Fall 2016 edition of the DoD Chesapeake Bay Program Journal, published quarterly and sponsored by the DOD/Navy Chesapeake Bay Program Office. See attached.

The final "Policy to Mitigate the Acute Risk to Bees from Pesticide Products," describes methods for addressing acute risks to bees from pesticides. Applications of acutely toxic pesticides would be prohibited under certain conditions when bees are most likely to be present. While the restrictions focus on managed bees, EPA believes that these measures will also protect native bees and other pollinators that are in and around treatment areas.

Safeguarding the Nation from the Impacts of Invasive Species
8 December 2016
This EO amends EO 13112 and directs Federal Agency actions to continue coordinated Federal prevention and control efforts related to invasive species.

The Fall 2016 issue of Natural Selections, the DoD Natural Resources Program quarterly newsletter, is attached. The newsletter highlights training within DoD and includes updates from various DoD programs, initiatives, and partnerships.

Summer 2016 edition of the DoD Chesapeake Bay Program Journal, published quarterly and sponsored by the DOD/Navy Chesapeake Bay Program Office. See attached.

The Climate Ready Estuaries program (CRE) works with the National Estuary Programs and the coastal management community to assess climate change vulnerabilities, develop and implement adaptation strategies, and engage and educate stakeholders. Recently added resources to the CRE website address how much the sea has risen, how much it might rise, and what the impacts might be.

The Summer 2016 issue of Natural Selections, the DoD Natural Resources Program quarterly newsletter, is attached. The newsletter highlights training within DoD and includes updates from various DoD programs, initiatives, and partnerships.

For raising awareness and addressing the impacts of climate change on America's natural resources, seven awardees were recently recognized as the first recipients of the Climate Adaption Leadership Award for Natural Resources. The new award recognizes the outstanding leadership by organizations and individuals who develop innovative approaches to prevent changes that are affecting wildlife and natural resources. The Department of the Interior established the award as part of the Administration's Priority Agenda for Enhancing the Climate Resilience of America's Natural Resources.

Published April 2016, this report highlights DoD's FY2015 key accomplishments, FY2014 and FY2015 programmatic milestone progress, and future planning efforts of the DoD Chesapeake Bay Program. See attached.

April 2016 version of the quarterly publication of "The Corps Environment" newsletter published by the USACE Environmental Community of Practice. The purpose of this newsletter is to provide information about USACE and Army environmental actions, issues, policies and technologies.

This newly released report collating data from the 2011 survey finds that less than half of wetland area, 48%, is in good condition based on plant community. Of the stressors the NWCA examined, physical alterations to wetland habitat such as surface compaction, ditches, or plant removal are the most widespread: 27% of wetland area nationally has high stress levels for surface hardening and vegetation removal, and 23% of wetland area has high stress levels for ditching. This is the first national monitoring study of the overall condition of wetlands conducted with a statistically-valid random sample approach.

American Wetlands Month is a time when EPA and their partners in federal, state, tribal, local, non-profit and private sector organizations celebrate the vital importance of wetlands to our Nation's ecological, economic and social health. Wetlands help improve water quality, increase water storage and supply, reduce flooding and provide critical habitat for plants, fish and wildlife. Checkout activities and ways you can celebrate at this website.

The Department of Defense (DoD) has announced the winners of the 2016 Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards. Each year since 1962, the Secretary of Defense has recognized individuals, teams, and installations for their outstanding achievements and innovative work protecting the environment while sustaining mission readiness. Military Services and Defense Agencies may submit one nomination for each of the nine award categories. A diverse panel of judges representing federal and state agencies, academia, and the private sector select the winners.

Fall 2015 edition of the DoD Chesapeake Bay Program Journal, published quarterly and sponsored by the DOD/Navy Chesapeake Bay Program Office. See attached.

Winter 2015/2016 edition of the DoD Chesapeake Bay Program Journal, published quarterly and sponsored by the DOD/Navy Chesapeake Bay Program Office. See attached.

The Spring 2016 issue of Natural Selections, the DoD Natural Resources Program quarterly newsletter, is attached. The newsletter highlights training within DoD and includes updates from various DoD programs, initiatives, and partnerships.

January 2016 version of the quarterly publication of "The Corps Environment" newsletter published by the USACE Environmental Community of Practice. The purpose of this newsletter is to provide information about USACE and Army environmental actions, issues, policies and technologies.

Water Resource Management and EO 13693 GSA and EPA invite all federal, state and local agencies, NGO's, and interested parties to the first meeting of the water resource management workgroup to learn of current programs, discuss challenges and identify potential collaborative efforts to meet the requirements of EO 13693. You can attend this meeting either virtually or in Lakewood, CO on February 24, 2016. See the attached flyer for details

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released the 2010 National Coastal Condition Assessment showing that more than half of the nation's coastal and Great Lakes nearshore waters are rated good for biological and sediment quality, while about one-third are rated good for water quality. In almost all coastal waters, however, contaminants in fish tissue pose a threat to sensitive predator fish, birds, and wildlife. The National Coastal Condition Assessment is part of a series of National Aquatic Resource Surveys (NARS) designed to advance the science of coastal monitoring and answer critical questions about the condition of waters in the United States.

(WASHINGTON, Dec. 16, 2015) – In support of the Obama Administration's Climate Action Plan, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) jointly released the Biogas Opportunities Roadmap Progress Report today, updating the federal government's progress to reduce methane emissions through biogas systems since the Biogas Opportunities Roadmap was completed by the three agencies in July 2014. Today's report highlights actions taken, outlines challenges and opportunities, and identifies next steps to the growth of a robust biogas industry.

The Department of Defense and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service collaborated to produce the fall 2015 Wildlife Stewardship & National Defense issue of the Endangered Species Bulletin (ESB). This issue focuses on DoD's projects that sustain the military mission while protecting and managing endangered, threatened, and candidate species.

The Fall 2015 issue of Natural Selections, the DoD Natural Resources Program quarterly newsletter, is attached. This newsletter focuses on climate climate and includes updates from various DoD programs, initiatives, and partnerships.

The GreenGov Presidential Awards celebrate extraordinary achievement in the pursuit of President Obama's Federal Sustainability goals. They honor Federal civilian and military personnel, agency teams, agency projects, facilities, and programs that exemplify President Obama's charge to lead by example.

On November 23, the White House announced eight awards in seven different categories to individuals and teams. These honorees exemplify our Federal workforce's commitment to meeting the President's directive to create a clean energy economy that will increase our Nation's prosperity, promote energy security, protect the interests of taxpayers, combat climate change, and safeguard the health of our environment.

Summer 2015 edition of the DoD Chesapeake Bay Program Journal, published quarterly and sponsored by the DOD/Navy Chesapeake Bay Program Office. See attached.

The DOI, USDA, EPA, NOAA, and USACE have recognized three new collaborative landscape partnerships across the country. Federal agencies will focus there on efforts with partners to conserve and restore important lands and waters and make them more resilient to a changing climate. These include the California Headwaters, California's North-Central Coast and Russian River Watershed and Crown of the Continent.

Federal land managers are charged with maintaining the delicate balance of providing access to resources and quality visitor experiences while at the same time protecting those resources. This presentation is intended to help federal land managers gain a familiarity with planning and design guidebooks and standards in order to increase awareness of possible solutions or facilities and enable the federal land managers to communicate more effectively with planners and engineers.

Under the leadership of the U.S. EPA and USDA, the "Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators" has been released on 19 May 2015. Accompanying the Strategy document are the "Pollinator Research Action Plan,' and "Pollinator-Friendly Best Management Practices for Federal Lands."

EPA, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of the Interior and NOAA, have recognized four collaborative landscape partnerships across the country where federal agencies will focus efforts with partners to conserve and restore important lands and waters and make them more resilient to a changing climate. Building on existing collaborations, the Resilient Lands and Waters partnerships located in southwest Florida, Hawaii, Washington, and the Great Lakes region will help build resilience in regions vulnerable to climate change and related challenges. They will also showcase the benefits of landscape-scale management approaches and help enhance the carbon storage capacity of these natural areas.

Public Works Digest is an unofficial publication of the U.S. Army Installation Management Command, under AR 360-1, The Army Public Affairs Program. The April/May/June edition covers various environment and sustainability news and activities throughout the Army. See attachment.

Winter 2014-2015 edition of the DoD Chesapeake Bay Program Journal, published quarterly and sponsored by the DOD/Navy Chesapeake Bay Program Office. See attached.

The Winter 2014-2015 issue of Natural Selections, the DoD Natural Resources Program quarterly newsletter, is attached. The newsletter highlights training within DoD and includes updates from various DoD programs, initiatives, and partnerships.

(WASHINGTON, February 13, 2015) – As part of President Obama's Climate Action Plan Virtual Climate Resilience Toolkit, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the release of the Climate Adjustment Tool for EPA's Stormwater Management Model – a widely-used, downloadable online stormwater simulation model. The Climate Adjustment Tool allows engineers and planners to evaluate the performance of water infrastructure while considering future climate change projections, such as more frequent high-intensity storms and changes in evaporation rates of seasonal precipitation, to determine the benefits of resiliency decisions to reduce local economic burden and protect communities.

The Obama Administration has released final Principles, Requirements and Guidelines (PR&G) for Federal investments in water resources, marking the first update to these important guidelines in more than three decades. In addition to helping cut costs and accelerate project approvals, the modernized PR&G guides Federal agencies to support water infrastructure projects with the greatest economic and community benefits.

FINAL REMINDER - ONLY 3 DAYS LEFT TO PARTICIPATE! The White House is launching the second GreenGov Challenge! If you're a federal employee, share your idea on how the federal government can lead by example in eight different categories -- from climate change mitigation and resilience, to water conservation, to waste reduction. Submissions are open until 5 December 2014. After the submission period closes, GreenGov will release the approved submissions and all federal employees will be able to vote for their favorite ideas.

This is a DoD-sponsored newsletter issued as a part of their Natural Resources Program. The newsletter updates the status of the program, provides information on training and meetings, and highlights success stories and future plans.

Fall 2014 edition of the DoD Chesapeake Bay Program Journal, published quarterly and sponsored by the DOD/Navy Chesapeake Bay Program Office. See attached.

On 31 October 2014 Federal agencies released their plans for reducing their greenhouse gas emissions and preparing for climate change impacts such as flooding, sea level rise, severe weather and temperature extremes. The current agency Climate Change Adaptation Plans build on the first set of plans, which was released in February, 2013, and respond to a November 2013 Executive Order on Preparing the United States for the Impacts of Climate Change that established requirements for updating and reporting on progress on agency Adaptation plans.

President Obama's June 2014 memorandum, Creating a Federal Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators, directs Federal agencies to take steps to protect and restore domestic populations of pollinators. To help achieve this goal, CEQ issued on October 22, 2014 an addendum to its sustainable landscape guidance, Supporting the Health of Honey Bees and other Pollinators. The guidance will help Federal agencies incorporate pollinator friendly practices in new construction, building renovations, landscaping improvements, and in facility leasing agreements at Federal facilities and on Federal lands.

For additional information on the importance of the revised guidance, see Kate Brandt's CEQ blog, Good News for the Bees: Supporting Pollinators at Federal Facilities.

This webinar from September 2014 assist NRCS conservation planners, partners, and technical service providers to understand the importance of Essential Fish Habitat, Coastal Zones, and Coral Reefs, and how to properly analyze and document existing conditions and the effects of planned conservation actions. Primary topics include: legal foundations, information/data sources, tools, mitigation measures, and documentation requirements including examples.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have released an initial assessment of contamination at Tern Island, a remote island in the chain of Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI). The results show that there have been releases of hazardous substances such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and lead from military wastes buried on the island between World War II and 1979, and further action is warranted.

During this Northwest Environmental Training Center (NWETC) online course the specific technical and regulatory approaches to completing ecological risk assessments will be reviewed, with a focus on providing a hands-on understanding of an ERA, including the data collection aspects of the various lines of evidence used. Case studies of both aquatic and terrestrial settings will be examined, and active engagement with the attendees will reinforce the points presented.

EPA's Climate Ready Estuaries, a program that works with the National Estuary Programs and coastal management community on assessing climate change vulnerabilities and developing and implementing adaptation strategies, has redesigned their website. Resources are now easier to find and webpages are now searchable. New features include interactive maps of Climate Ready Estuary projects, king tides, and more.

Summer 2014 edition of the DoD Chesapeake Bay Program Journal, published quarterly and sponsored by the DOD/Navy Chesapeake Bay Program Office. See attached.

This is the summer issue of the DoD-sponsored newsletter issued as a part of the Legacy Resource Management Program. The newsletter updates the status of the Legacy program, provides information on training and meetings, and highlights success stories and future plans. The theme of this issue is birds.

FedCenter is now on Facebook! Become a fan and follow us on Facebook, where you'll find valuable information that you need to help meet your environmental stewardship and compliance obligations. To follow us on Facebook, go to https://facebook.com/fedcenter.

Welcome to the Watershed Academy's module on forestry best management practices (BMPs) in watersheds. This module, along with similar modules on agriculture and urban management, is about controlling impacts from common land use activities that often affect watersheds, water quality, and the condition of aquatic ecosystems. After completing this module, you should be familiar with the steps commonly involved in planning and carrying out timber harvest and reforestation, and several of the basic ways to reduce or avoid impacts on water resources during these activities. Self-test questions appear at the end of the module's eight sections.

Instruction covers the technical, policy, and practical aspects of recovery planning and implementation for threatened and endangered species. This course will enhance your ability to plan for and effectively implement conservation actions for listed trust species and their habitats. Topics covered include: statutory framework, purpose and steps of recovery plan development, how and why to involve stakeholders, working with recovery teams and partners, policies and guidance relevant to recovery, the relationship of recovery to all parts of the Endangered Species Act, 5-year reviews, the application of conservation tools such as decision analysis and adaptive management to recovery efforts, recognizing recovery and preparing for delisting, and monitoring. Case studies and exercises are included to reinforce lecture sessions. This course if offered by the U.S. FWS.

The course addresses the basic steps and processes regarding Habitat Conservation Planning under Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act. Case studies and interactive exercises are used to reinforce lecture sessions. This training is offered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Conservation Training Center.

Spring 2014 edition of the DoD Chesapeake Bay Program Journal, published quarterly and sponsored by the DOD/Navy Chesapeake Bay Program Office. See attached.

This May will mark the 24th anniversary of American Wetlands Month, a time when EPA and its partners in federal, state, tribal, local, non-profit, and private sector organizations celebrate the vital importance of wetlands to the Nation's ecological, economic, and social health. It is also a great opportunity to discover and teach others about the important role that wetlands play in our environment and the significant benefits they provide - improved water quality, increased water storage and supply, reduced flood and storm surge risk, and critical habitat for plants, fish, and wildlife.

The Department of Defense (DoD) announced the winners of the 2014 Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards on April 21, 2014. Each year, since 1962, the Department has honored individuals, teams, and installations for their outstanding achievements in environmental performance. In naming the winners of the 2014 Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards, Frank Kendall, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, stated, "Their remarkable achievements exemplify the Department's continued commitment to sustain mission readiness while cost-effectively addressing environmental issues, thereby increasing efficiencies and supporting the quality of life for service members, their families, and local communities."

EPA and the Army Corps have jointly released a proposed rule to clarify protection under the Clean Water Act for streams and wetlands that form the foundation of the nation's water resources. The proposed rule clarifies protection for streams and wetlands. The proposed definitions of waters will apply to all Clean Water Act (CWA) programs. It does not protect any new types of waters that have not historically been covered under the Clean Water Act and is consistent with the Supreme Court's more narrow reading of Clean Water Act jurisdiction. EPA has provided detailed explanations of the impact of the proposed rule on its' website.

Winter 2013 edition of the DoD Chesapeake Bay Program Journal, published quarterly and sponsored by the DOD/Navy Chesapeake Bay Program Office. See attached.

The Winter 2013-2014 issue of Natural Selections, the DoD Natural Resources Program quarterly newsletter, is attached. The newsletter highlights success stories among the Military Services over the past year and includes updates from various DoD programs, initiatives, and partnerships.

DoD Manual 4715.03, INRMP Implementation Manual was published on 8 November 2013 and establishes implementing guidance to manage DoD's natural resources for mission and stewardship purposes.

(WASHINGTON, D.C., November 5, 2013) The White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) today announced the fourth annual winners of the GreenGov Presidential Awards, which honor Federal civilian and military personnel as well as agency teams, facilities, and programs that have taken innovative steps to reduce energy use and carbon pollution, curb waste, and save taxpayer money in Federal agency operations. At a White House ceremony, senior Administration officials recognized the eight award winners for exemplifying President Obama's charge to lead by example and demonstrating extraordinary achievement in the pursuit of the President's 2009 Executive Order on Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy and Economic Performance (Executive Order 13514). Click here for the full announcement.
UPDATE Nov. 18: 2013 winner announcement with photo gallery is now available here.

Fall 2013 edition of the DoD Chesapeake Bay Program Journal, published quarterly and sponsored by the DOD/Navy Chesapeake Bay Program Office. See attached.

FedCenter has compiled a topical index of Federally-sponsored and non-profit mobile applications that may be of interest to the Federal environmental community. Mobile applications are those tools and information resources that have been specifically developed for your mobile devices, such as smartphone, tablet, or other Internet-connected hand-held device. The directory will be maintained daily to keep you abreast of any new and useful mobile applications the federal community releases.

The NASA Develop program (http://develop.larc.nasa.gov/IE/indexIE.html) which engages students to use NASA databases to address local environmental problems worked with St. Bernard Parish, LA, groups to recommend suitable planting sites for bald cypress trees. The Gulf of Mexico Program developed the Gulf Guardian awards as a way to recognize and honor businesses, community groups, individuals, and agencies that are taking positive steps to keep the Gulf healthy, beautiful and productive.

The award, presented at the Environment for the Americas International Migratory Bird Day event at the Embassy of Canada in Washington D.C., recognizes DoDs multi-year Migratory Linkages of Burrowing Owls on Department of Defense Installations and Adjacent Lands project. The Presidential Migratory Bird Stewardship Award annually recognizes a single project or action conducted by or in partnership with a Federal agency that meets the intent and spirit of the Executive Order 13186 (Responsibilities of Federal Agencies to Protect Migratory Birds) by focusing on migratory bird conservation.

In partnership with the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), the Urban Waters Federal Partnership is adding 11 new locations to its existing list. The Partnership consists of 11 federal partner agencies working together to restore waterways and their environments, boost recreation, help local economies, create jobs, and protect Americans' health.

The DoD Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards issues awards in the areas of Sustainability, environmental Quality, Environmental Excellence in Weapon Systems Acquisition, Natural Resources Conservation, environmental Restoration, and Cultural Resources.

This Climate Adaptation Strategy provides a roadmap of key steps needed over the next five years to reduce the current and expected impacts of climate change on our natural resources, which include: changing species distributions and migration patterns, the spread of wildlife diseases and invasive species, the inundation of coastal habitats with rising sea levels, changing productivity of our coastal oceans, and changes in freshwater availability. It provides specific voluntary steps that agencies and partners can take in the coming years to reduce costly damages and protect the health of our communities and economy. The strategy does not prescribe any mandatory activities for government or nongovernmental entities, nor suggest any regulatory actions. An intergovernmental steering committee that included representatives from 15 federal agencies, five state fish and wildlife agencies, and two inter-tribal commissions oversaw development of the strategy with support from the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.

EPA, The Nature Conservancy, and the Association of Clean Water Administrators (ACWA) have jointly signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that formalizes a mutual collaboration between these groups as they strive to develop and implement healthy watersheds programs in states and with regional aquatic ecosystem programs to help sustain an integrated network of healthy watersheds across the country. EPA, The Nature Conservancy and ACWA agree to meet periodically to track progress related to developing and implementing healthy watersheds programs in states and with regional aquatic ecosystem programs, as well as promote the sharing of educational and scientific information such as data gathering and sharing of watershed health assessments and healthy watershed implementation projects.

This year's Secretary of the Army Environmental Awards recognize the efforts of Army installations, teams and individuals to sustain and restore the natural and cultural resources found on Army lands throughout the U.S. and in Europe. The six installations, two teams and one individual selected as this year's winners represent the best of the Army's ongoing commitment to sustain its training lands through sound environmental stewardship. The winners are from Army installations in Arizona, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Italy.

The Winter 2012-2013 issue of Natural Selections, the DoD Natural Resources Program quarterly newsletter, is attached. It focuses on key natural resource management issues related to oceans--marine mammals, coral reefs, seabirds, climate change impacts--and includes updates from various DoD programs, initiatives, and partnerships.

The Fall 2012 issue of Natural Selections, the DoD Natural Resources Program quarterly newsletter, is attached. It focuses on policy and planning efforts under way and new resources and tools now available.

Two new features–Steppingstones and What's Hoppin' in DoD PARC–will serve as recurring corners for the DoD Partners in Flight (PIF) and Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC) programs, respectively. With these additions, we hope to provide a more holistic voice for all natural resources topics of interest to our readers.

This 2-day course provides participants first with a broad overview of Site Restoration/Mitigation, and then expands to an examination of specific steps used for innovative restoration and mitigation planning and implementation, applicable to western North America.

The Fall 2011 issue of Natural Selections, the DoD Natural Resources Program quarterly newsletter, is attached. With a focus on the operational benefits of natural resources management, the issue provides examples from the OSD, command, and installation level on efforts to sustain and enhance training and stewardship.

This Department of Defense Instruction 4715.03, signed 14 February 2011, is a major update of DoD guidance established in 1996. It formalizes policies and procedures for the integrated management of natural resources on military lands, air, waters, coastal, and nearshore areas managed or controlled by the Department of Defense. The DoDI updates programming and budgeting priorities, and establishes new performance metrics to better evaluate how natural resources management can enable the military mission and ensure long-term health of installation ecosystems.

WASHINGTON, DC (September 9, 2010) – Continuing a commitment to lead by example, the White House today announced the release of Federal Agency Strategic Sustainability Performance Plans, which work to achieve the environmental, economic and energy goals called for in the Executive Order on Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy and Economic Performance (Executive Order 13514) signed by President Obama on October 5, 2009. This announcement marks the first time agencies have developed and submitted Sustainability Plans, now available at www.whitehouse.gov/ceq. The full announcement is available here.

Based on recommendations of the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force, and under the guidance of a National Ocean Council, this order, signed by President Obama on July 19, 2010, establishes a national policy to ensure the protection, maintenance, and restoration of the health of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems and resources, enhance the sustainability of ocean and coastal economies, preserve our maritime heritage, support sustainable uses and access, provide for adaptive management to enhance our understanding of and capacity to respond to climate change and ocean acidification, and coordinate with our national security and foreign policy interests. This order also provides for the development of coastal and marine spatial plans that build upon and improve existing Federal, State, tribal, local, and regional decisionmaking and planning processes.

On October 19, 2009, the White House launched the GreenGov Challenge to ask all Federal and military personnel to share ideas about how the federal community can lead by example, green the govern­ment, and meet the goals of President Obama's Executive Order on Federal Sustainability. The GreenGov Challenge generated more than 5,000 ideas and 165,000 votes from 14,000 federal employees. The top ideas are summarized in the GreenGov Final Report.

The GreenGov Collaborative, an online discussion group hosted by FedCenter.gov, is your opportunity to work with colleagues across the government to put these ideas into action. This private community offers various discussion forums for you to share your best ideas and strategies, ask questions, and recruit allies in your efforts to create a more sustainable Federal Government.

Participation in the forums is offered to all Federal employees.

Click here to view the President's GreenGov Collaborative message.

Go to Join GreenGov to learn more and sign up!

WASHINGTON (February 3, 2010)– President Barack Obama today announced a series of steps his Administration is taking as part of its comprehensive strategy to enhance American energy independence while building a foundation for a new clean energy economy, and its promise of new industries and millions of jobs. At a meeting with a bipartisan group of governors from around the country, the President laid out three measures that will work in concert to boost biofuels production and reduce our dangerous dependence on foreign oil.

WASHINGTON, DC (January 29, 2010) – President Barack Obama today announced that the Federal Government will reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution by 28 percent by 2020. Reducing and reporting GHG pollution, as called for in Executive Order 13514 on Federal Sustainability, will ensure that the Federal Government leads by example in building the clean energy economy. Actions taken under this Executive Order will spur clean energy investments that create new private-sector jobs, drive long-term savings, build local market capacity, and foster innovation and entrepreneurship in clean energy industries.

FedCenter has added a new topic to its program area lineup - Greenhouse Gases. This area includes the latest guidance and information resources to aid Federal facilities in managing greenhouse gas emissions. This encompasses current guidance, policies, and trends related to climate change/global warming, calculation of carbon footprints, GHG inventories, and the application of offsets to reduce carbon footprints.

President Obama has issued the new Executive Order 13514 on "Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance", which sets sustainability goals for Federal agencies and focuses on making improvements in their environmental, energy and economic performance. The Executive Order requires Federal agencies to set a 2020 greenhouse gas emissions reduction target within 90 days; increase energy efficiency; reduce fleet petroleum consumption; conserve water; reduce waste; support sustainable communities; and leverage Federal purchasing power to promote environmentally-responsible products and technologies.

The summer edition of the US Army Environmental Center's Environmental Update, a quarterly publication of Army environmental news, is now available at http://aec.army.mil/usaec/newsroom/update/sum09/sum09.html.

This year, 15 winners and 13 honorable mentions were selected from nearly 200 nominations in the areas of environmental management systems, pollution prevention, recycling, green product purchasing, alternative fuels, electronics stewardship and sustainable buildings. Recipients include representatives, teams, and programs from across the DoD and non-DoD agencies. The awards ceremony will be held on June 17, 2009, in the Natcher Auditorium of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), in Bethesda, MD, to formally recognize the winners and their programs. See the attached press announcement for all the winners and honorable mentions.

On April 15, 2009, the Department of Defense announced the winners of the 2009 Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards.