainable technologies on display in the Center. Welcoming remarks were given by Admiral Richard Truly, NREL Director, and Robbie Roberts, EPA Region 8’s Administrator. Mr. Roberts provided participants with a summary of EPA R8’s sustainable activities including: purchasing green power; purchasing green paper; Energy Star building; developing comprehensive EMS system; purchasing a hybrid car; designating a full time environmental coordinator since 1995 (D. Schaller); and, using corn based cups.
 


(Welcoming Remarks were given by
Admiral Richard Truly, NREL Director)


(Day 2’s agenda)


Five new Signatories joined FNS recently, and three agencies resigned the agreement since their Signatory had changed.  A brief signing ceremony for the Signatories (or their representatives) was held and included remarks from several of the new Signatories.

 

The new Signatories/Members are:

  1. John Kersten, Manager, DOE Golden Field Office
  2. Admiral Richard Truly, Director, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
  3. William Becker, Director, DOE Denver Regional Office
  4. Fred Gunnerson, Director, Energy Efficiency & Technology, Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory
  5. Major General Robert Wilson, U.S. Army 7th Infantry Division and Fort Carson

 The re-signed Signatories/Members this year are:

  1. Julie Riel, Acting Director, DOE Seattle Regional Office
  2. Joseph Schroedel, Colonel (P) U.S. Army, Commander, U. S. COE South Pacific Division
  3. LTG Edward Soriano, Commanding General, I Corps and Fort Lewis
  4. Captain Schanze, U.S. Navy Southwest Division (signed July, 2003)

 

Signing of the FNS Statement of Unity


(from left to right: Cheri Sayer, DOE SRO; Cheryl O’Brien, INEEL; Marda Stothers, USACE SPD, Admiral Truly, NREL; Alan Hurt, SWDIV, NAVFAC; John Pearson, DOE GFO; Bill Becker, DOE DRO; John Howard, OFEE; and, Robbie Roberts, EPA R8)

  


Sustainable NREL Presentation

After the Signing Ceremony, participants were led into a conference room where Bob Westby, Director of the NREL Energy and Environmental Applications Office and Sustainable NREL Lead, gave a presentation of all the sustainability activities going on at NREL.  They have the full support of the NREL Director, Admiral Richard Truly and have implemented a remarkable program.  Learn more about the NREL Sustainability Program here (1.1MB pdf)


 Tour of Solar Energy Research Facility Building, NREL Hydrogen Lab, and DOE Denver Regional Office

Participants were then given brief yet informative tours of the Solar Energy Research Facility (SERF) Building and the NREL Hydrogen Lab.  Participants were shuttled from the SERF Building to the NREL Hydrogen Lab in a Natural Gas powered bus.


 


(Tour of SERF Building)
(Hydrogen Lab Tour)



Participants then walked to the DOE Denver Regional Office.  Bill Becker, DOE DRO Director and Jerry Kotas, Green Power; Air/Energy Integration; Solar Team welcomed the group and provided an overview on all the activities undertaken by the DRO, including purchase of 100% of their energy from wind farms in Colorado, lighting improvements including dimming and photosensor capabilities, and use of recycled material carpet tiles.  Many other activities contribute to their sustainability efforts.  See what all they have accomplished here.

Jerry Kotas was the luncheon speaker.  He gave the group an overview of Energy Efficiency and Sustainability efforts by the Department of Energy in the western states.  View his presentation here (2.1MB PDF).  (Jerry Kotas Lunch Presentation - JerryKotasDenver03.pdf)

(lunch consisted of locally grown green and organic items)

 


(Jerry Kotas during his lunchtime presentation)

  

 

Continuation of FNS Administrative Tasks
What’s Left to Do

This discussion was focused on what the membership should be doing to further FNS efforts and was led by Alan Hurt, U.S. Navy.

  • Use today to set agenda for next meeting – strategic thinking

  • To do – connect FNS to DENIX – talk to AH and GG – https://www.denix.osd.mil/

  • What info can we take from sustainable.doe.gov and place on federalsustainability.org? sustainable.nrel.gov? p2library.nfesc.navy.mil?

  • CM to update member and steering committee list; add new members with logos; add new links

  • Talk to MF’s Postal Service DC contact (John Bridges) to get them involved

  • Dick Young – ED of National registry of Conferences? Ask MF

  • MF – get professional association involved in FNS – ASME, etc.

  • What is the FNS long range goal?

  • AH – SOU, training; next meeting will focus on strategic planning

  • As we mature, we need to have objectives; what are we trying to do?

  • Discussion on scope of FNS – West Coast vs. states vs. non-Feds – ECOS, NASEO

  • Discuss what and how we should interact with states

  • We need to find out what states want and what can we learn from them

  • DS – FNS rep at next WGA meeting – need higher level contact in states

  • Use break-out groups to discuss these subjects and bring to next meeting

  • HS - we need to have a common language and post it on the website – unified sustainability statements

  • Sustainability is key to national security

 

FNS Contractor and Funding Support
Cheri Sayer – DOE Seattle Regional Office, Seattle, WA

Cheri gave an overview of current funding status, status of contracting for support services for FNS, and bringing in additional funding for next year. (Update: Since the meeting, a contractor has been selected and information will be coming out shortly.)

 

GAP Matrix
Hayden Street, Navy Region NW, Silverdale, WA

Hayden led a discussion of actions needed to complete the important pieces of FNS planning. FNS members were asked to sign up for their area of interest. We will continue to work on this at the next FNS meeting.
 

FNS Certificates of Appreciation

Certificates of Appreciation were handed out by Alan Hurt, FNS Chairman to EPA Region 8, NREL, and DOE Denver Regional Office for hosting this very successful FNS meeting and to Steven Winter Associates for their ongoing support of the FNS.

 


David Schaller, EPA Region 8
 
Denise Rayborn, National Renewable Energy Lab

Jerry Kotas, DOE Denver Regional Office
Christian May, Steven Winter Associates



Upcoming Events


Continue to send your ideas, comments, events, updates, and corrections to FNS@FederalSustainability.org.

DISCLAIMER - This site is not an official U.S. Government website.       
Federal Network for Sustainability Contact Us