[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 183 (Friday, September 20, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59286-59287]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-23993]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7381-1]


New Industry Sector Performance Program; Request for Expressions 
of Interest From Industry Trade Associations

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Solicitation of interest.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking 
expressions of interest from industry trade organizations to work with 
the newly reoriented sector program in the Office of Policy, Economics 
and Innovation (OPEI). This program will have a greater focus on 
environmental management systems (EMS) and actions that prompt 
industry-wide environmental gains. EPA would like to increase the 
number of industries participating in the program.
    The new sector program will have staff level points-of-contact 
within EPA who are highly knowledgeable about specific industries. 
These individuals will play a liaison function among industry trade 
associations and companies, EPA program and regional offices, state and 
local governments, and other stakeholder groups. The sector points-of-
contact will focus their attention primarily in two areas: Addressing 
regulatory or other programmatic barriers to improved environmental 
performance; and helping to expand the use of environmental management 
systems (EMS) by many willing companies in each industry.
    EPA anticipates that participating industries will benefit from 
coordinated, cooperative, and constructive problem solving with 
government. The Agency will invite participating industries to engage 
in active dialogue, offer their own innovative ideas to reduce 
environmental impacts, and develop strategies to promote the use of 
EMS. Because industry-wide performance improvement is a goal, EPA will 
work with trade associations and others to find creative ways to 
document environmental progress and burden reductions without creating 
new process requirements.
    EPA invites the expression of interest from industry trade 
associations that would like to explore working with EPA in this way. 
Industry leaders should consider several factors: the value of having a 
knowledgeable point-of-contact for their sector within EPA; the 
industry's potential to address the Administration's current 
environmental

[[Page 59287]]

priorities--reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and smog, improved 
water quality and infrastructure, increased recycling of hazardous 
waste, and enhanced environmental protection in agriculture; and the 
potential to expand the voluntary use of EMS among companies in the 
industry.
    Trade associations should communicate their interest to EPA by 
letter or e-mail to the contact listed below. The Agency encourages 
prior telephone contact and consultation. EPA would like to invite an 
initial group of industries to work with the Agency in this new program 
starting in December 2002. Additional industries may be invited to 
participate in the future.

DATES: Contact by October 31, 2002.

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

    Dated: September 17, 2002.
Thomas J. Gibson,
Associate Administrator for Policy, Economics and Innovation.
[FR Doc. 02-23993 Filed 9-19-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P