DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK, May 23, 2007 - The Furnace Creek Inn & Ranch Resort in Death Valley National Park has been accepted into the Environmental Protection Agency's Performance Track program. 
 
The EPA's Performance Track program recognizes top environmental performers that commit to "sound environmental management, continuous improvement, public outreach and sustained environmental compliance."
 

National Environmental Performance Track Performance Track is a partnership that recognizes top environmental performance among participating U.S. facilities of all types, sizes, and complexity, public and private. Program partners are providing leadership in many areas, including some that are not currently regulated, such as energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, and water consumption. Currently, the program has about 450 members and welcomes all qualifying facilities. Applications are accepted twice a year: April 1 - May 31, and September 1 - October 31. Annual performance reports and renewal applications are available on February 1 and due on April 1. National Environmental Performance Track

According to the EPA, Performance Track members demonstrate in their daily business operations that economic prosperity and environmental protection go hand-in-hand. 
 
Members of the EPA Performance Track Program receive incentives such as public recognition and low inspection priority. Members are also eligible for several kinds of administrative flexibility and streamlined administrative requirements that reduce costs and enable members to achieve better environmental results. 
 
Furnace Creek's goals for 2007 include:

• Decreasing water consumption by eight percent of its 2003 baseline
• Decreasing solid waste by increasing recycling by 43 percent over the 2003 baseline
• Decreasing electricity usage by three percent of its 2003 baseline
• Procuring two sustainable retail items in the General Store
• Adding two sustainable food items to the menu