NASCAR and the EPA yesterday announced they have formed a partnership to "find and promote more environmentally friendly products and initiatives, and to raise awareness of the importance of environmental protection," according to a front-page piece by Dinah Voyles Pulver of the Daytona Beach NEWS-JOURNAL. The EPA noted NASCAR had "already taken on an environmental stewardship role with its switch to greener fuels and recycling programs." NASCAR Managing Dir of Green Innovation Mike Lynch said that more than 27% of adults in the U.S. "identify themselves as NASCAR fans," giving the sport an "enormous fan base" for spreading the word about environmentally friendly programs and products. Lynch said that the agreement "is voluntary and could range from analyzing NASCAR's own operations to agency assistance in finding and buying greener products for concession stands, such as paper products and cups made from recycled materials." He also said that the partnership will help NASCAR with such things "as conserving water and helping the EPA to promote awareness of its programs." The agency has "signed similar agreements with other groups during the past several years, including the American Dental Association and the International Dairy Foods Association." However, EPA spokesperson Dale Kemery said the agreement with NASCAR is the "biggest" in terms of advancing the agency's goals for two of its environmental programs. EPA officials said that the Design for the Environment program "focuses on safer products," while the Economy, Energy and Environment program "promotes safer manufacturing" (Daytona Beach NEWS-JOURNAL, 5/22).
