National Partnership for Environmental Priorities (NPEP)

The National Partnership for Environmental Priorities Program (NPEP) encourages public and private organizations to form voluntary partnerships with EPA that reduce the use or release of any of 31 Priority Chemicals (PCs). The benefits of joining the partnership include public recognition for achieving voluntary reductions in Priority Chemicals and links to technical and training assistance services in state and local government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and university technical services.

The goal of the program is to encourage, through recognition, networking, and case example distribution, the minimization of hazardous and industrial wastes, particularly those waste streams containing one or more of the 31 priority chemicals. Under the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA), EPA has established a goal of reducing the amount of Priority Chemicals reported to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) by ten percent by 2008, using the year 2001 as a baseline.

Examples of accomplishments include:
- American Video Glass Company Reduces Waste Batch Disposal by 50%
- Baldwin Hardware Recovers 1,000 Pounds of Lead and Saves $40,000 Annually
- Bowling Green State University Recycles Almost 12,000 Pounds of Elemental Mercury
- Chase Scientific Glass, Inc. Eliminates Lead
- Consumers Energy Reduces Mercury by 70% in Continuing Effort
- Crown Equipment Corporation Eliminates Chromium, Expands NPEP Project, and Saves Over $65,000 Annually
- Flowserve Corporation Eliminates MEK, Saves $45,000 Annually
- International Truck and Engine Corporation Reduces Lead by 98 Percent
- Toyota Motor Manufacturing Eliminates 1,700,000 Pounds of Hazardous Waste
- U. S. Steel Corporation Reduces Lead and Chromic Acid, Saves $43,000
- Wirerope Works, Inc. Eliminates 27,000 Pounds of Lead, Saves $50,000 Annually