Partners from the Federal Environmental Executive, Department of Defense, the Army, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and other state and federal agencies formally agreed to promote and facilitate sustainable principles and practices by chartering the Region 5 Sustainability Network on April 25, 2007.  The Michigan DEQ hosted a signing ceremony during its Federal Facilities Workshop at the Next Energy Center in Detroit's Tech Town.

The Region 5 Sustainability Network will serve to connect federal and state agencies with each other and with leaders of sustainability from local governments, organizations, and businesses. The Network is structured to be an open and objective forum where members share successful projects and technologies and take a regional approach to promote and facilitate sustainability.

In opening the signing ceremony, Ms. Amy Butler of Michigan DEQ observed, "We cannot solve today's problems with yesterday's framework. We have to look together for opportunity to solve related issues. Partnerships drive solutions to problems faced by each of us.  We need to look beyond the fence line, the state line, and the organizational line to succeed."

Federal Environmental Executive Edwin Piņero agreed. "Sustainable environmental stewardship requires collaboration and cooperation among federal and state agencies, as well as businesses and industry," he said.

Speaking for the Army, Tad Davis, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Environment, Safety and Occupational Health added, "Sustainability is not just a leader responsibility. It's the responsibility of everyone."

Also signing the charter were the Department of Defense, the Navy Region Midwest, Defense Logistics Agency, Illinois Waste Management and Research Center, the Michigan Army National Guard, and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The EPA Regional Administrator for Region 5 and representatives from other states plan to sign the charter in the coming months.

The Sustainability Network plans to start its activities in June 2007 with a survey of member needs.  An organizational teleconference will take place in August, followed by its first formal teleconference in September.

For more information contact Tony Nesky at 410-436-7248, tony.nesky@us.army.mil.