2003 NPS Environmental Achievement Awards

Since 2002, the National Park Service (NPS) has awarded Environmental Achievement (EA) Awards to recognize staff and partners in the area of environmental preservation, protection and stewardship.

Winners

Denali National Park and Preserve

The Green Team at Denali National Park and Preserve has made many significant accomplishments in sustainability practices through a number of programs and projects. Indeed, all employees at Denali create, maintain, and use sustainable practices. The following is lists only a few of the many outstanding accomplishments of the Denali team:

• Implemented an Environmental Innovation & Leadership (EIL) Program that identifies key sustainability guidance documents; explains principles; provides vision, goals and strategies; recognizes accomplishments; identifies plans and projects; and provides a "toolkit" of resources to encourage sustainable practices.
• Developed and approved a Sustainability Policy Statement for the Park's EIL Program.
• Developed EIL newsletters that inform employees and community members regarding program success stories.
• Coordinated an annual Earth Day event in Talkeetna, Alaska. Recycling Program
• Expanded the Park’s recycling program to include the addition of numerous materials to be collected for re-use and recycling.
• Constructed a new recycling building and collected additional materials for re-use and recycling.
• Included a requirement in the Park’s new concessions contract that provides visitors with the opportunity to recycle at campgrounds.
• Collected 9,000 lbs of sled dog waste which is composted and made available for landscaping purposes. Shed fur is saved for local crafts people who spin it, dye it, knit it and make hats, headbands, and other items.
• Conducted a Sustainable Design Feasibility Study for the Park’s visitor center and the Wonder Lake Ranger Station.
• Installed numerous photovoltaic systems at remote sites ranging from roadside restroom facilities to mountaineering base camps on glaciers and up to 14,000- foot elevation on Mount McKinley
• Converted from fuel oil to propane at most housing units.
• Implemented aTransportation Advisory Group is exploring the potential for providing mass transit to the Park from surrounding communities.
• Began replacing 2-stroke snowmobiles with 4-stroke powered machines.
• Purchased and used bio-based hydraulic oil, chainsaw bar oil, and 2-stroke injection oil.
• Committed to convert to selected green cleaning products by 2004.

Denali Park’s broad range of accomplishments is a model for all NPS facilities and demonstrates the Park’s dedication to sustainability practices.

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Signal Mountain Lodge, Concessioner

Park Location: Grand Teton National Park

Signal Mountain Lodge (Signal), a concession operation run by Forever Resorts, LLC, operates in Grand Teton National Park. Signal is the first NPS concessioner to be certified by Green Seal, a third party certifier of environmentally preferable products and services. The following is a partial list highlighting their accomplishments:

• Received ISO 140001 Certification of their Environmental Management System (EMS).
• Implemented an innovative program called “Green Dot” to inform customers about green products in their operations.
• Began converting incandescent and old fluorescent lighting to more energy efficient bulbs and fixtures.
• Implemented programmable timers and sensors for lighting in low traffic areas.
• Installed water conserving showerheads and faucets.

In addition, Signal continues to:

• Purchase and use automatic dishwashing detergent that is biodegradable and does not contain environmentally harmful constituents.
• Purchase naturally derived, nontoxic, non-phosphate, biodegradable, concentrated laundry detergents and cleaning products.
• Use only latex and low VOC paints and lower VOC stains.
• Purchase paper products that are recycled and meet or exceed the EPA's guidelines for post consumer content.
• Sell only E-10 gas, a 10% ethanol fuel to help reduce harmful air emissions.
• Use bulk soap dispensers in guest units to help reduce waste from individually wrapped soap and shampoo products.
• Use non-poisonous insecticides and pesticides.
• Offer environmentally responsible cleaning and paper products for sale to guests.
• Provide incentives and awards to employees who demonstrate environmental excellence.

Signal Mountain Lodge exemplifies what NPS concessioners can do to achieve environmental excellence and be a model partner with the Park Service in its efforts to preserve and protect natural resources for future generations.

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William P. Quinn, Chief of Operations

Park Location: Petrified Forest National Park

Recycling opportunities at Petrified Forest National Park are limited due to the lack of a recycling center within a reasonable distance and due to the high cost of shipping materials to recycling centers located a great distance from the Park.

As Chief of Operations at Petrified Forest National Park, William “Pat” Quinn recognized an opportunity to implement a recycling partnership that could benefit not only the Park, but communities surrounding the Park. Mr. Quinn brought together concerned individuals from Northeastern Arizona who are interested in recycling. Through a series of meetings, Mr. Quinn helped all of the diverse parties develop a cooperative recycling partnership, the Northeastern Arizona Recycling Alliance (NEARA). Since it became operational, NEARA has diverted approximately 5,880 tons of materials from landfill disposal.

In September, 2002 NEARA initiated a comprehensive recycling program at schools called “Hop to It.” The program is run by students and its goal is to educate school children, faculty, custodial staff, and parents about recycling. Since September 2002, each school in the program has diverted over eight tons of paper to recycling centers.

Mr. Quinn’s efforts demonstrate how one person can help the National Park Service to protect and preserve natural resources and inspire others, both inside and outside the Park Service, to do the same.

Honorable Mention

California Guest Services, Inc., Concessioner

Park Location: Lassen Volcanic National Park

California Guest Services, Inc. is a small business concessioner serving visitors to Lassen Volcanic National Park. Despite the fact that many small concessioners see greening their operations as a potentially costly endeavor, California Guest Services has made significant commitments to solid waste reduction and environmentally preferable purchasing. The following lists some of the company’s noteworthy accomplishments:

• Reduced use of solid waste disposal services and moved their own recyclables out of the Park. In the first year they:
  • Cut tipping fees and put 17,000 fewer pounds of traditional trash in the county land fill, a 50% improvement;
  • Recycled 243 lbs. of aluminum cans, 3,354 lbs. of colored glass, 678 lbs. of plastic, 238 lbs. of tin, 164 lbs. of newsprint, 7,820 lbs. of cardboard, and 4,800 lbs. of paper; and
  • Recycled 50 gallons of used motor oil and 72 gallons of used cooking oil and grease; both products were re-refined and reused.
• Required that their purchasing department seek out environmentally friendly products, including products that have been evaluated by the National Park Service and other agencies.
• Influenced manufacturers, through perseverance and purchasing loyalty, to create and ship more biodegradable items with higher post consumer content such as trash liners, wax-free unbleached drinking cups, and soy-based eating utensils
• Requested vendors to eliminate styrofoam packaging from shipping crates, and instead use biodegradable products such as paper strips and reusable foam. Reusable items are returned by roundtrip freight agreements.
• Conducted Environmental Stewardship campfire presentations at the Manzanita Lake Campground. These presentations inform visitors about California Guest Services and their commitment to greening their operations. Company personnel and Park Interpretive staff have collaborated on the content of these presentations.

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Facility Management Division

Park Location: Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park operates a seasonal Ranger Station complex at Waterton Lake that consists of a dormitory, apartments, maintenance structures, and a ranger station. The station was originally supplied with power via two 15 kilowatt propane-powered generators that operated approximately eight hours a day throughout the season. Approximately 1000 gallons of propane, a hazardous material, was shipped to the station during each month of operation.

In order to reduce costs and eliminate the hazards of shipping propane to the site, the Park installed a water-powered turbine in a nearby creek. The turbine is able to generate 15 kilowatts of power even during low creek flow periods. The installation of this turbine has allowed the Park to:

• Eliminate burning fossil fuels at the station complex;
• Cut noise and regulated air pollution associated with generation of electricity;
• Eliminate the hazards of transporting fuel to the site;
• Provide a reliable source of electrical generation;
• Reuse a historical water diversion; and
• Utilize propane generation only in emergencies.

To further reduce power requirements, the Park retrofitted the station complex with energy efficient electrical components. The completed project has met all of its objectives and is in second year of operation. It is anticipated that this project will continue to save the Park Service a minimum of $12,000 annually for the estimated life of the equipment (30 years).

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Grand Teton Lodge Company, Concessioner

Park Location: Grand Teton National Park

The Grand Teton Lodge Company (GTLC), a concessioner operating in Grand Teton National Park, has made great strides in their environmental stewardship program. Some of their noteworthy accomplishments include:

• Developed an environmental policy that has been adopted by employees and communicated to the public and guests.
• Implemented an Environmental Management System (EMS).
• Established an EMS team that required employees to undertake comprehensive environmental training and be assigned specific responsibilities.
• Brought in a third party audit team to ensure compliance with ISO 14001 EMS standards.
• Began a partnership with the Park to greatly expand the use of bio-diesel. • Continued to offer environmentally friendly ethanol blend fuel.
• Pioneered a recycling program that recycles over 150 tons of paper, plastics, wood and metals from visitor operations each year.
• Sponsored community-wide computer recycling effort.
• Committed to purchasing and using environmentally friendly products.
• Upgraded facilities to include energy efficient windows, lighting systems, appliances, radiant heat systems, and electronic controls, and water efficient fixtures.
• Removed, recycled, and reapplied asphalt in the same location.
• Invested in cleaner and quieter 4-stroke engines in all motor boats.

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Green Committee

Park Location: Homestead National Monument

In 2002, Homestead National Monument, a designated Center for Environmental Innovation, hosted an Environmental Exposition for the local community to highlight environmentally friendly and sustainable practices. The exposition was made possible by the formation of partnerships with many local and regional companies. Each of the participating companies highlighted their sustainable and green practices at the exposition.

In addition, the Monument itself provided excellent examples of sustainable practices for the exposition. Visitor bathrooms use sensors to activate water flow for the toilets and sinks and the lights are triggered by motion sensors. The visitor center staff use a wood burning stove during the winter months to heat portions of the Center. Geo-thermal heat pumps are used to heat and cool the visitor center. The parking lot and entrance sign have been fitted with photovoltaic panels for illumination. All exterior lighting has been fitted with bulbs that last for up to 12,000 hours.

This exposition will become an annual event allowing more visitors to participate in the future. Providing this forum gave the Monument and participating companies an opportunity to present visitors to the Park with information on sustainable practices that can beneficially impact the environment.

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Mammoth Cave National Park

In 2001, Mammoth Cave National Park, a designated Center for Environmental Innovation, formed an Environmental Leadership Committee. The committee prepared the Park’s “Strategic Plan for Environmental Leadership” in 2002. To date, the Park has either completed or begun work on 77% of the plan action items. The following lists some of the noteworthy accomplishments that have resulted from the implementation of this plan:

• Converted 100% of its vehicle fleet of passenger cars and light trucks to alternative fuels. Virtually all diesel equipment operated by both the Park and by the concessioner use bio-diesel fuel.
• Continued to implement a comprehensive recycling program for paper, plastic, bottles, aluminum and tin cans, copier cartridges, phone books, catalogues, cardboard, scrap metal, oil, newspaper, and kitchen grease.
• Mass-produced four products: a narrated power point presentation; a site bulletin hand-out; a pop-up display; and a section on the Park’s web site.
• Developed and implemented a comprehensive green procurement program that mandates the use of “green” products. All contracts have required “green” clauses that mandate the use of “green” materials. Contractors are also required to implement a waste reduction program.
• Implemented routine purchasing of products made from recycled materials, including: copier paper, toilet paper, facial tissue, paper clips, toner cartridges for printers, faxes, & copiers, telephones, and lumber.
• Organized an Environmental Leadership Workshop for over 50 participants, including National Park Service employees from National Parks in the Southeast, representatives from local area governments, staff members from other Federal agencies, partners, and private businesses.
• Installed conservation sensors on water fixtures for toilets and sinks.
• Equipped new buildings with energy-saving, motion-activated light sensors • Reduced use of batteries in the Park by 85% from use of LED lights on the Wild Cave tour.
• Designed a new water system with at least a 20% savings of water use.
• Replaced the six miles of cave lighting with LED and new technology lamps that will significantly reduce life-cycle cost.
• Developed and coordinated the implementation of a Hazmat Response Plan to minimize the impact of hazardous material incidents outside the Park on the sensitive cave hydrologic system.

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Roger Lobato, Materials Handler

Park Location: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

As the Materials Handler at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Mr. Roger Lobato is in charge of purchasing, receiving, warehousing, and issuing consumable items. He continually seeks pollution prevention, waste minimization, and recycling opportunities while striving to please customers. Mr. Lobato’s noteworthy accomplishments include:

• Replaced conventionally purchased, stored and issued conventional antifreeze with environmentally preferable, non-toxic antifreeze.
• Switched the entire Park over to low mercury, “green” fluorescent light bulbs.
• Implemented the DOI policy to use 100% post consumer use copy paper.
• Incorporated Chevron ECO re-refined oil into the Park’s motor fleet maintenance program.
• Instituted a program to use recycled printer cartridges.
• Introduced peppermint oil as a natural way to deter rodents in enclosed areas (peppermint oil is noxious to rodents).
• Generated a list of hazardous materials that are purchased through him and stored in his warehouse. He routinely updates the inventory and screens for environmentally unfriendly products which he can eliminate from usage in the Park.

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Xanterra Parks & Resorts, Concessioner

Park Location: Mount Rushmore National Monument

Xanterra Parks & Resorts is responsible for all operations at Mt Rushmore National Monument. As part of a commitment to protect natural resources at the Monument, Xanterra has implemented a comprehensive environmental program called Ecologix. The foundation of the program is the company’s ISO 140001 certified Environmental Management System (EMS).

Through their comprehensive EMS, Xanterra has implemented 28 initiatives aimed at reducing waste, conserving energy, and increasing the use of environmentally preferable products. Some of their noteworthy initiatives include, but are not limited to:

• Conducted extensive lighting retrofits, even at the retail level.
• Implemented a number of de-lamping measures at facilities throughout the Monument.
• Developed and implemented an Energy Management in Food Service program designed to encourage efficiency and energy awareness in all food service areas.
• Initiated green procurement practices such as purchase of garbage bags that are 30 percent post consumer recycled; yellow note pads that are 60 percent recycled, 30 percent post consumer, and registry facial tissue that is 100 % recycled paper with a minimum of 20% post consumer fiber.
• Developed a company-wide fish policy that bans certain fish species that either result in significant environmental impact or are becoming commercially extinct.
• Reduced solid waste generation at the Monument through implementation of innovative methods to re-use and recycle waste.