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THE EPA'S EMERGING FOCUS ON LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT
Citation:
Curran*, M A. THE EPA'S EMERGING FOCUS ON LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT. Presented at 3rd Dixy Lee Ray Memorial Symposium, Washington, DC, 08/29-31/2000.
Description:
EPA has been actively engaged in LCA research since 1990 to help advance the methodology and application of life cycle thinking in decision making. Across the Agency consideration of the life cycle concept is increasing in the development of policies and programs. A major force in bringing LCA to the attention of policy makers and procurement officials is the 1998 Executive Order 13101 on "Greening Government". In support of this Order, ORD developed a preliminary guidance model, called FRED (Framework for Environmental Decision Making), on how LCA could be used to show environmental preferability.
ORD's research program in LCA is working toward making LCA's more practical through methodology development, data access, and demonstrations. Research activities include the development of an impact model called TRACI (Tool for the Reduction and Assessment of Chemical Impacts) and other efforts to advance life cycle impact modelling as well as work to using the internet, called LCAccess is underway.
ORD has also conducted case studies using life-cycle based analysis of process improvements that have been identified for facilities, including coating systems on military vehicles, solvents for cleaning and depainting, manufacture of 1,4-butanediol from a corn feedstock, automobile design, and steel coating alternatives.