Greening the Government Through Leadership in Environmental Management

This executive order directs all federal agencies to integrate environmental accountability into daily operations and long-term planning, setting specific reduction targets for toxic chemical releases (40% by 2006), hazardous waste generation (50% by 2006), and procurement of ozone-depleting substances (phase-out by 2010). It establishes environmental management systems, compliance audit programs, and interagency coordination mechanisms while revoking five earlier environmental executive orders.

Federal Register Open PDF 65 FR 24595

Impact dates

Apr 21, 2002
Pilot environmental management systems at selected facilities
Apr 21, 2002
Feasibility determination for centralized procurement/pharmacy programs
Apr 21, 2002
Landscaping acquisition and procurement practices conform to guidance
Mar 31, 2002
Facility plans due setting forth contribution to order goals
Jan 1, 2002
OMB may modify compliance requirements for agencies unable to comply
Jul 21, 2001
Priority chemical list developed by EPA (minimum 15 chemicals)
Apr 21, 2001
Agency environmental management system self-assessments completed
Apr 21, 2001
Agencies incorporate order goals into existing environmental directives/policies or prepare new written environmental management strategy
Apr 21, 2001
Agency compliance audit programs developed and implemented (for agencies without existing programs); auditing begins 6 months after program development
Apr 21, 2001
EPA establishes Federal environmental leadership program
Apr 21, 2001
EPA develops compliance assistance center
Apr 21, 2001
Agencies incorporate FEE landscaping guidance into programs/policies/practices
Apr 21, 2001
FEE forms workgroup to review/update landscaping guidance
Apr 21, 2001
Agencies implement procurement official training programs
Apr 21, 2001
Agencies develop plan to phase out Class I ozone-depleting substance procurement
Apr 21, 2001
Agencies with limited priority chemical use develop alternative chemical list
Apr 21, 2001
Agencies may develop alternative hazardous/radioactive waste reduction lists (with Workgroup concurrence)
Apr 21, 2001
EPA develops guidance on implementing section 503 use reductions
Jan 21, 2001
EPA prepares annual report guidance (within 9 months of order)
Aug 21, 2000
EPA convenes Interagency Environmental Leadership Workgroup

Key directives

Integrate environmental accountability into all agency decisionmaking and long-term planning
Establish environmental management systems with senior management endorsement
Implement environmental compliance audit programs emphasizing pollution prevention
Report under EPCRA section 313 and PPA section 6607 without SIC/NAICS limitations
Reduce TRI releases and off-site transfers 10% annually or 40% overall by December 31, 2006
Reduce use of priority chemicals/hazardous substances or generation of hazardous/radioactive waste 50% by December 31, 2006
Develop plan to phase out Class I ozone-depleting substance procurement by December 31, 2010
Incorporate life cycle assessment and environmental cost accounting pilot programs
Include environmental implementation in position descriptions and performance evaluations
Develop pollution prevention return-on-investment programs comparing life cycle costs
Submit annual progress reports to EPA Administrator
EPA to convene Interagency Environmental Leadership Workgroup within 4 months

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

Revocation of five prior executive orders (EO 12843, 12856, 1994 Landscaping Memorandum, EO 12969, EO 12088 section 1-4)
Compliance with existing FAR sections 23.8, 23.9, and 23.10 for procurement
FAR Council to develop acquisition policies for contractor information (no fixed deadline)

Near term (90d)

EPA to convene Interagency Environmental Leadership Workgroup within 4 months (by August 21, 2000)
Annual progress reports to begin covering calendar year 2000 activities (first report due after guidance issued)
Agencies to begin incorporating environmental leadership goals into FY 2002 performance plans

Long term

Agency environmental management system self-assessments within 18 months (by October 21, 2001)
Pilot environmental management systems at selected facilities within 24 months (by April 21, 2002)
All appropriate facilities to implement environmental management systems by December 31, 2005
40% reduction in TRI releases and off-site transfers by December 31, 2006
50% reduction in use of priority toxic chemicals/hazardous substances or generation of hazardous/radioactive waste by December 31, 2006
Phase-out of Class I ozone-depleting substance procurement for nonexcepted uses by December 31, 2010
Facility plans due by March 31, 2002
Environmental leadership program established by EPA within 12 months
Compliance assistance center developed by EPA within 12 months
Centralized procurement programs for toxic/hazardous materials feasibility determination within 24 months
Landscaping acquisition practices conforming to guidance within 18 months

Risks & tensions

Waiver provisions (section 502(b)) for mission-critical chemicals and national security exemptions (section 801) create significant loopholes that may undermine reduction targets
Cost-effectiveness qualifiers throughout ('where feasible and cost-effective,' 'where cost effective') provide substantial flexibility that may weaken implementation
Agencies unable to meet chemical reduction goals can substitute waste reduction goals, potentially masking true environmental progress
OMB modification authority after January 1, 2002 allows compliance requirements to be weakened based on cost arguments
Baseline for 50% use reduction depends on EPA priority chemical list timing, creating uncertainty in measurement period
Reporting burden reduction goal (section 307) may conflict with comprehensive transparency objectives
Contractor and concessioner information gaps acknowledged as compliance obstacle without mandatory resolution mechanism