SPEAKER: Marianne Horinko, President, The Horinko Group (THG). Speaker’s Background: Ms. Horinko’s expertise is in watershed-based approaches to cleanup and revitalization, corporate sustainability, and collaborative solutions to environmental progress through unique public-private partnerships. Prior to joining THG, she served as Assistant Administrator for the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER) at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from 2001 to 2004, and Acting EPA Administrator in 2003 between Administrators and Michael O. Leavitt.

Following the events of September 11, Ms. Horinko served at EPA assisting in environmental cleanup activities at Ground Zero in lower , in Washington DC, and the U.S. Capitol due to anthrax contamination. In 2003, she oversaw EPA’s response to the Columbia Space Shuttle Disaster. As a result of these experiences, she crafted the groundbreaking National Approach to Response.

TOPIC: Earth Day: The Next Generation

DATE AND TIME: 4/18/12, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM (ET)

WHERE YOU CAN SEE IT: • GAO Building, Room 6492 with overflow in room 2197 • Broadcast live via GAOTV (viewable from desktops) • ATL main, BOS main, DEN main, Richland main

Earth Day – The Next Generation GAO Earth Day Speech – April 18, 2012 By: Marianne Lamont Horinko

1. History of Earth Day a. Cuyahoga River – “the river that caught fire” b. Love Canal and Valley of the Drums c. Senator Gaylord Nelson – April 22, 1970

2. EPA Hot Issues and How Far We’ve Come a. Vast environmental improvement made in last 40+ years b. EPA takes action on Air Quality – ~60% of dangerous air pollutants reduced c. Protecting and restoring our Water – banning dumping sewage/industrial waste d. Cleaning up Communities – RCRA “cradle to grave” / 450+ contaminated sites since cleanup/~67% sites cleanup e. Improved recycling practices from ~10% of trash in 1980 to more than 33% now f. Energy Star Program launched in 1992 – In 2009, Americans used Energy Star to save nearly $17 billion on utility bills g. Water Sense Program launched in 2006 – Consumers have saved 46 billion gallons of water and $343 million on their water and sewer bills since its launch.

3. Transformation into New Issues a. Traditional EPA command and control regulation – Top-down gov’t b. Challenges going forward: i. CAFOs ii. Nonpoint source run-off and combined sewer overflows iii. Backyard burning in the Midwest

4. Brownfields Signed into Law a. Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act – 2002 b. Ground-up program (NOT top-down) c. Arose in response to 1992 riots in South Central LA – apparent lack of economic urban opportunity coupled with lender red-lining i. Launched 3 pilots in 1993 ii. Pilot program culminated into the Act iii. Significant program growth – 8,000 attendees at 2011 Brownfields Convention in Philly

5. Community Decision-Making in the Future a. Technology revolutionizing environmental protection b. Widespread information dissemination – grassroots response c. Community action can move enviro. stewardship faster than regulatory action i. Product Deselection 1. PBA in baby bottles 2. Lead in toys from China 3. Parabens in cosmetics ii. Consumer demand for energy efficient appliances, light bulbs, cars iii. Developers buy cheap, contaminated waterfront real estate because of solid financial return d. If communities accomplish all these things during an economic downturn, imagine the possibility with an economic recovery