An Assessment of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Environmental Performance Track Program

This report addresses the conceptual basis of the National Environmental Performance Track program, a voluntary program run by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency between 2000 and 2009; its program design; and its implementation. Performance Track sought to improve the quality of the environment by encouraging facilities to recognize and improve all aspects of their environmental performance and by providing a range of benefits, including broad-based recognition, regulatory benefits, and a more open and collaborative relationship between facilities and their regulators. While Performance Track's concepts, design, and implementation had mixed success, the significant environmental challenges that the United States faces require that EPA continue to seek out new approaches that can complement and enhance traditional regulatory approaches. The authors recommend that EPA continue to experiment with voluntary programs, designing tightly focused ones; promote information sharing and networking among regulated entities; strive for complete, clear, and understandable program concepts, designs, and expectations; protect the EPA brand; independently evaluate key program elements; continue to try to change corporate culture to benefit the environment; and identify new ways to independently validate environmental performance.