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Business Operations,
Sustainable Operations,
Washington Office
201 14th Street SW
Mailstop 1108
Washington, DC 20024

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Sustainable Operations

Sustainability Leadership
Footprint Focus Area

Forest Service leaders are international models for the best sustainable practices. Business practices and operations exceed green standards in fleet, transportation, energy, watershed, purchasing, and waste management.

In 2006, a multi-regional, management-level, interagency Board of directors was established to create a management climate that reduces barriers to sustainable operations and integrates sustainable habits into Forest Service culture. The Board includes representatives from Forest Service Regions 1,2,3, and 4, the Rocky Mountain Research Station, and the Washington Office. EPA is an active advisory member and a BLM representative was recently added.

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The Board met in Yellowstone National park in July 2006 to learn about sustainable operation practices and develop an action plan. This group also developed a vision statement to help implement sustainable Operations principles at all levels of the agency. At the July meeting, the Board agreed to pursue the specific action items.

Quick Links to the topics on this page:

Goal
Guidelines
Letters From Leadership
Performance Criteria
Tools
Presentations
Reports
FAQs

Goal

Model sustainable practices throughout all aspects of Forest Service program management and service delivery.

Lead: WO Ecosystems Coordination

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS: Implement EMS at all appropriate organizational levels to ensure use of EMS as the primary management approach for addressing environmental aspects of agency operations and activities (how we do everything that we do).
Create an informed citizenry by advancing environmental literacy.
- Lead: State and Private Forestry

Guidelines

Help establish place-based efforts through Green Teams in all units including the WO.
Recognize and support sustainable operations champions throughout the agency.
Support Sustainable Operations summits.
Continue to identify ways to institutionalize the ideas of sustainable operations throughout the agency…starting in the West and growing nationally.
Green Teams have been established in many places to improve sustainable operations.
The accountable official at the national level is: Business Operations.

Letters From Leadership

Telework
- This document outlines the Forest Service's current position on telework and the eligibility requirements.
12/21/2009 - Responding to General Government Proposals from the President's SAVE Award [PDF]
- The President’s first-ever SAVE Award invited employees from across the Federal Government to submit their ideas for making our Government more efficient and effective - read about the great ideas.
2/24/2009 Deputy Chief’s Business Operations Awards [RTF]