ESP: Environmental Stewardship Program
If your facility looks for opportunities to continuously improve, reduce waste and improve efficiency, reducing your footprint on Indiana's environment, then you may be an Environmental Steward.
Don't miss your opportunity for reduced recordkeeping and reporting, monitoring, inspections, and expedited and flexible permits!
Find out more about the Environmental Stewardship Program:
What is the Environmental Stewardship Program?
ESP is a voluntary, performance based leadership program designed to recognize and reward Indiana regulated entities for going above and beyond current environmental regulations. In return for their exemplary environmental performance, these establishments will receive program incentives including regulatory flexibility, public recognition, and networking opportunities.
ESP was modeled after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Environmental Performance Track Program and focuses on improving Indiana's environment and business climate through innovation and efficient resource allocation.
Participating organizations achieve environmental objectives through creating and implementing an environmental management system (EMS). Together, the EMS and the steward's commitment to continual environmental improvement will increase their efficiency, decrease environmental impacts, and may save the business time, money, and resources. Regulatory flexibility incentives earned by members were designed to provide business value, reduce regulatory oversight, allow a shift in resources from compliance driven to achieving results, and provide the member with increased operational flexibility.
Is my organization eligible?
Any regulated entity in Indiana may apply regardless of type, size, or complexity. To qualify for Indiana's Environmental Stewardship Program, applicants must demonstrate that they have:
- A standard of environmental compliance;
- Implemented and will maintain an environmental management system (EMS); and
- Committed to continuous environmental improvement.
A complete description of eligibility requirements is available.
What are the benefits of ESP membership?
There are many benefits and incentives for members including regulatory flexibility, recognition, and networking opportunities. Some of the specific incentives include:
- A plaque, press release, and use of logo
- Annual ESP member meeting with the IDEM Commissioner
- Networking events for ESP members
- Expedited permits
- Flexible permits
- Reduced reporting frequencies
- Low priority for routine inspections
- Reduced recordkeeping and reporting
- Reduced monitoring where applicable and appropriate
- And more!
A complete listing of incentives is available on the internet.
How does my organization apply?
ESP has similar requirements to the U.S. EPA's National Environmental Performance Track (NEPT) program. Because ESP and NEPT are so similar, IDEM and EPA are coordinating efforts to make membership in both programs as simple as possible. Therefore, a facility may choose to apply to both NEPT and ESP simultaneously, or to ESP only.
To determine if ESP and NEPT are right for you, please review the ESP/NEPT Crosswalk [DOC]. For more information about EPA's National Environmental Performance Track program, please refer to EPA's National Environmental Performance Track. A list of Indiana facilities participating in this national program is available on EPA's web site.
NEPT and ESP applications are accepted twice a year:
- April 1 - May 31
- September 1 - October 31
For details on applying to ESP and NEPT, please visit the ESP Application Process web page. ESP membership lasts three years and can be renewed. Renewal applications must be submitted by April 1st of the third year of membership.
When do I submit an Annual Performance Report?
After becoming an ESP member, entities must annually report on their environmental achievement using the ESP Annual Performance Report. The ESP Annual Performance Report must be submitted to IDEM by April 1st for each calendar year in which the entity has been a member for at least three (3) full months. An annual summary submitted to U.S. EPA as a requirement of Performance Track membership shall constitute an equivalent submission.
Who do I contact for more information?
For more information or if you have questions, please contact the Indiana Department of Environmental Management at (800) 988-7901 or esp at idem.in.gov.
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