WASHINGTON — The United States Mint will receive the 2006 White House “Closing the Circle Award” for its excellent environmental management system, the Office of the Federal Environmental Executive has announced. The agency is one of 16 winners of the award, which recognizes Federal agencies and employees for outstanding achievement in environmental stewardship.
The United States Mint environmental team will receive the award on June 12 at a ceremony at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.
“We at the United States Mint believe that being environmentally responsible is not only an obligation we have to the public but also a practice that makes good business sense,” said United States Mint Deputy Director David A. Lebryk. “This award recognizes our hard work and commitment in sustaining a high level of environmental stewardship.”
The United States Mints at Denver, Philadelphia and West Point, all production facilities, have implemented an environmental management system that meets the environmental standards set by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The three facilities have implemented ISO 14001, which is a premier certified environmental management system. The system is a valuable tool to help organizations meet compliance regulations, improve and maintain environmental performance, and increase the use of pollution prevention.
This year’s 16 White House Closing the Circle Award winners and 11 honorable mentions were selected from 200 nominations in the following seven categories: waste/pollution prevention, recycling, green purchasing, environmental management systems, sustainable design/green buildings, and alternative fuel and fuel conservation.
Created by Executive Order, the Office of the Federal Environmental Executive is a chartered task force under the White House Council on Environmental Quality. It works to promote sustainable environmental stewardship throughout the Federal government by assisting agencies in integrating environmental considerations into their operations.
The United States Mint, the world’s largest producer of coins and coin products, has its headquarters in Washington, D.C., and has production facilities in Denver, Philadelphia, West Point and San Francisco. The agency also is responsible for the protection of the Nation’s gold assets at Fort Knox, Kentucky.