Richard Greene

Regional Administrator - EPA Region 6

Richard Greene's Biography

Speeches and Articles | 400-Day Plan

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Region 6 400-Day Plan

Our 400-Day Plan identifies our most important Regional objectives, and serves as a road map to outline how we will achieve those objectives by the end of the year. Having built in a 90-day review process, we are able to use this document as a tool to assess our progress and, when needed, adjust our plans.

Air quality in the Houston-Galveston area got a boost when EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson signed the Locomotive and Marine Diesel Engines Rule at a ceremony at the Port of Houston. The national rule will slash harmful diesel emissions from trains ships and help Americans breathe cleaner air.

EPA Region 6 Administrator Richard E. Greene said, “This is another step in the continuing process to bring cleaner air to Texas and the Nation. Each step brings new achievements and cleaner technologies to improve the health of our residents and our quality of life.”

EPA’s Clean Diesel Locomotive and Marine program will work in collaboration with its partners to cut emissions from all types of diesel locomotives, including line-haul, switch, and passenger rail, as well as from a wide range of marine sources, including ferries, tugboats and all types of marine auxiliary engines.

As a result of the rule, the Houston-Galveston area is expected to see reductions of nitrogen oxide emissions of more than 15,000 tons in 2020 and 32,000 tons in 2030. In 2020 the final rule will annually reduce particulate matter emissions in the Houston metro area by 560 tons and by 2030 these reductions will double to about 1,200 tons per year.

In addition to the benefits from the locomotive and marine standards, EPA has issued a number of rules that will help Houston reduce its ozone levels. These include: the toughest ozone eight-hour standard that EPA has ever set, the Clean Air Interstate Rule to reduce ozone forming emissions from power plants and the Clean Air Diesel Rule Program to reduce emissions from highway, non-road and stationary diesel engines.

The Port of Houston is a 25-mile-long complex of diversified public and private facilities located just a few hours’ sailing time from the Gulf of Mexico. The port is ranked first in the U.S. in foreign waterborne tonnage, second in the U.S. in total tonnage, and tenth in the world in total tonnage. The Port of Houston is made up of the Port of Houston Authority and 150-plus private industrial companies along the Houston Ship Channel.

EPA supports fund’s efforts to clean North Texas air

Region 6 Administrator Richard E. Greene spoke at a ceremony honoring several Dallas-Fort Worth area organizations contributing to improving air quality. These groups are the first recipients of grants from the Sue Pope Fund, a philanthropic organization committed to reducing air pollution in North Texas.

The evening’s honorees sponsor a wide range of pollution-reducing projects. These include replacing 325 taxi cabs replaced with more efficient hybrid models; providing new, energy-efficient affordable housing in the Fair Park area of Dallas; providing less polluting electric lawn mowers at a discount to citizens who trade in gas models; and bringing area schools their first hybrid buses. EPA applauds these projects and supports efforts throughout Region 6 to reduce polluting emissions.

The Sue Pope Fund is a partnership between North Texas clean-air advocates Downwinders at Risk and the Holcim Cement company. The grants are funded by a $2.5 million endowment, making it the largest in Texas dedicated solely to reducing air pollution.

Employee forum highlights yearly accomplishments

Last year proved to be our most successful yet. We protected more acres of land, improved resources in more communities, and enhanced collaboration with our partners as never before. Every division, branch, section, and team in our organization can be proud of their contribution towards our record-breaking achievements in protecting human health and the environment. We have attempted to capture these inspiring achievements in the 300-Day Accomplishments report and the Region’s Organizational Assessment, both of which highlight your success in reaching and surpassing many goals of 2007. The achievements outlined in these two reports are compelling, but they do not begin to recognize the countless individual acts and efforts behind them. While our Region and Agency will experience changes in 2008, your expertise and passion will remain a constant and ensure our continued success in protecting our nation’s environment.

I, along with the directors and our senior policy advisor, discussed the accomplishments report and this year's 4000-Day Plan at the recent all-hands forum. Larry Starfield led the group in discussing topics that our executive team has been working on during their our executive sessions. The Leadership Development Program (LDP) also made a presentation on their project to define organizational values that are important for assuring a high-quality workplace in Region 6.

Katy ISD making the grade on indoor air quality

Katy Independent School District and exemplary districts across the nation were recently honored by EPA for implementing successful indoor air quality programs.
 
“Healthy kids and a healthy environment go hand in hand,” said EPA Regional Administrator Richard E. Greene.  Read more …>

Frito-Lay and Lackland AFB recognized by EPA as water efficiency leaders

Frito-Lay Inc. and Lackland Air Force Base were among six winners recently recognized by EPA with 2007 Water Efficiency Leader (WEL) awards for their efforts in reducing, reusing and recycling water.  

“Every drop counts when it comes to conserving water,” said EPA Regional Administrator Richard E. Greene.  Read more …>

Previous 300-Day Plan Accomplishments

Our 300-Day Plan Accomplishments (PDF) (4 pp, 75K, About PDF) report tracks how the Region did in meeting the goals of our previous strategic plan.

EPA honors 2007 Gulf Guardians

EPA and its Gulf of Mexico Program recently announced the Gulf Guardian Awards for 2007.

"Gulf Guardian Awards showcase accomplishments from a broad spectrum of environmental leaders -- from committed individuals to dynamic corporations," said EPA Regional Administrator Richard E. Greene.  Read more …>

Performance Track roundtable aims to accelerate industry environmental efforts 

Companies that are leading the way in “green performance” came together to share best practices and develop more ways to accelerate their environmental efforts during a meeting here October 30.

EPA Region 6 members of the National Environmental Performance Track participated in a program roundtable in Dallas.  Read more …>

Blue Skyways welcomes new partners from Texas, Oklahoma

Cleaner air is on the horizon across the nation's Heartland as 15 new partners and communities are welcomed into the Blue Skyways Collaborative, which spans 10 Midwestern states. 

"Blue Skyways is working to bring cleaner air and healthier lives to the 50 million people who make up America’s heartland," said EPA Regional Administrator Richard E. Greene. "With a growing list of committed partners and pollution control technologies, we are saving millions of gallons of fuel and cutting tons of harmful emissions each year."

The projects of the new partners will reduce yearly air pollution by 900 tons and greenhouse gases by 1,768 tons. These figures will contribute to the total collaborative emissions reductions of 40,840 tons of pollutants and 535,070 tons of greenhouse gases, along with 22 million gallons in fuel savings. Read more …>

New Mexico Environment Department gets EPA inspection credentials 

Formal credentials were recently issued to the New Mexico Environment Department to perform inspections on behalf of EPA.

“The State of New Mexico has worked side-by-side with EPA for years to achieve our shared goal of ensuring clean, safe water for all of its residents,” said EPA Regional Administrator Richard E. Greene.  Read more …>

Helping Communities

It has been correctly observed that progress toward the goal of environmental improvement depends largely on work at the local level. We at EPA are committed to strengthening the relationship between urban development and environmental renewal. By improving the environment, communities become stronger economically and more desirable places to live and work. We are enthusiastic about the programs described in our new brochure, Helping Communities, because they work for communities. Results confirm the benefits of actively pursuing innovation and voluntary initiatives. Our dedication to building partnerships through collaboration is making a positive difference in the quality of life. Our team is ready to help communities explore all the possibilities.

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