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 ommander Navy Region Southwest's Naval Facilities
Engineering Command in San Diego is among six federal agency
offices announcing that they are embarking on an unprecedented
effort to understand and demonstrate sustainable environmental
and business practices.
 In a
statement of unity signed at the Earth Day celebration at Seattle
Center on April 22, the directors said, "Federal agencies
can demonstrate leadership and by their example can inspire all
of society to advance an agenda for sustainability."
As the world's
largest purchaser of consumer products, the agencies recognize
that the federal government needs to model the behaviors and
actions it encourages or mandates in the private sector.
"The
Navy continues to take active steps in enhancing its operations
by collaborating with other Federal Agencies on their successes
in sustainable practices," said Capt. Bob Phillips, Commander,
Southwest Division, Naval Facilities Engineering Command in San
Diego. "While we as government agencies have done a lot
individually to support the environment, we're excited about
working together to leverage the opportunities to make real environmental
gains," said Chuck Clarke, EPA's Region 10 Administrator.
"We'll examine a number of potential actions, such as bulk
purchasing of products, to see what the government can do to
help further open the door to sustainable practices."
"We can
make a huge difference by capitalizing on the impact the government
has on purchasing environmentally sensitive products and services,"
said L. Jay Pearson, Northwest/Arctic Regional Administrator
of the General Services Administration, the agency responsible
for making government purchases.
Purchasing
recycled products, constructing energy efficient buildings, instituting
pollution prevention measures and increasing recycling efforts
are all part of the information sharing the agencies plan to
pursue.
The West Coast
offices of the US Environmental Protection Agency, the National
Park Service, the General Services Administration, the US Department
of Energy, the Naval Facilities Engineering Command and the Air
Force office of Environment, Safety and Health are signatories
thus far. Other interested federal agencies are encouraged to
participate in the Federal Network for Sustainability. 
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