DOE: Office of Science Laboratories are Pollution Prevention Award Winners 4/22/2004
From: Jeff Sherwood of the U.S. Department of Energy, 202-586-5806 WASHINGTON, April 22 -- The Department of Energy's Office of Science celebrated Earth Day today by announcing the winners in its first annual awards for Pollution Prevention and Environmental Stewardship, including Best in Class and Accomplishment in Pollution Prevention and Environmental Stewardship. The Office of Science Awards Program is based on the White House Closing the Circle Awards for pollution prevention and was developed in accordance with the Executive Order on Leadership in Environmental Management. The awards recognize accomplishments and innovative activities in pollution prevention and environmental stewardship. The award winners were selected by headquarters and field representatives from the Office of Science. "These awards promote and recognize outstanding environmental management performance at our 10 national laboratories and highlight innovative programs and individuals," Dr. Raymond L. Orbach, director of the DOE Office of Science, said. "The award winners clearly demonstrate the value that good stewardship brings to science, and I congratulate them all for their achievements and leadership." The Best in Class award is being presented to the Battelle Memorial Institute for its leadership and management in the development and integration of Environmental Management Systems into the operational and business systems of Brookhaven National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and projects at Battelle Columbus. This integration has reduced hazards and waste generation at all of the sites, resulted in cost savings, improved environmental accountability and enhanced compliance with environmental requirements and standards. Accomplishment in Pollution Prevention and Environmental Stewardship awards are being presented to: -- Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, N.Y., for reducing mixed waste (radioactive and hazardous) generation. The laboratory is saving over $57,000 per year as a result of implementing innovative processes. -- Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, Batavia, Ill., for its alternative fuel and scintillator plastic recycling programs. Use of 63 ethanol and compressed natural gas-fueled vehicles has reduced fuel cost and emissions. The scintillator plastic recycling program recycles 1.5 tons - 2 tons per month, reducing disposal costs and the need for landfill space. -- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tenn., for integration of environmental sustainability principles in operations and design, and waste water reduction activities. Environmental sustainability principles include: new facility design using the U.S. Green Building Council rating system, use of bio-based fueled vehicles, energy management and pollution prevention. For example, through its efforts in pollution prevention, the laboratory has reduced its generation of transuranic/mixed transuranic waste by 93 percent; its low-level and mixed waste by 87 percent; and its sanitary waste by 40 percent since 1993. -- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) for the reduction of the use of the dangerous perchloric acid in the analysis of alpha emitting isotopes. An ORISE employee developed the new analytical procedure that has eliminated a waste stream of 30 kilograms of hazardous organic wastes while reducing analysis time by 40 percent and saving approximately $42,000 annually. -- Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC), Stanford, Calif., for identifying opportunities to better manage chemicals. A SLAC employee developed the foundation for establishing a site- wide chemical management system that promotes better life-cycle management of chemical use through centralized procurement practices and improved inventory management and tracking. A pilot program has demonstrated cost savings and reduced use of toxic chemicals. DOE's Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the Nation, manages 10 world-class national laboratories and builds and operates some of the Nation's most advanced R&D user facilities. More information on the office is available at http://www.sc.doe.gov |