FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 9, 2004

EPA Administrator Promotes Partnership with Freight Industry

Today, EPA Administrator Mike Leavitt joined 52 freight shippers and carriers from around the nation to promote the SmartWay Transport Partnership. The SmartWay Transport Partnership is a major voluntary program that will increase the energy efficiency and energy security of our country, while significantly reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Today's announcement was made at the American Trucking Association's Annual Leadership Conference at the Capital Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C.

"America has always counted on the freight industry to deliver the goods – in joining this Partnership, you will deliver them in a new, smarter way," Administrator Leavitt said. "By meeting the performance goals established under your leadership, we can make our economy stronger, our air cleaner, and – at the same time – improve your bottom line."

Two years ago, President Bush challenged every sector of the American economy to contribute to reducing the greenhouse gas intensity of our economy by 18 percent by 2012. EPA estimates the SmartWay Transport Partnership can achieve nearly ten percent of the President's goal. In addition, the adoption of SmartWay Transport's best practices in combination with the new regulations for reduction of sulfur in diesel fuel will have an immediate and large impact on meeting the nation's air quality standards.

The SmartWay Transport Partnership also furthers the purposes and objectives of the President's Climate VISION program, launched one year ago to assist industry in adopting improved practices, processes and energy technologies that are cost-effective, cleaner, more efficient, and more capable of reducing the emission of greenhouse gases.

SmartWay Transport partners can achieve fuel efficiency in a variety of ways, including automatic tire-inflation systems, the use of low-viscosity lubricants, reducing truck idling time, and improving routing and scheduling. SmartWay Transport fuel savings will result in reductions of at least 33 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, and 200,000 tons of nitrogen oxides, an air pollutant that causes smog and respiratory problems.

Leavitt welcomed 37 new SmartWay Transport partners and expressed appreciation for the efforts of the 15 charter partners who worked closely with the Agency for more than a year to lay the ground work and develop the goals for the partnership. Charter partners are Canon USA Inc., Coca-Cola Enterprises, CSX Transportation, FedEx Express, H-E-B, IKEA North America, Interface, Nike, Norm Thompson Outfitters, Roadway Express, Schneider National, Swift Transportation, The Home Depot, UPS, and Yellow Transportation. Administrator Leavitt also encouraged any company or organization interested in joining this innovative partnership to do so. Companies can become a SmartWay Transport Partner by committing to an environmental improvement goal over a three-year period and annually reporting their progress to EPA. Partners who achieve superior performance are eligible to display EPA's SmartWay Transport Partnership logo in their advertising, marketing, and business-to-business interactions to signify their environmental stewardship.

Additional information on: SmartWay Transport Partnership is available at: http://www.epa.gov/smartway
Climate VISION is available at: http://www.climatevision.gov